Position Title: Communications Officer (Consultant)
Project: Montana Election Observation Initiative (MTEOI)
Partners: The Carter Center U.S. Elections Program; Mansfield Center, University of Montana
Contract Type: Independent consultant; level of effort to be negotiated
Contract Duration: June 2026 – December 2026
Location: Remote, with travel around Montana during peak observation periods as needed
1. Background
The Montana Election Observation Initiative (MTEOI) is a nonpartisan, citizen-led election observation project operating in partnership with The Carter Center’s U.S. Elections Program and the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana. MTEOI applies international election observation standards to Montana’s electoral processes, deploying trained observers across the state to assess election administration, identify good practices, and produce evidence-based recommendations for reform.
Building on its 2024 and 2025 election observation and ongoing engagement with election administrators, MTEOI is preparing for a comprehensive 2026 observation cycle covering the primary election and general election. Effective communications are central to MTEOI’s mission: amplifying observer findings, building public trust in Montana’s electoral processes, supporting election officials, and ensuring nonpartisan and accurate framing in a polarized information environment.
To strengthen its communications capacity through the 2026 cycle, MTEOI seeks an experienced Communications Officer (Consultant) to lead digital storytelling, content development, social media monitoring, and coordination with partner communications teams.
2. Objectives of the Consultancy
The Communications Officer will:
- Develop and implement a coordinated communications strategy and editorial calendar for MTEOI through the 2026 election cycle.
- Capture, curate, and produce compelling digital content from MTEOI observation deployments and partner activities.
- Strengthen MTEOI’s social media presence and digital storytelling across platforms, in line with the project’s nonpartisan brand and methodology.
- Coordinate communications planning and content sharing with the Mansfield Center and The Carter Center communications teams.
- Establish and maintain a structured social media monitoring function covering Montana election actors and information narratives relevant to MTEOI’s observation mandate.
3. Scope of Work
Under the supervision of the MTEOI Manager and in close coordination with the Mansfield Center communications team and The Carter Center’s U.S. Elections Program communications staff, the Communications Officer will undertake the following:
3.1 Communications Strategy and Editorial Calendar
- Develop a 2026 MTEOI communications strategy and rolling editorial calendar covering the pre-primary, primary, post-primary, pre-general, general, and post-election phases.
- Align the calendar with MTEOI’s observation deployment schedule, partner publication timelines, and key Montana election milestones.
- Define audience segments (election administrators, voters, Tribal communities, media, peer organizations) and tailored messaging for each.
- Establish editorial workflows, approval pathways, and clearance protocols with MTEOI, Mansfield Center, and Carter Center counterparts.
3.2 Digital Storytelling and Content Production
- Plan and execute digital storytelling campaigns that translate observation findings, election administration good practices, and observer experiences into accessible content for general audiences.
- Develop content packages (graphics, short-form video, photo essays, written features, infographics) for MTEOI’s social channels, website, and partner platforms.
- Design and produce content that reflects MTEOI’s nonpartisan methodology, brand guidelines, and commitments to tribal engagement and respectful representation.
- Maintain a centralized, organized digital asset library with appropriate metadata, captions, and consent/release documentation.
3.3 Field Content Collection from Observation
- Develop a field content collection protocol for MTEOI observers and Regional Coordinators, including guidance on photo and video capture, subject consent, and content submission.
- Develop and circulate consent and release forms compliant with MTEOI’s methodology and partner requirements, including specific protocols for content captured in tribal jurisdictions developed in coordination with the Tribal Engagement Advisor.
- Travel to selected observation deployments in Montana to capture professional-quality photo and video content and conduct short-form interviews with observers, election officials (where appropriate), and other stakeholders.
- Edit and package field-captured content for rapid turnaround during deployment windows and for archival use in post-election reporting.
3.4 Coordination with Mansfield Center Communications
- Serve as MTEOI’s primary point of contact with the Mansfield Center communications team for all content, branding, and publication coordination.
- Align MTEOI publications, social media, and earned activities with Mansfield Center protocols and University of Montana communications requirements.
- Support cross-promotion of MTEOI activities through Mansfield Center channels and contribute MTEOI content to Mansfield Center publications, events, and convenings as appropriate.
- Coordinate with The Carter Center U.S. Elections Program communications staff on shared messaging, branded co-publications, and rollout of MTEOI reports and findings.
3.5 Social Media Monitoring of Montana Election Actors
- Operationalize a social media monitoring framework covering relevant Montana election actors, including election administrators, candidates, party organizations, civic groups, advocacy organizations, and information sources shaping public discourse on election administration.
- Coordinate data collection and analysis through Junkipedia in collaboration with The Carter Center Digital Threats experts.
- Produce regular monitoring reports (weekly during peak periods; biweekly otherwise) summarizing key findings, surfacing issues that may warrant MTEOI response or contextualization, and feeding into MTEOI’s situational awareness and crisis communications protocols.
- Ensure monitoring activities are conducted in line with applicable platform terms of service, ethical standards, and MTEOI’s nonpartisan posture.
3.6 Crisis and Reactive Communications Support
- Support the MTEOI Manager in operationalizing the project’s crisis communications framework, including drafting reactive lines, holding statements, and rapid-response social content.
- Serve as a first responder for monitoring-flagged issues, working with MTEOI leadership and partner communications teams to determine when and how to respond.
3.7 Measurement, Learning, and Reporting
- Establish baseline metrics and KPIs for MTEOI digital communications, social media engagement, earned media, and audience growth.
- Produce a quarterly communications dashboard and contribute communications data and narrative content to MTEOI internal reporting and donor reporting.
- Document lessons learned and recommendations for future cycles in a final communications report and handover memo.
4. Key Deliverables
- Inception memo and detailed workplan
- Communications and content calendar (June–December 2026), updated monthly
- Brand-aligned social media content templates and asset library
- Field content collection protocol and consent/release forms for observers
- Photo and video assets from primary, general, and tribal observation mobilization
- Social media monitoring framework and weekly/biweekly monitoring reports
- Crisis communications coordination protocol (in support of MTEOI Manager)
- Final communications report, archived asset library, and handover memo
5. Required Qualifications and Experience
5.1 Required
- Minimum 3 years of professional experience in communications, with demonstrated experience designing and implementing multi-channel communications campaigns from concept through execution and evaluation.
- Demonstrated experience producing digital storytelling content, including photo, short-form video, and written features for social media and web.
- Strong working knowledge of major social media platforms, content management systems, and basic photo and video editing tools.
- Experience designing and operating social media monitoring or media monitoring functions, including familiarity with relevant tools and methodologies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical and methodological content for general audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate across multiple institutional partners and maintain consistent branding and editorial standards.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple workstreams under deadline pressure.
- Commitment to nonpartisanship and to MTEOI’s ethical standards in election observation.
5.2 Desirable
- Experience working with election observation organizations, civic engagement initiatives, or democracy and governance programs.
- Familiarity with Montana’s political, media, and civic landscape, including its tribal communities.
- Experience working with university communications structures and/or with The Carter Center or peer international organizations.
- Experience producing content in or about Tribal communities, including familiarity with protocols for respectful representation and consent.
- Experience supporting crisis communications in politically sensitive or high-attention environments.
6. Reporting and Management
The Communications Officer will report to the MTEOI Manager and will work in close coordination with MTEOI Regional Coordinators, the Tribal Engagement Advisor, and the Mansfield Center communications team. Standing weekly check-ins with the MTEOI Manager will be supplemented by additional coordination meetings during peak observation periods.
7. Duration and Level of Effort
The contract period is June 2026 through December 2026. The level of effort is anticipated to be variable across the contract period, with surge capacity required around the Montana primary and general elections and during rapid-deployment observation missions. The specific level of effort, fee structure, and travel arrangements will be agreed in the consultancy agreement.
8. Application Instructions
Interested candidates should submit the following to [email protected]:
- Curriculum vitae or resume.
- Cover letter (maximum two pages) describing relevant experience, including campaign design and implementation experience, and approach to the assignment.
- A portfolio or two to three samples of prior digital storytelling, social media, or campaign work, with a brief description of the candidate’s role.
- Daily or monthly consultancy rate and indicative availability across the contract period.
- Names and contact information for three professional references.
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Missoula, MT 59812
