Designer / Creative Specialist

Posted 6 days ago

The purpose of the People Helping People project is to pilot a model to effectively communicate the value of US “foreign assistance” to persuadable population segments to increase favorability of public opinion. With US society receiving news from politically polarized echo chambers, communications to build support for US foreign assistance will be most effective by targeting centrist audiences in “purple” states in the platforms where they consume media content, for example on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. Audience segments which are more likely receptive to support US foreign assistance will be targeted based on their demographics and beliefs that serve as proxies for such support. The social media campaign will use data and values to define and target a centrist population and shape creative components which will focus on storytelling. It will rely upon persuasion rooted in high level values such as freedom, fairness, strength, responsibility, and family/belonging.

This is a part-time role, estimated primarily to be active in March-April 2026 and attend key meetings in May-July (likely 1-2x/month).

Tasks:
• Contribute to PHP’s overall communications strategy focusing on creative concepts and delivery platform selection, along with Project Director and other team members
• Create compelling multimedia content (6+ ads) including videos, graphics, testimonials, etc. in accord with messaging strategy
• After A/B testing, edit campaign content to incorporate focus group feedback and other changes over project term
• Collaborate with Social Media Specialist to design social media platform presence; if needed help update website for compatibility
• Establish newsletter or other communications tools for campaign if warranted

Desired Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Visual Communication, or a related field
• 3–5 years of professional experience in visual design or graphic production
• Excellent professional communication skills in English
• Advanced proficiency in tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Canva, etc
• SquareSpace and CMS proficiency
• Strong organizational skills, patience, and an ability to work cooperatively with a diverse set of team members
• Passion for democracy and civic engagement
• Ability to commit to role through timeline of engagement, allowing for possible delays

To apply:
Please submit a brief letter of interest outlining how your background and skills match the requirements of the role, along with a resume/CV by Feb 25, 2026. Links to previous work are welcomed.

Detailed Program Components:
The most persuasive way to connect with audiences on a values-level is by brief personal audio or video narratives. In fact, rational arguments about the importance or cost-effectiveness of US foreign aid in realizing US strategic interests do not sway many centrist citizens. Thus the campaign will focus on personal storytelling and shared high-level value appeals, although occasionally appropriate empirical arguments may be used.

Message framing: A values slate will frame the messages and images of the campaign to reach “movable middle” audiences, supported by a leading polling/public opinion expert and author (specializing in authoritarian regimes) will help review existing public opinion data related to support for US global foreign assistance. These insights would be used to frame specific messages. The Metropolitan Group message frameworks can also help. Polling data will help identify optimal target audience characteristics, such as gender, age, geography, education level, income level, religious affiliation/practice, frequency of travel, types of hobbies/interests, and more. The target audience will represent the “movable middle” population and not the existing base of US foreign assistance supporters nor the direct opposition.

Content sourcing and design partners: The project would partner with organizations such as those supporting former USAID and grantee staff to collect recollections of their most meaningful and moving experiences in the field. Several new initiatives could be meaningful partners in this effort, such as the “Unsung Americans” podcast by Alex Natsios and others. While these initiatives largely are not framing their arguments in the values that resonate with “movable middle” audiences, some of their material could be adapted to reach the pilot project’s goal by a design specialist. If existing content does not lend itself to the campaign format or messages, new content will be developed.

Further information is available upon request.

How to Apply