Public Relations Specialist

### Overview

Create and implement communications and media relations strategies for major Association initiatives and announcements; initiate and manage contacts with the news media; co-edit news blog; provide overall leadership across APHA’s social media channels and directly manage APHA’s Threads page and YouTube channel; and write and develop materials to support communications program to advance the mission, policies, and priorities of the Association.

### Responsibilities

**Press/Media Relations:** Develop and carry out press strategies that support the overall goals of APHA. Develop and maintain contacts with journalists, columnists, editors, and producers who cover public health. Respond rapidly to media inquiries, fulfill requests, arrange interviews, and develop talking points. Write, edit, and distribute news releases, advisories, statements, op-eds, and other materials, and post them to the website. Alert key media to urgent public health-related policy and legislative activity. Identify news opportunities and develop and pitch story ideas to journalists involving APHA policies, programs, and products, including the Annual Meeting, National Public Health Week, the Policy Action Institute, and other thought leadership activities. Expand and maintain APHA’s online resources for the media.

**Social Media:** Serve as lead on APHA’s Social Media Team, helping the organization strategize, develop content for different channels, and stay current on trends and best practices. Plan social media strategy for APHA advocacy and events. Create social media materials to support a range of APHA announcements and events.

**General Communications:** Research and write blogs and articles for Public Health Newswire and other channels. Part of APHA’s Editorial Review team, helping review organization materials for grammar, AP style, and APHA voice. Work on other Communications and Marketing Department assignments and projects as needed. The position may supervise the Communications intern.

### Qualifications

– Bachelor’s degree and four to five years of public/media relations, journalism, or communications experience.
– Health/public health background a plus.
– Strong verbal and written communication skills with excellent grammar, editorial, proofreading, and AP style skills.
– Strong social media skills, especially with Facebook and YouTube.
– Experience developing communications plans.
– Personal presence and ability to work with the news media and meet deadlines.
– Experience in seeking coverage for or communicating on behalf of national advocacy/public interest policy efforts.
– Ability to manage multiple projects at once with attention to detail and follow-through concurrently to meet overlapping deadlines.
– Strong initiative. Works well independently but participates actively as a team member and can collaborate with a variety of functional groups and communicate constructively with others.
– Travel to the Annual Meeting is required with other occasional travel possible.

**Position is based in downtown DC near several metro stations. Hybrid work environment.**

**Hours:** 35 hours a week, full-time, Monday – Friday (daytime).
**Number of openings:** 1.

**Applicants who meet the requirements and are interested in being considered for this position should submit the following information at:** [https://careers-apha.icims.com](https://careers-apha.icims.com).

– Cover letter
– Resume
– A writing sample
– Salary requirement
– At least 2 supervisory references and 1 professional reference (name, title, company name, phone number, and email).

**Vaccination Policy:** New Hires and Employees must adhere to APHA COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Policy.

**CLOSING DATE:** Open Until Filled

**GRADE:** 5 – exempt

**SALARY RANGE:** $54,912 – $68,640 (salary commensurate with experience & job role).

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