Deputy Director of Public & Media Relations

The Deputy Director Role

The Deputy Director will be responsible for managing day-to-day media and public relations activities across the organization’s legal, legislative, and programmatic work, guiding a small team of communications professionals in outreach efforts at the state, regional, and national levels.

Who You Are

Experienced. Demonstrated track record of developing and successfully implementing strategic PR plans. Skilled in rapid response and crisis communications and working with state, regional, and national news media and online media.

Communicative. Exceptional communication skills, including clear, concise writing and editing with the ability to frame complex issues for the media and public.

Proactive. Ability to advocate and successfully pitch and place stories in news and online media that prominently position the organization’s initiatives and thought leadership.

Resourceful. Ability to identify, research, and cultivate prospective contacts with niche media outlets while managing and building relationships with individuals in state, regional, and national news and online media outlets.

People Manager. Experienced manager with proven success in leading, training, and developing teams. Clear communicator of goals and priorities, organizational policies and processes, keeping the organization’s best interest at the heart of all communications, decisions, and actions.

Mission, Vision & Culture Alignment. Demonstrates an awareness of the organization’s mission and vision and a commitment to the ideals of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dedicated to fostering an anti-racist work culture and practicing anti-racist principles and learning.

What You’ll Do

• Manage daily media and public relations priorities and assign duties, ensuring adequate staffing and workflow across the organization’s legal, legislative, and programmatic portfolio.

• Track breaking news and work within the team and across departments to effectively implement rapid response and crisis communications.

• Conduct high-level press outreach and secure quality interviews and consistent coverage across print, digital, and broadcast media.

• Build and leverage relationships with key journalists at the state, regional, and national levels.

• Supervise the press inbox and ensure all incoming media inquiries are properly vetted and directed to the appropriate spokesperson.

• Provide regular media training for spokespeople, create and review press materials to ensure message consistency, and organize and ensure the success of press events.

• Hire, train, and monitor staff performance and development and conduct performance reviews.

• Ensure team, department, and organizational processes are followed and provide coaching when necessary.

• Perform other duties as required or assigned that are reasonably within the scope of the job classification.

• Uphold justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles by seeking diverse collaborators and partners who can deliver genuine, authentic, and impactful work while ensuring their contributions align with the organization’s mission, vision, and department goals.

Minimum Qualifications

We are committed to equitable hiring practices; therefore, you must meet the minimum qualifications to be considered for the role.

• Minimum of seven (7) years of public relations experience in a fast-paced agency, in-house, or nonprofit setting.

• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience.

• High School Diploma or GED.

Compensation & Benefits

This is an exempt role, and the minimum starting salary is $112,286 annually. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

[Click here to view the benefits available to staff.]

Where & How You’ll Work

This role has the following work designation options:

Local Remote: Will work remotely but is expected to attend work-related activities at the organization’s offices or in the states where it operates.

Telework: Will work at an office at least three days per week and may work two days per week from an alternative work location.

This position reports to the Director of Public and Media Relations.

Other Special Considerations

• This job is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

• May require working some evenings and/or weekends in the event of breaking news.

Learn more here