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Director, Media and Public Relations

Director, Media and Public Relations
Organization: Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence
Location: Washington, DC
Date Posted: 02/22/2024

Salary Range

$112,000.00 To 130,000.00 Annually

About Brady

Each year, 40,000 people in the U.S. die from gun violence. We can change that. No organization has a more comprehensive and systematic approach to ending America’s gun violence epidemic. Now is the time to unite people, from coast to coast, young and old, liberal and conservative, fed up and fired up, and free our country from what is killing us. It’s in our hands.

Brady understands that gun violence disproportionately harms communities that have long faced systemic racism and inequities, including Black, Latinx, Native American, and LGBTQ+ people. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. We strongly encourage applications from people with these identities and lived experiences.

Job Summary

The Director of Media and Public Relations will report to the Vice President of Communications and lead strategies to raise Brady’s visibility and profile while promoting our programs and campaigns. This role will focus largely on increasing Brady’s prominence in news and political reporting while also broadening Brady’s share of voice in lifestyle outlets (parenting, entertainment, sports, etc). The position will play a key role in reporting to senior leadership and developing and executing innovative, metrics-based strategies to further Brady’s ambitious 5-year strategic plan. This position requires strong strategic thinking, creativity, and a sharp understanding of both political and cultural media landscapes. The ideal candidate has extensive experience leading national messaging and media campaigns, strong press/media relationships, and excellent strategic planning skills. Candidates must be able to proactively generate opportunities to further Brady’s goals and messages while quickly and effectively meeting the needs of news developments. This role supervises Brady’s Press Secretary and Research Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Increase Brady’s prominence in tier-one media placements, with an emphasis on national broadcast and expansion into lifestyle reporting
  • Cultivate relationships with key reporters, editors, producers, and bookers across a mix of traditional, digital, and social channels
  • Identify and lead rapid response to shootings and breaking news events, often requiring sensitive judgment calls and working sensitively with survivors and victims
  • Establish and oversee goals and metrics to demonstrate the impact of Brady work and initiatives in alignment with Brady’s 5-year strategic plan
  • Generate ideas for events, partnerships, research projects, and compelling messaging campaigns that will garner media attention and elevate Brady’s brand among key audiences
  • Work in close collaboration with the legal, crime guns, and policy departments to develop strategies and tactics to amplify their work and successes
  • Oversee and execute innovative ideas and strategic communications plans and messaging for Brady’s programs and campaigns, including Show Gun Safety (tv/film industry) This Is Our Lane (medical community), and End Family Fire (gun owners and safe gun storage)
  • Develop strategies to grow the brand and terminology behind Brady’s successful “End Family Fire” program to promote safe firearm storage
  • Oversee the generation of talking points, remarks, scripting, and messaging, furthering compelling narratives that build on Brady’s reputation as bipartisan, influential, and effective agents of change
  • Grow Brady’s brand by overseeing outreach to pitch Brady principals, spokespeople, and projects for conferences, awards, and other key external opportunities
  • In collaboration with the Director of Communications, Social Media Manager, and others, cultivate relationships with influencers and key opinion leaders
  • Serve as on-the-record spokesperson as needed
  • Oversee media trainings for Brady staff, influencers, and spokespeople
  • Manage external media and PR firms and consultants as needed

Required Experience

  • A minimum of 7-10 years work experience in communications and/or journalism
  • Experience working with the media and cultivating relationships with print, radio, television, and online journalists
  • Excel in a fast-paced environment with frequent rapid response events
  • Very strong existing media contacts, including television bookers, editorial boards, and national journalists across mediums and issue areas
  • Social media savvy and excels at strategic and persuasive writing
  • Solid grasp of legislative processes, legal proceedings, and social change movements
  • Expertise distilling digestible messaging around public policy, research, and litigation
  • Ability to monitor and respond to media outside of work hours
  • Proven track record in excelling at meeting tight deadlines in a high-pressured environments

Brady is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and believes in driving equality in our communities and workplace. Brady is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, and providing equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, gender identity, or protected veteran status.

To request an accommodation during the interview process, please email: [email protected].

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