Managing Director of Media Engagement

## Reports to: Senior Vice President of Communications
**Status:** Full-time; Exempt
**Location:** Washington D.C. — hybrid workplace (Mondays and Wednesdays in-office; three days remote; occasional in‑person work for events and special projects)
**Overtime Status:** Exempt
**Salary:** $160K–$180K

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## About Groundwork Collaborative
Launched in 2018, Groundwork Collaborative is driven by the idea that *We Are The Economy*: when all of us are doing well, our economy thrives. The organization fights for progressive economic policy and narrative change that builds accountable public power, breaks up concentrations of private power, and centers people long excluded from prosperity. Together, these actions lead to a stronger, more resilient economy.

Groundwork’s unique structure—part strategic communications, part think tank, part issue‑advocacy organization—allows it to drive narrative and policy change with credibility, expertise, and impact. The team works across four core audiences: the media, policymakers, economic experts, and grasstops leaders, using targeted policy campaigns and timely research and messaging to advance an inclusive economic worldview.

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## Position Summary
Groundwork’s impact has grown significantly in recent years, including through the launch of the **Economic Speakers Bureau** (ESB), which diversifies expert voices shaping economic news coverage. Groundwork seeks a **Managing Director of Media Engagement** to serve as a senior leader responsible for driving press and media operations and expanding the reach and influence of Groundwork’s economic narrative work.

This new role integrates leadership of the ESB with management of Groundwork’s in‑house press operation to strengthen connectivity and increase the organization’s ability to launch and sustain surround‑sound communications campaigns.

The Managing Director will report to the SVP of Communications and oversee day‑to‑day press operations, translating high‑level communications strategy into concrete media outcomes. They will directly manage Groundwork’s press team and oversee the ESB, ensuring Groundwork’s experts and research consistently break through in the media landscape.

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## As Groundwork’s Managing Director of Media Engagement, you will…
– Oversee all press and earned media operations, ensuring a coordinated, proactive, high‑impact approach across traditional, digital, and new media platforms.
– Translate Groundwork’s communications strategy into targeted media campaigns, rapid response operations, and proactive press outreach.
– Directly manage the press team (2–4 staff), providing editorial direction, supervision, and hands‑on support to build a high‑performing operation.
– Lead and manage the **Economic Speakers Bureau** (expert roster), expanding and stewarding spokespeople, coordinating placements, supporting experts, and tracking impact. This includes the national ESB operation plus two new initiatives:
– A bilingual cohort shaping Spanish‑language media coverage.
– A New York‑based cohort framing issues in the New York media market.
– Cultivate strong relationships with journalists, editors, producers, bookers, and hosts across national broadcast, print, digital, and new media.
– Serve as a senior editorial voice on press materials—press releases, advisories, op‑eds, statements, talking points, and briefings.
– Monitor and analyze the daily news cycle to identify opportunities for Groundwork experts and research to shape national economic conversations.
– Coordinate with the digital strategy team to ensure seamless integration and cross‑amplification between digital and press operations.
– Collaborate with Policy, Advocacy, Research, and Partnerships teams to develop integrated rollout plans for reports, campaigns, announcements, events, and partnerships.
– Advise the SVP of Communications on emerging press opportunities, risks, and trends in the evolving media ecosystem.
– Represent Groundwork with media partners, coalition allies, and external stakeholders as appropriate.
– Perform other duties as assigned.

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## Qualifications
– 10–15+ years of progressive experience in advocacy, political, or nonprofit external communications roles, including senior leadership positions, with a strong track record of generating high‑impact national press coverage.
– Experience creating infrastructure, building teams, and collaborating across organizational verticals.
– Deep, established relationships across the national media landscape—broadcast bookers, producers, print/digital reporters, editors, and emerging new‑media voices.
– Thoughtful approach to coaching, feedback, and professional growth; experience motivating teams in dynamic environments.
– Sharp, fast writer and editor able to translate complex economic policy into compelling media content under deadline pressure.
– News‑obsessed and fluent in economic and political narratives across diverse media outlets.
– Strong understanding of new and alternative media—newsletters, podcasts, content creators—and strategies to reach fragmented audiences.
– Savvy strategist who anticipates the news cycle, identifies key moments for Groundwork’s voice, and builds partnerships to amplify impact.
– Comfortable with wonky economic topics (inflation, tax policy, labor markets) and skilled at translating them for broad audiences.
– Organized, detail‑oriented, and thrives in fast‑paced environments.
– Familiar with the progressive economic policy, think tank, and advocacy community in Washington, D.C., and on Capitol Hill.
– Committed to a just, inclusive, robust economy that delivers opportunity and dignity to all.

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## Preferred Qualifications
– Experience running or overseeing a speakers bureau, surrogacy program, or similar expert‑deployment initiative.
– Senior press or communications leadership experience in an advocacy organization, political campaign, congressional office, or government agency.
– Deep background in economic policy (fiscal policy, labor, trade, financial regulation).
– Strong relationships in new and alternative media—podcast producers, content creators, influencer networks.

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## Compensation & Benefits
Salary range: **$160,000–$180,000 annually**.

Benefits include:
– Five weeks of vacation and personal leave
– Two week‑long office closures
– Additional floating and federal holidays
– Zero‑premium health insurance
– Generous HRA
– Retirement contribution up to 6%
– Up to 16 weeks parental leave
– Health club and cell‑phone reimbursements
– Hybrid workplace (two days in office, three remote)
Groundwork is a unionized workplace represented by the **Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU)**. This position is **not** part of the bargaining unit.

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## How to Apply
Submit an application on Groundwork’s career page, including a resume and cover letter. Your cover letter should describe your specific experience related to this position.

Thank you for your interest!