Senior Principal Strategist, Media Relations

Salary Range

The general salary range for this position is $116,000-$140,000. Salary offers will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, skills, training, and education.

Position Overview

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s most effective animal advocacy organization, is seeking a Senior Principal Strategist, Legislation and Law for the Media Relations department. This position is responsible for initiating, executing, and overseeing strategic media relations plans to increase media coverage for our federal priorities and litigation efforts, especially the work of the Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF). The role will build our overall brand and raise public, donor, and policymaker awareness of our regulatory, political, and legal efforts on behalf of animals.

Responsibilities

• Strategize and Develop Media Campaigns: Proactively strategize, oversee, develop, and execute media relations campaigns in coordination with HSLF, Communications, and media relations leadership and staff. Focus on media and relationships that will boost our efforts with legislative, regulatory, and political work, including federal administrative petitions and proactive and defensive legal efforts. Evaluate projects related to strategic priorities and associated media opportunities, prioritizing those with the highest return on investment.
• Media Pitching: Pitch and/or advise on pitching media to garner attention for domestic federal priority work, with a focus on Capitol Hill, political media, and Washington, DC, media markets. Meet with and cultivate relationships with reporters in these media markets. Pitch and/or advise on pitching media to garner attention for electoral work, including endorsements, in regional media markets.
• Collaborative Strategy Development: Strategize collaboratively with internal stakeholders on key initiatives. Provide direction, training, and counsel to HSLF, APL, Communications, and media relations specialists and coordinators on strategy, media relations practices, and writing. Coordinate joint efforts with other departments and entities within the greater Humane Society family of organizations.
• Media Inquiry Management: Field media inquiries, perform background research, and develop messaging with appropriate spokespeople. Provide reporters with background information, video, and photos, and schedule interviews with issue experts.
• Press Monitoring and Response: Monitor press coverage for enterprising media opportunities and take immediate action using sound judgment, proven decision-making skills, and effective strategy.
• Content Creation: Write, edit, and route press releases, advisories, pitch letters, and other collateral materials for the news media.
• Targeted Outreach: Develop targeted lists and disseminate press releases and other materials to targeted contacts.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or English, or equivalent work experience; graduate degree preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years of experience in Capitol Hill, federal agency, and/or political campaigns media relations, with a preference for expertise and awareness of national animal welfare issues.
• Political Landscape Knowledge: Strong familiarity with the current political landscape is required; Capitol Hill, federal agency, and/or political campaign experience is strongly preferred.
• Event and Press Management: Ability to manage press events and attend in-person events in the DC region on short notice.
• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrated working knowledge of national and political media, various media directories, and public relations computer programs and processes.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication (written and oral) skills with the ability to translate information into a meaningful, understandable context and message, regardless of format (e.g., documents, public speaking, presentations).
• Relationship Building: Ability to build and foster effective relationships by reinforcing trust and respect and demonstrating high standards of tact, diplomacy, and discretion.
• Professional Presence: High level of confidence, integrity, interpersonal skills, and a professional presence for effectively interacting with and influencing others, both internal and external to the organization, as well as facilitating meetings and conducting public speaking/presentations.
• Creative and Proactive Mindset: Demonstrated propensity to be creative, proactive, and self-motivated in the execution and completion of assigned responsibilities.
• Team Collaboration: Ability to work both independently and as an effective team member, collaborating across multiple departments.
• Travel Requirements: Ability to travel occasionally for media cultivation and pitching in major markets, as well as for press conferences or related events.
• Commitment to Animal Welfare: A commitment to animal protection/welfare is highly desired.

Location

This position is in the DC Metro Area with the ability to work remotely.

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital or parental status, or protected veteran status. EOE.

Application Link

Please apply using the following link: Senior Strategist, Media Relations – Career Portal.