Posted On: April 20, 2021
Media-Related Job
Media Organization: International Refugee Assistance Project
Company Description
The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal and policy advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people around the world. We are the leading organization providing free and comprehensive legal services to people in need of a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.
IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City, Washington, D.C.), Jordan (Amman), Lebanon (Beirut), and Germany (Berlin). Our legal teams work closely with a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading law firms and multi-national corporations, and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people to find safe passage and to transform the landscape of refugee rights in the U.S. and internationally. IRAP has over 80 full-time staff members. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team that is committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.
IRAP’s Communications Department works in conjunction with all other programmatic and supporting departments and is currently comprised of three team members based in the New York City and Washington D.C. offices. IRAP’s Communications Department aims to empower and support refugees by promoting a positive image in the media and works across all departments to ensure consistent messaging of IRAP’s brand and work.
Job Description
IRAP is seeking an experienced full-time Media Relations Manager to lead IRAP’s press strategy and find opportunities to highlight IRAP’s programmatic priorities and institutional brand in earned media placements. We are looking for a creative storyteller who understands the constantly shifting media landscape and knows how to shape the narrative in a way that empowers those whose voices are rarely heard. The Media Relations Manager will be an integral part of the IRAP team, reporting to IRAP’s Communications Director.
Responsibilities
Work across all departments and offices to shape and manage proactive and reactive communications related to our work and clients.
Build strong relationships and engage with press across all formats at the local, national, and international level, including community media.
Responsible for fielding inquiries, vetting reporters and outlets, and managing press lists.
Draft press releases, advisories, opinion editorials, messaging guidance, and talking points.
Conduct regular media trainings and coaching with IRAP staff and individual clients.
Plan and host press calls and conferences.
Identify news angles and proactively pitch stories and spokespeople.
Monitor media coverage and provide reports.
Research non-traditional media outlets and opportunities.
Location, Hours, and Duration
The candidate will work in IRAP’s U.S. office in New York City or Washington D.C., with a preference for New York City. Upon starting work at IRAP, work would be remote until it is safe to work from the office. IRAP provides the necessary work equipment. The position is full-time (40 hrs/week) with the occasional need to work outside of regular work hours.
This position is an employment contract with no end date.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
5+ years of work experience in communications, public relations, or journalism.
Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, and leading multi-stakeholder projects.
Knowledge of media landscape and strong press relationships.
Strong writing and editing skills, with an emphasis on the ability to distill complex legal topics into accessible and persuasive language that resonates with broad audiences.
Ability to be flexible in a fast-paced and high-pressure work environment, including outside of regular work hours.
Ability to handle and navigate matters of high sensitivity and confidentiality.
Sensitivity to the empowerment of vulnerable populations and experience working with people of all backgrounds, for example LGBTI refugees or survivors of trauma, in a media context.
Experience with rapid response and crisis communications is preferred.
Fluency in languages other than English are a plus.
Compensation and Benefits
The annual salary for the position will be $75,854-$99,194 commensurate with experience and is covered by a collective bargaining unit.
IRAP offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits including family health, dental, and vision benefits with no employee-paid premiums, a retirement plan with an employer matching component, and twenty days of vacation, five personal days, and twelve sick days per year.
To Apply
Please submit the following at this link:
https://refugeerights.org/2021/04/media-relations-manager
cover letter
resume
writing sample of a press release
2 links to either published articles or op-eds you worked on in the last three years
a list of three references
Review of applications will be on a rolling basis until a hire is made.
IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities that we serve, and individuals whose identities are underrepresented.