Senior Director, Media Relations

Senior Director, Media Relations
Job ID: HC20151204-61687
Description:
The College Board, the national educational organization, is conducting a search for a Senior Director of Media Relations.

This position is resident at our New York City headquarters and reports to an executive director.

POSITION SUMMARY

Leads a proactive and reactive media relations strategy that protects and builds the reputation of the College Board and furthers the organization’s mission. Expands the reach, quality and impact of earned media by building and maintaining relationships with a cross-section of outlets – print, broadcast and digital – at the national, state and local levels. Supervises a team in executing a strategy that includes placement of stories, timely and accurate responses to incoming inquiries, and streamlined rapid response in crisis situations. Works closely with program leadership and external agencies to ensure consistent use and delivery of messages. Reports directly to the Executive Director, Communications.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

* Responsible for developing and executing a robust, multi-faceted national and regional/local media strategy that helps further the mission and aligns with state and national goals by creating proactive opportunities; cultivate relationships with media outlets that touch a variety of different key audiences – policymakers, students, parents, educators, advocates, etc. – through different channels
* Work closely with College Board programs, Executive, Member, Program, and Community Communications, Government Relations, State & District Partnerships and others to ensure appropriate messaging materials;
* Lead crisis communications and issues management;
* Manage media campaigns in support of College Board public policy initiative including state-by-state Government Relations initiatives and execution of media events around the country for both national and state events;
* Advise senior division management and College Board executives on communications and public relations issues;
* Assist with and contribute to the strategic planning for the unit;
* Manage media relations staff members as they work to execute strategy;
* Build and manage an international media relations strategy.

PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS

Internal Contacts:

Maintain regular contact with executive leadership, College Board spokespeople and managers in other departments/divisions to integrate work activities and products. Provide strategic media advice to senior managers and College Board executives

External Contacts:

Maintain significant contacts with members of the media, external College Board spokespeople and advocates, government officials, consultants, vendors and other external parties who have a major impact on the image, reputation and success of the department and of The College Board

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

* Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s degree a plus.
* Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in public relations, journalism or a related field required.
* Background should include direct support of a prominent principal (client/elected official/candidate), including staffing for media events and preparing briefings.
* Extensive experience working with members of large media outlets a must. International experience a plus.

RELATED SKILLS & OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

* Must be able to travel as needed
* Ability to communicate complex public policy initiatives for a broad audience
* Comprehensive, integrated knowledge of all College Board programs

BENEFITS

We offer our employees an outstanding benefits package which includes 4 weeks of paid time off, a generous retirement plan, tuition reimbursement and ongoing professional development and training.

MISSION

The College Board’s mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. We are a not-for-profit membership organization committed to excellence and equity in education. Among our best-known products are the SAT®, PSAT/NMSQT®, and Advanced Placement Program®.

Requirements:
Desired Travel 25% - 50%
Areas of Expertise Media Relations, Communications
Highest Level of Education Bachelor's Degree
Job Type Full Time
Location New York, NY
Years of Relevant Experience 6-9

Communications Strategist [COMM-34], ACLUF, Communications Department, NY

CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Communications Strategist [COMM-34]
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
Communications Department, NY

For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has been our nation’s guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBT community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. With more than a million members, activists, and supporters, the ACLU is a nationwide organization that fights tirelessly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., for the principle that every individual’s rights must be protected equally under the law, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin.

The Communications Department of the ACLU’s National Office in New York City is seeking applicants for the full-time position of Communications Strategist.

OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Communications, the Communications Strategist will play a critical role in developing and executing communications strategies that advance the ACLU’s work on civil liberties. The strategist will work to advance the agenda of the ACLU through collaboration with Communications colleagues, lawyers, lobbyists and state advocates. The strategist will also engage target audiences about litigation and advocacy; create content for publications and the website; and, plan events such as issue teleconferences.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development of multi-faceted communications strategies on a wide array of civil liberties issues, including criminal and racial justice, immigrants’ rights, voting rights, LGBT, reproductive rights, national security, technology and privacy. Develop and implement general communications strategies to further the ACLU brand as needed. Participate in shaping communications plans for legal cases and initiatives to maximize their communications value and effectiveness, as well as the visibility of the ACLU.
• Develop multi-faceted communications and media plans, which include message development, web presence, advocacy and social media, to educate, motivate, and influence target audiences.
• Work in collaboration with the advocacy team to develop communications strategies and tactics for state legislative and advocacy initiatives.
• Develop, update, and distribute issue talking points (in the form of message grids); work with lawyers and advocates to develop messaging on sensitive and/or controversial issues.
• Prepare clients, litigators, state advocates, and other spokespeople for media appearances.
• Collaborating with the senior writer/editor, , conceptualize, draft and edit blog posts for the ACLU’s blog, Speak Freely.
• Write and edit website text, reports and other communications materials.
• Strategize to determine the most effective spokespeople for disseminating the ACLU messages and brand.
• Provide guidance to affiliates in the development of communications materials and strategy, when necessary.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications or a related field required.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in a combination of the following areas: media, strategic communications, digital communications, and public relations.
• Experience working on issue-based advocacy campaigns and/or political campaigns.
• Experience in communicating complex issues to varied audiences.
• Must possess strong organizational skills, be detail-oriented and possess the ability to follow projects through to completion.
• Ability to communicate persuasively and professionally, in writing through op-eds and blog posts, and to communicate verbally to a wide variety of media, political, stakeholder and influencer audiences.
• Experience working with the media and cultivating relationships with print, radio, television and online journalists.
• Experience crafting social media messages, and promoting issues through social media required.
• Familiarity with online news, social media and digital advocacy tactics.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with others in a team environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Associated Press style required. Familiarity with Cision/Vocus public relations software a plus.
• A demonstrated interest in civil liberties and passion for the work of the ACLU is essential.
Possessing these skills is a plus:
• Basic proficiency with HTML; experience using a CMS to publish and update website content.
• Experience using Photoshop to edit basic graphics.
• Understanding of trends and best practices for online campaigning, and best practices for communicating via email, Facebook and Twitter.
•
COMPENSATION

The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

Online Campaigner [COMM-52/32], ACLUF, Communications Department, NY

July 15, 2015
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Online Campaigner [COMM-52/32]
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
Communications Department, New York, NY

The ACLU is seeking two full-time Online Campaigners to join our Online Engagement unit of the Communications Department in New York.

OVERVIEW

The Online Campaigner will develop and execute strategies to mobilize supporters using email, web, social media, and other digital platforms. Reporting to the Director of Online Engagement, the Online Campaigner will work with ACLU’s Online Engagement unit of the Communications Department to increase the number of ACLU supporters and donors to expand their engagement with the organization through targeted advocacy, outreach, and engagement campaigns.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Write and edit compelling campaign content including emails, social media posts, landing pages and actions to engage supporters to take action and participate in campaigns.
• Develop petitions, letters to elected officials, and other online advocacy campaigns.
• Code and test HTML and CSS emails using email management software; review and edit emails to ensure quality.
• Liaise with key Communications, Development, Advocacy, and Program staff to establish campaign goals, develop campaign concepts, and review content.
• Design and implement test plans, metrics and segmentation for A/B and multivariate split tests for email, social media, and website content.
• Develop list-building tactics using web, social media, and email communications.
• Compile statistics, analysis and reports on the performance of online campaigns including email, social and website components.
• Work with vendors, consultants and contractors to implement online campaigns.
• Monitor news and current events for our priority issue areas to identify potential campaign opportunities.
• Conduct research for new technologies and tactics for online engagement as needed.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience and a minimum of three years’ experience in nonprofit communications, online campaigning, or related fields is required.
• Must possess experience with issue-based advocacy, communications, and fundraising strategies.
• Must possess a keen understanding of effective list growth and engagement strategies.
•
• Experience developing content for issue-based or political advocacy campaigns; familiarity with a range of online campaigning tools, tactics and strategies.
• Excellent verbal, writing and interpersonal communication skills; strong attention to detail, ability to write and deliver work product under deadlines, and with commitment to high quality standards.
• Proficiency using HTML and CSS to code emails for multiple email clients; experience using Photoshop or other design tools to create basic graphics.
• Basic Drupal and email management system experience.
• Understanding of trends and best practices for online campaigning, and best practices for communicating via email, Facebook and Twitter required; experience using social media trend analysis tools is preferred.
• Commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU.

Online Campaigner [COMM-52/32], ACLUF, Communications Department, NY

July 15, 2015
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Online Campaigner [COMM-52/32]
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
Communications Department, New York, NY

The ACLU is seeking two full-time Online Campaigners to join our Online Engagement unit of the Communications Department in New York.

OVERVIEW

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Interim Producer, Initiatives

Interim Producer, Initiatives
Job Title: Interim Producer, Initiatives
Department: Production
Division: Programs
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Reports To: Senior Producer, Initiatives & Internal Audio
Status: Full Time, Temporary (Immediately – December 31, 2015), Exempt

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Producer works with the Senior Producer, Initiatives & Internal Audio and the rest of the Production Department to produce content related to StoryCorps’ initiatives, to air regularly on NPR. The Producer also creates other audio content to promote the project, including promos and edited segments for internal and external use. Producers also assist in the creation of production schedules and broadcast plans, research, pitch, and record StoryCorps interviews, and manage and prioritize tape coming in through various StoryCorps recording sites. Producers are also responsible for editing staff and interns.

StoryCorps tells stories from an inclusive range of American voices – with programs and initiatives including OutLoud, an initiative that collects the voices of the LGBTQ community, StoryCorps Griot to preserve stories of African Americans, StoryCorps Historias to collect the experiences of Latinos, and our National Teachers Initiative and Military Voices Initiative, focused on stories of America’s teachers and post-9/11 military, respectively. Candidates with knowledge of the histories and cultures of diverse communities are encouraged to apply.

Experience producing content representative of diverse voices, for diverse audiences, is strongly preferred. Familiarity with post-9/11 veteran and military topics, issues and content is preferred. Familiarity with the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ-related topics, issues and content is also preferred.

The Interim Producer, Initiatives position has an end date of December 31, 2015.

Excellent benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, Flexible Spending Account, 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan, Employee Assistance Plan, TransitCheks, and paid time off (vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Produce stories for StoryCorps’ national initiative-related broadcasts on NPR, including fact checking and writing host copy
Produce other content as necessary, including promos and other edited segments for external or internal use by the organization
Train and edit staff and interns
Research, pitch, and record StoryCorps interviews for potential production use
Identify and track tape for potential production use from recording booths
Provide department with production and administrative support
Serve as an active, engaged member of the StoryCorps Production department, including participation in regular departmental meetings and interdepartmental project teams
Actively work to ensure that a diversity of stories and participants are selected for production, and that our content is relevant and accessible to diverse audiences
Perform other duties to support the production department, as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

Bachelor’s degree
Minimum 3 years of work experience in producing audio for broadcast and the web
Demonstrated expertise in non-linear, narrative, digital editing, including mixing music and audio
Demonstrated research skills and journalistic instinct
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated experience working as part of a team in a deadline-oriented, fast-paced environment
Willingness and ability to travel nationally, at minimum 4 times per year
Ability to be flexible and adaptable in order to contribute to problem-solving activities within a growing, changing organization
Cultural competence/humility and the ability to work successfully with diverse groups of people
Belief and interest in the mission of StoryCorps

Preferred:

Experience producing for a national audience; a history of producing narratorless stories is also a plus
Experience producing content representative of diverse voices, for diverse audiences (strongly preferred)
Experience and familiarity with post 9/11 veteran and military-related topics, issues and content
Experience and familiarity with the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ-related topics, issues and content
Experience editing with ProTools
Fluency in a language other than English; Spanish language fluency strongly preferred