National Institute for Reproductive Health, Communications Manager (New York, NY)

[meredit...@gmail.com]

More than the messenger!  NIRH also has several other positions open: https://www.nirhealth.org/who-we-are/jobs-internships/

https://www.nirhealth.org/communications-manager-2/

The National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) builds power at the state and local level to change public policy, galvanize public support, and normalize women’s decisions about abortion and contraception. Using a partnership model, we provide state and local advocates with strategic guidance, hands-on support, and funding to create national change from the ground up. We are a force multiplier – we form strategic partnerships with a wide range of organizations to expand abortion access in every state where it is possible, explore opportunities in cities to protect abortion access and improve residents’ ability to get the care they need, break down barriers to contraceptive access, and invest in young people so they can be healthy and empowered leaders of the reproductive health, rights, and justice movements of tomorrow.   Since 2008, NIRH has provided direct grants and hands-on support to nearly 150 reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations in 39 states and 56 localities across the country. In 2020, NIRH is working with partners in 25 states, including 19 cities and counties, to advance proactive reproductive health, rights, and justice policies

The National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund, with associated PAC’s and IEC, conducts nonpartisan advocacy and electoral engagement to advance reproductive health, rights and justice in states and cities across the country.

The Communications Team contributes to NIRH’s mission by working with media, launching advocacy campaigns, releasing reports and research, working with partners to strengthen their organizations and the movement, communicating with our constituents, and running the organization’s websites and digital channels.

Position Summary

The Communications Manager will be a core member of the communications team. The Communications Manager will staff NIRH’s partnerships by providing hands-on communications support and technical assistance such as media guidance, messaging support, advocacy strategy, and more. The Communications Manager will work closely with other members of the Communications team and the Policy and Partnerships team and report to the Director of Strategic Communications and Campaigns.

The Communications Manager reports directly to the Director of Strategic Communications, and is a full time position located in New York, NY.

Preferred Start Date: October 5, 2020. For more information on NIRH and the NIRH Action Fund, please visit https://www.nirhealth.org.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with NIRH’s state and local partners to provide communications strategy and tactical support, such as media guidance, messaging support, and development of press releases, talking points, and other materials
• Collaborate on media engagement for NIRH and NIRH partners by writing press releases, op-eds, and other materials
• Build strong relationships with partners, based in trust and aligned with NIRH’s unique approach to partnership work
• Lead trainings for partner organizations and other audiences on messaging and best practices in advocacy communications
• Think creatively about communications opportunities for partners
• Advise on and help execute earned and paid advocacy campaigns
• Stay up-to-date on communications and messaging trends within the reproductive health, rights, and justice movement
• Participate in national coalitions, and deepen existing and develop new relationships with allies and other organizations to further communications and advocacy goals.

Qualifications

• Deep commitment to social, reproductive, and racial justice
• Three to five years experience in advocacy communications, preferably partner- or client-facing
• Strong understanding of the reproductive health, rights and justice movement and the communications/media landscape for the issue
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to earn trust from partners and build authentic and respectful relationships with partner organizations
• Comfort and facility with leading trainings
• Excellent writing and communications skills
• Developing communications campaigns, media relations strategies, and public speaking experience desirable.
• Ability and willingness to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Willingness to travel.

Compensation & Benefits: Competitive benefit package and salary commensurate with experience: salary range $65,000 to $75,000. Benefits include: A comprehensive benefits package including the option of employer-paid health insurance; dental insurance; a 401k retirement plan with employer contribution after 6 months; TransitChek benefits; generous paid time off; and Summer Fridays (half days) from June until September. 

Application Procedure: Send resume, cover letter and a writing sample to humanre...@nirhealth.org by August 14, 2020.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

EEO statement: The National Institute for Reproductive Health and NIRH Action Fund is an equal opportunity employer. NIRH and NIRH Action Fund strives to build and support an equitable work community that attracts, develops, and retains exceptional people. As a member of the reproductive freedom movement, NIRH aims to foster leadership and raise the voices of historically marginalized people, including but not limited to Black people and people of color, indigenous/native peoples, LGBTQ and gender non-conforming people, disabled/differently abled people, immigrants, and low-income people. We strongly encourage candidates of these and other diverse backgrounds to apply.

Equity Statement: NIRH and NIRH Action Fund staff and board have committed to racial equity, and as such have been engaged in a multi-year process to adopt a racial equity lens across the organizations. We are a reproductive health and rights organization that incorporates reproductive justice values into our work. We recognize the interconnectivity of identities, such as race, socio-economic status, immigration status, ability, and sex, including sexual orientation, and gender identity, and how they interact with systems of oppressions to shape and impact a person’s freedom and ability to control their reproductive and sexual lives. As a result, this person will join an organization that’s currently engaged in shifting its institutional framework.