Media relations director for children's advocacy nonprofit (DC)
Meg Biallas
The Media Relations Director leads the organization’s efforts to secure news media coverage of its advocacy effort and federal children’s issues. Key responsibilities include working with First Focus policy staff to translate advocacy activities into press releases, media statements, and commentaries, tracking news coverage of the organization, and collaborating with the organization’s Senior Director for Digital Communications to create and curate engaging content. Prior media relations or newsroom experience is required, and familiarity with routine Capitol Hill legislative processes is preferred. Salary is commensurate with experience. The Media Relations Director reports to the President.
First Focus is a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization launched in 2005. The organization works to make children a higher priority for national policymakers, working on a range of issues from education, healthcare, and poverty, to tax, hunger, and homelessness. First Focus and its partner organization, the First Focus Campaign for Children, have earned media coverage in Capitol Hill trade publications like POLITICO and Roll Call, national outlets like The New York Times and USA Today, and regional outlets relevant to key policymakers.
The Director of Media Relations must be a high-energy, prolific manager of the First Focus Campaign For Children media portfolio, who can maintain a fast pace of work and build a consistent competitive advantage. The director must also be capable of discreetly and professionally managing public interest surrounding high-profile members of First Focus Leadership.
The ideal candidate for Media Relations Director will have a strong track record in media relations, particularly with national nonprofit, political and/or issue campaign experience. S/he must have a command of the national media landscape as well as the workings of local media markets. Digital media savvy is a must. Experience in multicultural media and fluency in Spanish (as well as a strong track record with Spanish language media) are highly desired, though not required.
In addition to strong relationship management skills, the next director must have strong writing and editing skills, an extensive track record in achieving strategic story placements, and an eagerness to embrace all forms of communications.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and execute a plan to expand the First Focus and First Focus Campaign for Children earned media footprint, with particular attention paid to targeted local markets, the digital news media arena and multicultural media.
- Maintain and enhance the strong relationships First Focus has with major national media outlets and industry leaders.
- Manage development of all media relations materials, ensuring consistency in message, tone, brand presentation and style.
- Serve as a communications counselor to the President First Focus, management, leadership team and staff.
- Work collaboratively with internal cross-functional teams.
- Manage relationships with relevant external partners.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:
- Demonstrated experience and leadership in media relations across broadcast, print, digital and multicultural channels, on both national and local levels.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize deliverables, and handle unanticipated demands and requests.
- Experience managing outside contractors and vendors.
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex materials including research into digestible and powerful communications.
- Ability to meaningfully measure and track media exposure and impact on the work of First Focus.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, with attention to clarity and details, for a variety of materials and audiences.
- Top-notch oral and presentation skills.
- High level of creativity in approach to content.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, a collaborative style, ability to engage colleagues at all levels.
- Minimum of 8 – 10 years of progressively challenging experience in media relations positions, including national level media
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree welcome.