Director of Communications (Media Relations and PR)

Accountabilities

• • Develop and execute an earned-media and public relations strategy across national, regional, digital, broadcast, podcast, creator, entertainment, and emerging media channels.
  • Identify news pegs, cultural moments, policy developments, and emerging conversations where organizational expertise can add meaningful value, then move quickly to secure relevant coverage.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with reporters, editors, producers, podcast hosts, creators, and other influential media contacts across relevant beats.
  • Develop compelling pitches, press materials, op-eds, executive bylines, story concepts, talking points, and rapid-response communications that translate complex subjects into accessible narratives.
  • Lead strategic entertainment and talent partnership communications, working with internal stakeholders and external partners to turn collaborations into meaningful media opportunities.
  • Support the development and execution of signature editorial projects, including research narratives, reports, documentary collaborations, podcast initiatives, and other high-profile communications campaigns.
  • Partner with public policy teams to elevate federal and state legislative priorities, advocacy initiatives, and survivor-centered programs through integrated communications strategies.
  • Translate complex programmatic, legal, clinical, and research information into clear, compelling messaging for journalists, policymakers, stakeholders, and the public.
  • Build, train, and manage a strong spokesperson bench, preparing executives, subject-matter experts, advocates, and other representatives for interviews across broadcast, print, podcast, and digital platforms.
  • Conduct media preparation, mock interviews, message development, and post-interview debriefs to continuously strengthen spokesperson effectiveness.
  • Serve as a media spokesperson when appropriate and provide credible, confident communication during high-volume news cycles.
  • Support crisis communications efforts, helping coordinate messaging, stakeholder alignment, and rapid responses under time-sensitive conditions.
  • Manage and mentor the Entertainment Partnerships Manager, providing strategic direction, coaching, and performance guidance.
  • Collaborate with communications, marketing, content, creative, policy, program, and leadership teams to ensure communications efforts operate as an integrated organizational function.
  • Manage external PR agency relationships, ensuring partners deliver against strategic objectives and maximize the value of contracted services.
  • Monitor and evaluate communications performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and strengthen organizational PR capabilities and processes.

  Requirements

  • 10+ years of progressive communications, public relations, media relations, or related experience with a demonstrated record of securing meaningful earned-media coverage.
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Political Science, English, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
  • Established relationships with reporters, editors, producers, podcast hosts, creators, and other media professionals.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful PR strategies across both traditional and emerging media ecosystems.
  • Strong understanding of how different platforms and audiences respond to different stories, messages, formats, and communication approaches.
  • Experience working across print, broadcast, digital publications, podcasts, YouTube, creator platforms, newsletters, social media, streaming, and other evolving media channels.
  • Experience cultivating partnerships with celebrities, athletes, musicians, creators, entertainment professionals, or comparable high-profile stakeholders is highly desirable.
  • Experience working with publicists, agents, managers, talent representatives, studios, leagues, labels, or creator networks is a strong advantage.
  • Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to create persuasive pitches, op-eds, press statements, talking points, executive messaging, and long-form content.
  • Strong editorial judgment and the ability to identify the central story within complex programmatic, legal, policy, clinical, or research information.
  • Demonstrated experience preparing and media-training executives, experts, advocates, or organizational spokespeople.
  • Comfortable serving as an on-camera, on-mic, or on-record spokesperson when circumstances require.
  • Strong crisis communications and rapid-response experience, with the composure and judgment to operate effectively under pressure.
  • Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, and people-management skills, including experience developing communications talent.
  • Experience managing external PR agencies and maximizing their strategic and operational contribution.
  • Strong strategic thinking, relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder-management capabilities.
  • Excellent judgment, discretion, and sensitivity when communicating about complex or highly personal issues.
  • Strong understanding of and respect for survivor-centered communications and the ability to communicate about sensitive subject matter with care, integrity, and professionalism.
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments while maintaining ownership of strategic priorities.
  • Strong proficiency with Google Workspace, including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Calendar, as well as the ability to quickly adopt new communications and collaboration technologies.
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, stakeholders, and fast-moving news opportunities simultaneously.
  • Must be able to work effectively from a home office with a dependable high-speed internet connection.
  • Must be available for occasional domestic travel, including travel to Washington, D.C., as needed.

  Benefits

  • Competitive annual salary range of $130,000–$145,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
  • Full-time, exempt position with remote eligibility for residents of the continental United States.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Life insurance and employee assistance program.
  • 403(b) retirement savings plan.
  • Paid vacation and sick leave.
  • Paid holidays, including an additional bonus week.
  • Free access to the building's fitness center.
  • Opportunity to work on high-impact communications initiatives with significant national visibility.
  • Opportunity to collaborate with experienced policy, survivor-services, marketing, creative, and communications professionals.
  • Leadership, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
  • Up to 10% domestic travel, primarily to support business needs and periodic collaboration at the Washington, D.C. headquarters.