About NARAL Pro-Choice America
For more than 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America has fought to protect and expand reproductive freedom-including access to abortion and contraception-for every body. We are powered by our more than 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support the legal right to abortion.
As the oldest and largest national membership organization primarily focused on advocating for abortion access, we organize and mobilize, galvanizing millions of people to take action to defend reproductive freedom, and shining a spotlight of accountability on bad actors who work to impose their ideological agenda on others. We also work to elect champions for reproductive freedom and advance state and federal legislation to safeguard it.
NARAL Pro-Choice America centers diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in our organization and our work. Continuously learning from our history, we strive to hold ourselves accountable so we can realize our vision for a world where reproductive freedom is a reality for all.
About the Role:
Working closely with the Communications Director and other senior communications staff, the Deputy Director of Media Relations will help lead the communications team, manage several members of the team, strategize and execute media relations efforts for advocacy and electoral campaigns, and serve as an on-the-record spokesperson.
The Deputy Director of Media Relations will work with the Communications Director and other senior communications staff to help manage the day-to-day operations of the communications department, assisting with strategic planning, and supporting in the execution of our advocacy and electoral campaigns media communications efforts. They will also help drive our media-facing work on both the state and national level, building relationships with members of the media, leading in the delegation of media outreach and inbound press requests, and serving as an on-the-record spokesperson. They will also manage our Press Secretary, Media Strategist, and Communications Associate.
The ideal candidate will be organized, resourceful, and flexible, with a proven track record of crafting and executing high-impact communications strategies, excellent writing skills, and a top-notch understanding of the news cycle and media environment. They will work on multiple projects at once and must have the ability to excel in a fast-paced environment as well as a demonstrated commitment to NARAL’s core values of collaboration, equity, excellence, inclusion, and transparency and a demonstrated ability to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into every aspect of our work.
This position will help manage the media-facing side of the Communications team, to include direct team management and planning.
Location: Washington, DC – Preferred
Reports To: Director of Communications
Responsible for Managing: Press Secretary, Media Strategist, and Communications Associate
Level: Non-Union Management Level VI, Exempt
Responsibilities
- Work with the Communications Director and other senior communications staff to help manage the day-to-day operations of the communications department, managing several members of the team, assisting with strategic planning, and supporting the execution of our advocacy and electoral campaigns media communications efforts;
- Supervise NARAL’s Press Secretary, Media Strategist, and Communications Associate and others as identified; providing effective mentoring, coaching, support, and guidance;
- Serve as an on-the-record spokesperson for the organization;
- Manage incoming press requests from state and national media;
- Represent the interests and reflect the values of NARAL in high-level stakeholder conversations and interactions, including with members of state and national media and policymakers;
- Communicate with the press to drive NARAL’s narrative and build NARAL’s organizing, electoral, and advocacy power across the country and reach diverse audiences;
- Develop and cultivate relationships with reporters in states and nationally;
- Prepare and staff NARAL spokespeople for media interviews and appearances;
- Generate creative tactics to help our communications breakthrough in a crowded media environment;
- Manage consultants as needed to support communications strategy;
- Manage and support the professional development of communications staff;
- Participate in ongoing planning activities with state chapters, national and regional staff, coalition partners, and key internal committees and task forces;
- Draft, deploy, and/or place letters to the editor, press releases, op-eds, and talking points in key regions and nationally;
- Translate complex research into press-facing products;
- Work across different teams and departments;
- Other projects as assigned
Qualifications (Required)
- 6-8 years of prior relevant experience, with a proven track record of executing high-quality communications work in a fast-paced environment (ideally political and/or advocacy);
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and strong news judgment;
- Proven track record managing effectively, working well across different teams and departments, and coaching and mentoring staff;
- Demonstrated ability to write and edit material quickly and persuasively;
- Organized self-starter with strong time management and strategic planning skills, with the ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment while simultaneously managing both rapid-response and long-term projects;
- A commitment to contribute to a workplace environment in which diversity is valued and supported;
- A demonstrated ability to approach job performance through a diverse and inclusive framework
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle challenges and obstacles with tact, diplomacy, and flexibility;
- Willingness to work some flexible hours;
- Commitment to NARAL Pro-Choice America’s goal of protecting reproductive freedom and ensuring every person is able to make their own decisions about pregnancy and abortion.
Qualifications (Preferred)
- Bilingual in English and Spanish a plus;
- Familiarity with media databases like Cision and Meltwater a plus.
$83,000 – $115,000 a year
NARAL Pro-Choice America is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender or sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), age, marital status, sexual orientations, gender identity or expression, veteran status, uniform service member status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Women, people of color (including bilingual and bicultural individuals), LGBTQ+ persons, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.