Director of Media Relations

Date Posted
Close Date
Location
Remote
Job Type
Full-Time

Family Equality

Job Title: Director of Media Relations

Location: Flexible (Remote) – ability to set up a home office is required

Reporting to: Chief Communications Officer

Salary: $60,000-70,000 + generous benefits package

Key relationships: CCO, Video Producer & Storyteller, CEO, Chief of Staff

Status: Full time, salaried

Background:
Family Equality advances legal and lived equality for current and future
LGBTQ+ families through building community, changing hearts and minds, and
driving policy change. We envision a future where:
-All LGBTQ+ families and youth live in communities that recognize, respect,
protect, and value them.
-Everyone has the right and opportunity to form and sustain a loving family.
-Systems of service and support are free of discrimination and maximize
opportunities for LGBTQ+ families & youth.

As an organization, we have prioritized anti-racism and integrating racial
equity into every facet of our work. We acknowledge our history as a
predominately white organization and are committed to ending white supremacy.
Doing so is essential to our objective of full equality for all LGBTQ+
people.

Family Equality provides a team-based environment, and we value the benefits
of a diversified staff and workplace. Black (or African American),
Indigenous, Asian Pacific Islander, Latinx, Middle Eastern, North African,
and other people who belong to communities of color; LGBTQ+ people; intersex
people; women; immigrants; people with disabilities, including those living
with HIV; formerly incarcerated people; and people with lived experiences in
poverty and the child welfare system are strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Summary:
Family Equality is seeking to fulfill a new role on our Communications team:
Director of Media Relations. With nearly four million LGBTQ+ millennials
seeking to expand their families and critical legislation like the Equality
Act sitting in Congress, we need to ensure that the people who need us can
find us. By generating media coverage across print, digital, and broadcast
outlets, the Director of Media Relations will play a crucial role in raising
awareness for our work and shaping public discourse.

Family Equality’s Director of Media Relations will oversee day-to-day media
inquiries and rapid response communications in addition to developing and
implementing long-term press and media engagement strategies.  They will work
closely with the rest of the Communications team: our video
producer/storyteller and our Chief Communications Officer.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Our new Director of Media Relations will amplify Family Equality’s work
by…
-Developing media strategies that will expand our reach and authentically
engage LGBTQ+ audiences, BIPOC communities, and key
influencers/decision-makers/allies;
-Conducting frequent media training and providing daily opportunity-specific
media prep for Family Equality spokespersons and staff; this includes
producing background information and talking points (“if-asked”
guidances);
-Ensuring consistent messaging and branding across all of Family Equality’s
media materials and related communications collateral;
-Creating formal media & press plans for events, reports, project launches,
etc.;
-Distributing press releases, media advisories, and other Family Equality
materials (primary through MuckRack);
-Collaborating with the Communications team, the Chief of Staff, and the
Chief Executive Officer to create media moments and highlight Family
Equality’s work, including providing media support to the CEO’s speaking
engagements;
-Tracking media coverage and creating reports for internal teams and external
stakeholders.

Our new Director of Media Relations will shape the LGBTQ+ family narrative in
media by…
-Creating, maintaining, and implementing an editorial calendar for pitching
editorials, profiles, and other Family Equality-related content—regularly
offering spokespeople to media outlets;
-Drafting and reviewing op-eds and LTEs written by staff and spokespeople;
-Meeting with journalists, editors, producers, and editorial boards to deepen
relationships and generate new opportunities for coverage;
-Serving as a responsive point of contact for media requests;
-Maintaining a comprehensive media database of journalists and press contacts
(primarily through MuckRack);
-Monitoring publications, social media, and other sources for Family Equality
mentions, relevant stories, and new press contacts.

Our new Director of Media Relations will drive action in support of LGBTQ+
families by…
-Managing rapid-response and crisis communications;
-Supporting Policy, Programs, and Development teams with media needs,
including coordinating press conference logistics;
-Creating engaging, inspiring press materials like press releases and quotes
from Family Equality’s leadership (often via rapid response);
-Working cross-departmentally to identify key storytellers for press and
media opportunities;
-Representing Family Equality at coalition meetings, coordinating strategy on
key issues with movement partners, and ensuring that Family Equality’s
voice is included in coverage.

Note: You will spend most days on the phone, video, or email communicating
with our team internally and potential collaborators externally. We are
interested in candidates who are passionate about traditional media and want
to play this vital role in the movement for LGBTQ+ family equality!

Qualifications & Desired Skills
This job is for you if you are…
-An experienced media relations professional who has worked closely with a
nonprofit organization or entity;
-Committed to the fight for LGBTQ+ equality;
-Committed to racial and economic justice with an understanding of—or
demonstrated desire to learn about—the concepts of institutional and
structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and
underrepresented communities;
-Unflappable – some communications may feel high intensity (urgent,
immediate, etc.); we need a person committed to creative problem-solving,
even under pressure.

We’re also looking for someone who can…
-Leverage digital and social media to develop media relationships and drive
coverage;
-Draft, edit, review, and strengthen press releases, quotes, op-eds, talking
points, media statements, email pitches, briefing documents, and other
written materials;
-Synthesize complex and lengthy concepts and stories into compelling,
digestible pieces of content;
-Work collaboratively with remote employees;
-Be responsible as the “final approver” of communications that will go
public.

Finally, we’re hoping to find someone who has…
-A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in journalism,
English, Media & Communications, or a related field
-A consistent track record of placing a variety of high-impact media coverage
in broadcast, radio, print, and digital outlets;
-Strong relationships with an extensive network of journalists, editors, and
producers at leading media outlets across print, digital, radio, and
television—especially outlets focused on diversifying audiences;
-Experience with media relations tools and services (like Muckrack), Adobe
Creative Suites, and project-management software like Asana;
-Knowledge of AP-style guidelines;
-Attention to detail and strong proofreading skills.

Logistics:
We are a national organization with staff working remotely throughout the
country. Your desk could be anywhere, as long as you have reliable cell phone
access and high-speed internet (we provide monthly cell phone and internet
stipends).
This full-time position requires you to be available 35-40 hours/week via
phone/Zoom/email. But we are a family organization committed to the
well-being of our employees and their families. As such, we are flexible if
you need to take time to provide rides or support, attend appointments, or be
available for caregiving.
Salary is annual, paid on the 15th and last days of every month.

Process/what to expect:
We will accept applications on an ongoing basis, and the position will remain
open until filled. We aim to complete initial interviews by September 24.
Qualified applicants will receive a reply within five business days to
schedule a conversation.
We expect to conduct initial interviews via Zoom. We will invite a small
group of finalists to a second interview via Zoom. All invitations will be
sent out via email.
The start date is flexible. Ideally, candidates will begin employment no
later than November 1.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a letter of interest, resume, salary requirements,
and writing sample on Idealist (see Link to Apply).

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