Director, External Communications and Media Relations
Partnership for Public Service
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: Washington • District of Columbia • Washington • United States
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Salary
💰 $125,000 - $160,000 per year
Job Level
About the role
- Oversee the Partnership’s proactive and rapid response media relations work and team by providing strategic direction and high-level oversight to elevate the Partnership as a local and national expert and leader in government reform.
- Monitor and analyze the current media and policy landscape to identify opportunities for engagement and proactive media strategies to support and amplify organizational priorities (e.g., op-eds, interviews and strategic content placement).
- Oversee rapid response communications during breaking news and relevant policy developments, ensuring timely, accurate and accessible messaging.
- Manage rapid response protocols, communication systems and decision-making frameworks.
- In partnership with the Vice President of Communications and Public Engagement, lead crisis communications, including reputational risk anticipation and response planning.
- In partnership with the Vice President of Communications and Public Engagement, develop and refine organizational messaging, brand voice and narrative strategies, ensuring they reflect the organization’s priorities and policy positioning.
- Serve as a thought partner to executives on message development, narrative framing and public positioning.
- Train and support staff and key partners as ambassadors of the Partnership’s value proposition and messaging.
- Oversee the editorial team and editorial process.
- Set the standard for high-impact writing and provide high-level content leadership that elevates quality and clarity, while empowering team to own and deliver consistently excellent work.
- Serve as principal copy writer and editor across external facing products, including media materials (e.g., news releases, statements, etc.), research reports and policy papers.
- Ensure products reflect Partnership’s style, values and messaging and advance strategic goals.
- Collaborate with Partnership’s researchers and policy experts to ensure external products are accurate, accessible and strategically aligned.
Requirements
- At least 10 years of successful experience demonstrated in external communications or media relations, ideally in a senior or leadership role.
- National-level experience with understanding the evolving media landscape, crisis management and rapid response communications and campaigns.
- Experience supervising staff, managing competing priorities and maintaining high-quality output in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Experience navigating complex political, operational and interpersonal dynamics.
- A Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications or a similar field, or a combination of experience and education in professional work or military experience.
Benefits
- medical, dental and vision coverage
- life insurance
- long- and short-term disability insurance
- 401(k) program with a 4 percent employer match
- opportunities for training and development
- commuter benefits
- 15 days of annual leave per year
- 10 days of sick leave per year
- plus all federal holidays and the day after Thanksgiving off
- use of an on-site exercise facility
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
media relationscrisis communicationsstrategic content placementhigh-impact writingcopy writingeditorial process managementnarrative developmentmessage developmentpolicy analysisrapid response communications
Soft Skills
strategic directionleadershipteam managementcommunicationcollaborationtrainingproblem-solvingdecision-makinginterpersonal dynamicsorganizational messaging