Director, Public & Media Relations

Summary:

The Director of Public and Media Relations leads a team of communication professionals working to elevate the organization’s legal, legislative, and programmatic work, including issue areas focused on hate and extremism, immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, economic justice, children’s rights and voting rights through media and public relations activities.

Primary Job Functions:

• Manages a team of communications and media relations professionals toward successful outcomes;
• Hires, trains, and monitors staff performance and development goals, assign duties, conduct performance reviews, and provide coaching to improve team workflow;
• Leads public and media relations activities across the organization, ensuring integration throughout communications, legal, legislative, and programmatic work, and alignment with organizational messaging, brand, and style;
• Designs and implements comprehensive public education and integrated communications campaigns to advance SPLC’s goals, priorities and impact at the local, state, and national level;
• Drafts effective content — including messaging and talking points, Op-Eds, web content and other content as needed — that help shape public discourse and engage and mobilize target audiences;
• Tracks breaking news and works with media relations and social media teams to successfully implement rapid response protocols;
• Leverages contacts across print, online and broadcast media to secure high-quality interviews and press coverage;
• Work some evenings and/or weekends in the event of breaking news or organizational events;
• Travel as required for organizational events; and
• Other duties assigned.

Qualifications –

Education and Related Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of communications work experience, with an emphasis in either agency, in-house or nonprofit;
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience;
• Substantial experience implementing and leading public education campaigns and communications strategies that help shape public discourse and secure successful outcomes;
• Experience leading a communications team responsible for reaching multiple internal and external audiences; and
• High school diploma or GED

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge of and experience working with regional and national news media, including traditional, online, television, radio and podcasts;
• Knowledge and experience in creating and executing public relations plans and activities;
• Ability to draft effective content — including messaging and talking points — that engage and mobilize target audiences;
• Has existing relationships and a contacts list full of bookers at leading TV/radio outlets and journalists from top-tier print/online outlets;
• Ability to pitch and place stories and Op-eds with large mainstream media outlets and building thought leadership programs for key spokespeople;
• Ability to position an organization, political candidate, or cause in a competitive communications environment;  
• Exceptional communications skills, including clear, concise writing and ability to frame complex issues for the media, supporters and public;
• Exceptional editing and writing skills, including drafting Op-eds, web content, and other content as needed;
• Ability to coach and support senior leaders as spokespersons;
• Commitment to ideals of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and
• Commitment to fostering an anti-racist work culture and to anti-racist principles and learning.

Compensation:

This is an exempt role, and the minimum starting salary is $155,400 annually. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Work Designation: 

This role has the following work designation options: 

• Local Remote:  Will work remotely but are expected to attend work-related activities that occur at the SPLC offices or in the states in which the SPLC operates.
• Telework:  Will work at an SPLC office at least three days per week and may work two days per week from an alternative work location

Other Special Considerations:

This job is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to any strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

Disclaimer:

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, gender identity, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation, national origin, or prior record of arrest or conviction.