Director of Media Relations

Title: Director of Media Relations
Department: Communications
Status: Exempt
Reports To: SVP, Communications
Positions Reporting To This Position: National Press Secretary, Communications Associate Manager
Location: Washington, DC
Travel Requirements: Up to 15%
Union Position: No
Job Classification Level: M-II
Salary Range (depending on experience): $99,418 – $140,400

General Description:

LCV believes our earth is worth fighting for because everyone has a right to clean air, water, and a safe, healthy community. To ensure those rights are protected, we help people use their power to shape policy, hold politicians and polluters accountable, and influence elections.

For more than 50 years, LCV has grown into a potent political force for protecting our planet and everyone who inhabits it. We have built a powerful national movement with 30 state affiliates, and grassroots and community organizing programs across the country.

LCV is hiring a Director of Media Relations to position the LCV family of entities and our issues at the forefront of the political debate, major legislative initiatives and some of the most important elections in the country. The Director of Media Relations develops and oversees the implementation of LCV’s national media relations strategies with LCV’s communications, campaigns, legislative and community organizing teams to build relationships and generate earned media for LCV and affiliated entities on priority issues and campaigns. The Director directly manages multiple national communications staff and facilitates planning and coordination across the entire communications department with other senior managers.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee national media relations efforts to drive narratives that will reach key stakeholders as well as new and diverse audiences, including high-profile and complex media opportunities.
• Lead and develop a dynamic and high-performing media relations team whose work is grounded in our organizational values of accountability, anti-racism, community, innovation, learning, and sustainability.
• Actively participate in planning and setting the strategic direction for the Communications department overall as a member of the management team.
• As part of the Communications Management Team, ensure quality and consistency of values, including racial justice and equity, brand identity, narrative, tone, and personality across all communications channels, and collaborate with stakeholders throughout the organization to define, drive, and maintain media strategies ensuring alignment with LCV’s goals and mission. 
• Lead the development of national media relations strategies in collaboration with other communications and program teams, including rapid response, to generate earned media for priority issues and campaigns – especially Climate, Democracy, and Elections.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with top-tier political and policy reporters, editors and producers in Washington, DC and nationwide, including expanding relationships with reporters and press outlets whose audience is predominantly people of color, women and young people. 
• Serve as an on-the-record spokesperson and prepare and staff principals for media interviews and appearances.
• Oversee, edit, produce and distribute written materials, including press releases, op-eds, and memos.
• Coordinate closely on communications and overall strategy with coalition partners and outside organizations. Coordinate with LCV state affiliates through the State Communications Director and Chispa Communications Director.
• Travel up to 15% of the time for occasional press staffing needs, staff retreats, conferences, and professional development opportunities, as needed.
• Perform additional communications-related responsibilities, as needed.

Qualifications:

• Work Experience: Required – 7 years experience in media relations with a proven track record of executing high-quality communications work in a fast-paced environment. Demonstrated experience managing high-performing staff and ability to develop, coach, and mentor direct reports. Demonstrated experience with high-level strategic communications planning. Demonstrated experience landing high profile exclusives and op-eds. Preferred – Issue or candidate campaign and/or government experience. Strong relationships with top-tier political and environmental reporters, producers and editors. Demonstrated experience with social media as a media relations tool. Experience building relationships with media outlets run by, and focused on communities of color.
• Skills: Required – Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; strong news judgment; proven entrepreneurial abilities, creativity, and initiative; ability to multitask without sacrificing quality of work. Demonstrated ability applying a racial justice lens to communications, including crafting of culturally competent language, and ability to confidently speak to and elevate our work around racial justice and equity. Preferred – Deep understanding of environmental issues and politics, including the intersections of climate, economic, and racial justice and the potential to engage the public in advocacy around these issues; deep understanding of national democracy and voting rights issues.
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity, views about difference, and the ability to learn and build on varying cultural and community norms. Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. Understands how environmental issues intersect with racism, economic and social inequality in the US and has a passion for working to dismantle these systems. Interest in electoral politics and understanding of how the electoral landscape affects policy advocacy.
• Working Conditions: This job operates in a professional office environment, and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and audiovisual systems. This position is largely sedentary, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods. The person in this position frequently communicates with journalists and must be able to exchange accurate information. Ability to work hours exceeding stated office hours as needed. Applicants need to be located in and legally authorized to work in the United States. LCV requires all employees working from our offices or participating in in-person meetings or events to be fully up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law.

LCV offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes vacation, sick and parental leave, personal days, paid holidays, health insurance (two plan options for staff to choose from), dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance (short- and long-term), Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contribution, commuter benefits program, sabbatical, and student loan assistance.

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to hr@lcv.org with “Director of Media Relations” in the subject line by September 17, 2023. No phone calls please. 

LCV is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a racially just, equitable and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected status. LCV is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact hr@lcv.org.

Website: https://www.lcv.org/careers/director-of-media-relations/ 

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to hr@lcv.org with “Director of Media Relations” in the subject line by September 17, 2023. No phone calls please.