Director of Communications (Media Relations and PR)

Job description

Accountabilities Develop and execute an earned-media and public relations strategy across national, regional, digital, broadcast, podcast, creator, entertainment, and emerging media channels. Identify news pegs, cultural moments, policy developments, and emerging conversations where organizational expertise can add meaningful value, then move quickly to secure relevant coverage. Build and maintain strong relationships with reporters, editors, producers, podcast hosts, creators, and other influential media contacts across relevant beats. Develop compelling pitches, press materials, op-eds, executive bylines, story concepts, talking points, and rapid-response communications that translate complex subjects into accessible narratives. Lead strategic entertainment and talent partnership communications, working with internal stakeholders and external partners to turn collaborations into meaningful media opportunities. Support the development and execution of signature editorial projects, including research narratives, reports, documentary collaborations, podcast initiatives, and other high-profile communications campaigns. Partner with public policy teams to elevate federal and state legislative priorities, advocacy initiatives, and survivor-centered programs through integrated communications strategies. Translate complex programmatic, legal, clinical, and research information into clear, compelling messaging for journalists, policymakers, stakeholders, and the public. Build, train, and manage a strong spokesperson bench, preparing executives, subject-matter experts, advocates, and other representatives for interviews across broadcast, print, podcast, and digital platforms. Conduct media preparation, mock interviews, message development, and post-interview debriefs to continuously strengthen spokesperson effectiveness. Serve as a media spokesperson when appropriate and provide credible, confident communication during high-volume news cycles. Support crisis communications efforts, helping coordinate messaging, stakeholder alignment, and rapid responses under time-sensitive conditions. Manage and mentor the Entertainment Partnerships Manager, providing strategic direction, coaching, and performance guidance. Collaborate with communications, marketing, content, creative, policy, program, and leadership teams to ensure communications efforts operate as an integrated organizational function. Manage external PR agency relationships, ensuring partners deliver against strategic objectives and maximize the value of contracted services. Monitor and evaluate communications performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and strengthen organizational PR capabilities and processes. Requirements 10+ years of progressive communications, public relations, media relations, or related experience with a demonstrated record of securing meaningful earned-media coverage. Bachelor's degree or higher in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Political Science, English, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred. Established relationships with reporters, editors, producers, podcast hosts, creators, and other media professionals. Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful PR strategies across both traditional and emerging media ecosystems. Strong understanding of how different platforms and audiences respond to different stories, messages, formats, and communication approaches. Experience working across print, broadcast, digital publications, podcasts, YouTube, creator platforms, newsletters, social media, streaming, and other evolving media channels. Experience cultivating partnerships with celebrities, athletes, musicians, creators, entertainment professionals, or comparable high-profile stakeholders is highly desirable. Experience working with publicists, agents, managers, talent representatives, studios, leagues, labels, or creator networks is a strong advantage. Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to create persuasive pitches, op-eds, press statements, talking points, executive messaging, and long-form content. Strong editorial judgment and the ability to identify the central story within complex programmatic, legal, policy, clinical, or research information. Demonstrated experience preparing and media-training executives, experts, advocates, or organizational spokespeople. Comfortable serving as an on-camera, on-mic, or on-record spokesperson when circumstances require. Strong crisis communications and rapid-response experience, with the composure and judgment to operate effectively under pressure. Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, and people-management skills, including experience developing communications talent. Experience managing external PR agencies and maximizing their strategic and operational contribution. Strong strategic thinking, relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder-management capabilities. Excellent judgment, discretion, and sensitivity when communicating about complex or highly personal issues. Strong understanding of and respect for survivor-centered communications and the ability to communicate about sensitive subject matter with care, integrity, and professionalism. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments while maintaining ownership of strategic priorities. Strong proficiency with Google Workspace, including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Calendar, as well as the ability to quickly adopt new communications and collaboration technologies. Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, stakeholders, and fast-moving news opportunities simultaneously. Must be able to work effectively from a home office with a dependable high-speed internet connection. Must be available for occasional domestic travel, including travel to Washington, D.C., as needed. Benefits Competitive annual salary range of $130,000–$145,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Full-time, exempt position with remote eligibility for residents of the continental United States. Medical, dental, and vision insurance. Life insurance and employee assistance program. 403(b) retirement savings plan. Paid vacation and sick leave. Paid holidays, including an additional bonus week. Free access to the building's fitness center. Opportunity to work on high-impact communications initiatives with significant national visibility. Opportunity to collaborate with experienced policy, survivor-services, marketing, creative, and communications professionals. Leadership, mentoring, and professional development opportunities. Up to 10% domestic travel, primarily to support business needs and periodic collaboration at the Washington, D.C. headquarters. How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best! Why Apply Through Jobgether? Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time. #LI-CL1 This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director of Communications (Media Relations and PR) based in United States. This is a senior communications leadership role focused on building a strong earned-media presence and shaping high-impact public narratives.You will develop and execute PR strategies that connect organizational expertise with the audiences and platforms where they matter most.The role combines media relations, executive communications, thought leadership, entertainment partnerships, and strategic storytelling.You will identify timely news opportunities, cultivate influential media relationships, and turn complex issues into compelling stories.You will also coach senior spokespeople, guide rapid-response communications, and support crisis communications when needed.Working closely with policy, marketing, content, creative, and leadership teams, you will help strengthen visibility and public impact.This is an opportunity for an experienced PR leader to influence important national conversations while mentoring talent and building a high-performing communications function.