Senior Communications Manager

Summary:

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth is a nonprofit research and grantmaking organization dedicated to advancing evidence-backed ideas and policies that promote strong, stable, and broad-based economic growth. Equitable Growth engages with academics and policymakers to better understand economic inequality in the United States and its impact on economic growth. Important elements of Equitable Growth's mission include grantmaking to academic economists and other social scientists to support new research on inequality, mobility, growth, and related issues, as well as work to apply the best available academic evidence to the policy world. Building a stronger bridge between academics and the policy community and elevating researchers and their work with the news media are both key to our work, with the goal of making new research relevant, accessible, and informative to the policymaking process.

Equitable Growth seeks a media relations and digital expert to elevate its network of scholars. The Washington Center for Equitable Growth is actively committed to promoting and maintaining the importance of diversity to its work. We encourage everyone across the spectrums of race, ethnicity, nationality, ability, age, gender identity and expression, educational background, sexual orientation, and religion to apply. This is a bargaining unit position.

Responsibilities:

Media relations and thought leadership

• Oversee development, management, and execution of media relations strategies that advance Equitable Growth's mission and center the relationship between economic inequality and economic growth and stability
• Identify and leverage key moments in policy news to promote the expertise of Equitable Growth staff, fellows, scholars, and broader academic network with the press
• Strategically and proactively elevate staff and academic network's efforts in public debates, Equitable Growth-hosted events, and other external opportunities with press
• Manage development of all press materials (e.g., press releases, backgrounders, media advisories and invites) to elevate Equitable Growth products, events, and contributed pieces for placement in national and regional media outlets
• Build, deepen, and expand the organization's relationships with journalists, especially economic policy reporters
• Lead media training efforts for Equitable Growth's staff and academic network
• In partnership with Senior Director, Communications and Marketing, develop organizational messaging and talking points, as well as conduct practice Q&A with experts as needed
• Work in partnership with the Senior Director to elevate the President and CEO's public profile, including identifying thought leadership and external speaking opportunities; managing relationship-building with key journalists; and ownership of their digital presence

Management

• Serve as day-to-day point of contact with outside vendors and consultants (e.g., media monitoring and PR firms)
• Directly supervise Senior Digital Associate to meet individual, team, and organizational goals and objectives

Social media

• Collaborate with Senior Digital Associate to set the organizational social media strategy and direction
• Oversee day-to-day execution of organizational social media calendar, including drafting, editing, and posting content as needed

Requirements:

• Minimum of 5-7 years of communications experience, including a mix of media relations and digital media experience
• Minimum 1-2 years of management experience with at least one direct report
• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public policy, economics, political science, or related field
• Exceptional written and oral communication abilities, with the ability to distill research clearly and in an engaging manner
• Proven track record of cultivating relationships with reporters and influencers required; existing relationships with reporters covering economics strongly preferred
• Experience with relevant media monitoring tools (e.g., Cision, Meltwater)
• Experience leveraging digital tools (specifically social media) and platforms to meet communications objectives
• Knowledge of economics media landscape a plus
• Experience in economics, public policy, or research-driven organizations a plus
• Experience using email marketing software (e.g., Marketo or Mailchimp) a plus
• Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills
• Ability to work on a number of projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines
• Proficiency with Salesforce or similar data management system preferred; proficiency with basic computer applications (Office Suite and Google Docs) required; willingness and ability to learn additional software as needed
• Team player, excellent interpersonal skills and a solution-oriented mindset