Position Description

SENIOR PRESS OFFICER
Department COMMUNICATIONS
Work Location US- Washington, DC
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Work Location : US- Washington, DC Type of Post : Not Applicable
Other Possible Location : US - Atlanta, GA Funding : APPROVED
Expected Travel : up to 10% Type of Contract : 
Language Requirement : English, French Application Deadline : 
Employee Duration : Full-Time  

 

Pay Range Details
$89,192.34 - $103,686.10 Annually

JOB SUMMARY:

CARE is hiring a Senior Press Officer for its Media and Communications team to help manage and execute CARE’s strategic media relations in order to further our organizational objectives so we can continue to grow our voice, profile, and message-pull through in US and global media. With a focus on proactive media engagement and strategic relationship-building with journalists, the candidate will work across the global CARE Network to raise the profile of our development and humanitarian work – as well as our advocacy priorities – in US and international media. They will do so by:

• Helping to develop, manage and/or execute communications strategies that support CARE's signature issues, humanitarian/development programs, advocacy priorities and fundraising goals. 
• Identifying unique opportunities for CARE media coverage in line with our strategic priorities.
• Helping to develop, manage and/or execute CARE’s media relations strategy to elevate the voices of CARE’s thought leaders and subject matter experts.
• Providing focused media relations support to CARE teams in select regions.
• Supporting media relations efforts around CARE’s humanitarian crisis responses, coordinating with CARE’s Country, Regional and other global teams to help ensure timely outreach and quality earned placement.

Reporting to the Director of Media and Communications, the ideal candidate has a strong background working on a media relations team – preferably in a humanitarian or a development context – and an appreciation for international affairs. They should also be an strong writer, and have a passion for our mission to end hunger and poverty through a more gender inclusive world. Strong preference given to candidates who have experience working with a humanitarian or a development NGO. While this position can be remote, preference will be given to candidates based in New York City. Spanish-speakers are preferred.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Media Relations Management

  • Build and cultivate CARE's relationship with key editors/journalists/outlets that keep the public informed on issues related to fighting poverty, responding to emergencies, and empowering girls and women. A special interest is placed on journalists at the most popular outlets reaching CARE's target audience.
  • Help develop and implement strategies for communicating CARE's signature issues and/or advocacy priorities to the public. This includes positioning CARE in a way that drive's home the organization's distinctiveness, targets desired audiences, and results in a well-defined sub-brand. Development and growing CARE's Thought Leadership work is a key component of this role.
  • Increase public awareness of CARE by promoting its poverty-fighting work and women's empowerment brand across US and global media. This includes strategically and proactively pitching to media to secure CARE coverage and managing and responding to media inquiries.
  • Disseminating relevant and timely pitches, press releases and statements to targeted journalists.
  • Vetting media inquiries and obtaining information for journalists/producers who contact CARE from US outlets.
  • Connecting journalists with appropriate CARE colleagues, and staffing interviews as needed.
  • Seeking out opportunities for journalists to visit CARE programs.  
  • Organizing press briefings.

Messaging and Content Development

  • In collaboration with CARE colleagues across the organization -- including senior leadership -- develops/drafts, edits, obtains approvals for, and disseminates press releases and statements as needed, often on short notice.  

Spokesperson Management

  • Identify and support spokespeople -- often members of CARE's senior leadership -- and ensure they are prepared for interviews. This includes developing/drafting, obtaining approvals for, and disseminating talking points and briefing packets; as well as managing media trainings/workshops for spokespeople, both on a consistent and ad hoc basis. Occasionally, serve as spokesperson, as needed. 

Humanitarian Response 

  • Help manage and support CARE's media relations work during a humanitarian crisis or major event, i.e outbreak of armed conflict, earthquakes, typhoons, etc. This includes lining up talking points, spokespeople, identifying unique opportunities for CARE coverage, identifying key journalists covering the crisis and ensuring they receive CARE updates/pitches, staffing interviews as needed, and tracking coverage. 
  • This work is done in partnership/collaboration with CARE’s global Regional Communications Advisors, key country-level CARE stakeholders, and other communications colleagues who are part of the global CARE network.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, international relations, journalism or other related field. 
  • 7 to 9 years of (combined) media relations/communications/public relations/journalism experience 
  • At least 4 years of media relations experience either at an agency or in-house 
  • Knowledge of key U.S. and international media outlets 
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills 

 

There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. Some examples of these fees are placement fees or immigration processing fees. CARE does not use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an up-front fee of any kind. Occasionally, CARE does employ recruiting or placement agencies to help us identify candidates for specific employment within CARE. If you’re contacted by a legitimate recruiting or placement agency, there should be no charge to you. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud from someone purporting to be CARE, please contact us at legal@care.org. Please do not email legal@care.org to apply for this position. Instead, click "apply now" below in order to submit your interest.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. If you’d like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click here.

Starting salaries are based on internal equity, candidate experience, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.

 

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