Communications Associate - Ideas for America

Scholars Strategy Network•Boston, MA

3d•$58,000 - $66,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Scholars Strategy Network (SSN) is hiring a Communications Associate to lead the communications work associated with its new Ideas for America initiative and contribute to the success of SSN’s overall communications program. Ideas for America will help scholars develop and then elevate research-based policy proposals during the upcoming presidential election cycle, as well as in federal and state policy circles. As Ideas for America launches, we anticipate that the Communications Associate will focus on developing custom media strategies for each proposal and work directly with the researchers involved in the project on their media efforts including op-eds and interviews in order to bring attention to their policy ideas and the project as a whole. Communications Associates work on a variety of issue areas related to our members’ research and interests. In addition to the work around Ideas for America, the Communications Associate will cultivate requests from journalists for connections to scholars or research, proactively identify media opportunities and activate scholars around them, and help individual scholars seeking advice on how to engage with the media.

Requirements

1-3 years of experience in communications, journalism, public relations, or similar positions.
Excellent writing and editing skills, capable of translating complex concepts into accessible language.
Experience working with research and/or academics.
Comfortable working with a range of journalists (print, TV, radio, podcasts).
Experience writing, editing, and pitching op-eds and Letters to the Editor.
Familiarity with and interest in US domestic policy and politics.
Highly organized, able to track multiple projects and tasks, and good at multi-tasking.
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Dropbox, Salesforce, virtual meeting channels like Zoom, and content databases.
Committed to SSN’s mission and understanding of SSN’s structure.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with a range of journalists, including print, TV, radio, and podcasts.

Responsibilities

Develop custom media strategy plans for selected projects, focusing on media moments, targeted outlets/journalists, and key talking points.
Monitor national and state news to identify timely moments to activate researchers or elevate ideas from the Ideas for America project.
Build relationships with national and state-level reporters, producers, and editors to help researchers elevate their ideas via the media.
Actively monitor and build lists of relevant media stakeholders.
Conduct direct outreach to build relationships on behalf of SSN.
Introduce researchers and their policy proposals during timely moments.
Work closely with researchers to identify the best ways to market and communicate their policy proposals and expertise.
Help prepare researchers for media opportunities, including pre-interview coaching, feedback on pitches/op-eds, and post-publication amplification.
Help market the Ideas for America project, including a DC-based launch event.
Bring press attention to the project and individual researchers/proposals.
Support subsequent events as opportunities arise.
Help scholars translate academic writing into accessible language for broad public audiences and the media.
Connect scholars and their research to media opportunities at federal, state, and local levels.
Advise scholars on how to reach out to the media.
Cultivate relationships with the media.
Solicit and respond to requests from the media directly.
Identify opportunities for research to inform media coverage.
Activate scholars around media opportunities.
Advise scholars on how to engage with journalists.
Track timely media moments.
Build relationships with journalists to source requests for scholar expertise.
Coach and support scholars on media engagement.
Provide advice on relationship building.
Provide editing and feedback on written documents like op-eds and letters to the editor.
Train and prepare scholars for media interviews.