Communications Specialist - Public Relations
About The Position
The Communications Specialist – Public Relations and Media supports the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) in expanding the organization’s visibility and promoting its work and services through external communications and media. The role uses public relations strategies, storytelling, and content creation and is part of the Communications team. The position reports to the Associate Director for Global Advocacy and Communications and works closely with the rest of the Communications team. The environment is fast-paced, and the successful candidate will prioritize tasks and adapt to emerging issues relevant to USCRI’s work. The role is based in person at USCRI’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, with the option to work from home one day a month. A resume and cover letter are requested with the application; work samples are optional initially but references and work samples will be required before the final interview. The position remains open until filled.
Requirements
- At least 2 years of experience in media, public relations, or a related field, and a history of using storytelling to increase media and audience engagement.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Knowledge of refugee, unaccompanied children, trafficking, asylum, and/or immigration issues.
- Graphic design skills, including the ability to closely follow brand guidelines.
- Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience, preferred.
Nice To Haves
- Experience using Sprout Social or similar tools to manage or schedule social media posts.
- Experience editing videos.
- Experience using WordPress to create and edit webpages.
Responsibilities
- Write and distribute press releases, pitch stories to journalists, and coordinate media interviews or press conferences.
- Lead storytelling and audience engagement through targeted emails, blogs, op-eds, web content, speeches, and other content.
- Develop public relations strategies aligned with the organization’s mission and goals.
- Establish and maintain relationships with media organizations and respond to media inquiries.
- Conduct research and analyze trends to identify opportunities and improve public relations.
- Guide and support staff contributing to content and coordinate with external partners or vendors as needed.
- Ensure consistency in tone, style, and messaging across channels and platforms.
- Assist with managing and executing campaigns across various platforms.
- Stay current with emerging communications trends and technologies.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the supervisor.
