Director, Media Strategy & Campaigns

Vera Institute of Justice•Brooklyn, NY

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Media Strategy & Campaigns reports to the Managing Director of Communications & External Affairs. This role partners with colleagues across Vera Institute and Vera Action to conceive and implement strategic campaigns, owns Vera’s consistent presence in high-profile media and targeted local and regional outlets, shapes the Institute’s messaging, and influences public conversation on Vera’s issues.

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience with successful track record of conceiving, developing, and executing innovative and effective strategies for engaging media at the national, regional, and local level for a government office or elected official
At least 8 years of experience leading advocacy campaigns
At least 5 years of experience as a supervisor managing at least 3 people
Strong experience managing crisis communications
Ability to work under tight deadlines, draft near-final copy, and adept at being able to adjust effectively in a fast-changing work environment.
Excellent writer and communicator who can adeptly distill research into public facing messages and take storytelling to the next level

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree a plus. In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered.
Experience should include media, journalism, or public relations work, including significant experience supervising and managing media relations personnel as a director.

Responsibilities

Set and execute media strategy to advance Vera Institute and Vera Action’s priorities
Strengthen a rapid response operation to activate around newsworthy moments on Vera’s issues
Track daily media coverage and public sentiment on Vera Institute and Vera Action’s issues to continuously inform and shape campaign strategies
Lead the drafting of talking points and messaging framework on Vera’s priority issues and campaigns
Oversee the development and distribution of talking points, press releases, pitches, memos, background briefings, fact sheets and other materials
Partner with colleagues in Advocacy, Research, and Initiatives to build overall media and communications strategy
Ensure staff are prepared for media and public appearances via formal media training and informal prep sessions
Cultivate, maintain, and expand relationships with journalists, producers, bloggers, and other influential media figures who regularly cover criminal justice and immigration issues
Proactively pitch media engagements across print, digital, radio, podcast, TV, and new media
Draft and place op-eds and LTEs bylined by internal spokespeople and partners
Provide journalists and staff with concise, compelling messages and summaries
Effectively supervise the media team
Train, mentor, give feedback, and evaluate media specialists; effectively assign workloads, set clear project deadlines, and hold team accountable for KPIs
Foster collaborative culture that emphasizes independent problem solving; guide team in interpreting analytics and utilize tools to optimize campaigns and improve ROI
Ability to manage high-pressure situations, negotiate effectively internally and externally, and serve as a strong bridge between departments and partners