Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations

Title:                          Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations

Reports to:             Director, Media and public Relations

Job Summary:        The Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations is responsible for supervising a team of communications staff who promote The Heritage Foundation policy solutions and ideas in print, broadcast, and digital outlets. In addition, the Assistant Director is responsible for managing media relations for a portfolio of Heritage policy experts, serving as their point of contact for media. The Assistant Director works closely with the Director to ensure all outreach is in line with Heritage principles and policies, execute best-in-class media relations operations, and collaborate with stakeholders across the Heritage enterprise.

Job Duties: 

• Position, promote, and defend The Heritage Foundation and its related brands by developing and executing media relations strategies that advance policy priorities. 
• Ensure staff media pitches are aligned with Heritage policy messaging points, media relations standards, and institutional priorities.
• Monitor ongoing policy debates for focused, high-impact opportunities for Heritage experts and leadership to go on offense and, where necessary, take appropriate defensive action.
• Manage a team of communications managers within the Media and Public Relations department, supervising their day-to-day operations, advising on pitches and communications tactics, and ensuring consistency, timeliness, and professionalism for all external media relations
• Work with the Communications Fellow and outside vendors to manage the tracking of all national print and broadcast appearances, ensuring weekly, quarterly, and ad hoc reports are prepared thoroughly and consistently; supervise daily clipping operations
• Collaborate with colleagues throughout the Heritage Enterprise to gain an understanding of how conservative policies can best be advanced in the media
• Provide strategic guidance for communications staff on messaging, media opportunities, and media relations tactics
• Advance media strategy, generating daily pitches on relevant issues on multiple platforms including print, broadcast, digital, and editorial
• Build and maintain relationships with media who cover relevant policy issues including print, television, radio, and digital
• Monitor media for relevant experts through various means and brief the Director on relevant threats
• Maintain and share, in an easily accessed manner, media lists on relevant issues for institutional use
• Draft news releases, web content, commentaries, and talking points
• Work closely with experts in leveraging the media to accomplish Institute policy goals.

Qualifications:

Education:                   BA/BS required
Experience:                 7-9 years of relevant experience working in public relations,                                                                    communications, journalism, or a closely related field
Communication:         Must have excellent interpersonal and communications skills, including                                                  demonstrated proficiency in writing and editing

Technology:                Microsoft Suite

Other Requirements:

• Understand and support the Heritage mission and vision for America, and the department’s goals and objectives.
• Must be assertive, detail-oriented, and highly organized.
• Promote policies consistent with Heritage’s priorities; speak with one voice.
• Must have existing contacts among print reporters and broadcast producers.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to manage an experienced team, and to collaborate with various departments
• Ability to provide and receive direction and feedback.
• Comfortable in social and professional settings with editors, producers, and reporters.   

Benefits and Salary:

The Heritage Foundation offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, best-in-class health care, vision, and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement funding, “take what you need” PTO and sick leave, 14 weeks of paid leave for new moms and 6 weeks of paid leave for new dads, among other programs.

The salary range for this role is $115,000 - $130,000 annually. This range is a good-faith estimate, and the final salary offered to a selected candidate depends on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, and other qualifications; internal and external market pay for comparable jobs; and level of hire based on aforementioned qualifications.