Press Secretary, Foundation

  • Human Rights Campaign
  • Washington, DC
  • Sep 01, 2020
Full time Communications

Job Description

We strongly encourage people of color, transgender and non-binary people to apply. HRC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone, including non-LGBTQ people, to join our team.

 

Position Summary:

The Press Secretary, Foundation, reports to the Senior Advisor for Communications, New York, and is responsible for press strategy surrounding certain key HRC Foundation priorities and programs, including the Transgender Justice Initiative, our racial equity work, our Workplace Equality Program and our research projects, among others. The Press Secretary’s day-to-day responsibilities will include working with the Foundation program leads on rolling out announcements and products, monitoring, researching, and responding to news related to our issue areas, engaging with reporters and staying on top of LGBTQ news trends.

 

Position Responsibilities:

  • Craft proactive media strategies for HRC Foundation projects and announcements;
  • Monitor, research, analyze, and respond to breaking news on LGBTQ-related advocacy matters;
  • Work with media in positive and adverse situations, including extensive pitching.
  • Work as news related to HRC Foundation work unfolds, producing draft messaging including talking points, statements and press releases and engaging with the media;
  • Facilitate interviews with print, TV and radio for HRC spokespeople;
  • Act as a background and on-the-record source as necessary;
  • Manage execution of in-person and virtual events, including press conferences, media availabilities, editorial board meetings, and other communications-related events;
  • Work cooperatively and collaboratively with others across business units, functional departments and disciplines, including political and research teams;
  • Create effective partnerships at all levels of the organization;
  • Other duties as assigned.

 

Position Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience preferred;
  • Four to six years experience with organizational communications, preferably in an advocacy setting;
  • Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills with a strong sense of urgency and the ability to work effectively under pressure;
  • Proven writing skills as well as the communications skills necessary to elicit the right information from a variety of sources;
  • Must be self-driven and well-versed in developing communication materials, eager to pitch extensively, and able to meet tight deadlines;
  • Strong interpersonal skills and professional demeanor;
  • Strong skills with Microsoft Office applications (Word and Outlook), Google Apps (Gmail, Google Docs and Drive), and social media;
  • Flexibility with work schedule; this position requires frequent evening and weekend work to respond to breaking news;
  • Ability to travel 10-20% of the time;
  • Must be comfortable working in a high-volume environment and have the ability to closely follow the messaging of the organization on a wide variety of issues;
  • Personal interest in and commitment to LGBTQ rights required.

 

**Please include a writing sample with your application.**

 

All positions at the Human Rights Campaign may require travel on a regular basis or periodically. Where the need arises for business travel, appropriate compensation as outlined by the Fair Labor Standards Act will apply.

 

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to queries about application status.

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