Press Director

Title: Press Director

Location: Washington, D.C.

Job Description:

WHO WE ARE

FWD.us is a policy organization working to advance better and more politically resilient solutions on criminal justice and immigration. For too long, our harmful criminal justice and immigration systems have held us back and been weaponized in ways that undermine our nation’s promise and democratic ideals. For over a decade, FWD.us has advanced criminal justice and immigration reforms that expanded freedom and opportunities to tens of millions of people in the United States. Working with partners in red, blue, and purple jurisdictions, we have secured legislative and judicial victories and executive actions despite often-challenging political conditions.

The Press Director will direct and oversee public communications for FWD.us, working with policy and digital leadership across both the immigration and criminal justice verticals to achieve organizational priorities. Applicants should be dedicated to FWD.us' mission to grow and galvanize political support for immigration and criminal justice  reforms and be enthusiastic about bringing to life creative ideas that will shape the narrative to help advance politically resilient solutions. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5 or more years of communications experience with a background in working policy campaigns. 


• Energetic, flexible, proactive, and collaborative.


• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.


• Exceptional oral, interpersonal and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, key stakeholders, and staff.


• Deep understanding of earned media strategies and how to employ them to shape public conversations toward a campaign objective.


• Excellent writing skills and in-depth experience drafting clear and accessible press releases, talking points, op-eds, pitches, and other communications products that distill complex policy arguments for mainstream audiences.


• Significant media relations experience, including solid reporter relationships and eagerness to enterprise new ones, and experience managing on the record media opportunities including all aspects of preparation for interviews and press conferences and the necessary follow up.

 

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Serve as day-to-day lead on executing high-impact communications and narrative campaigns for FWD.us’ immigration and criminal justice reform work.


• Draft and manage written media documents and other campaign communication products to complement campaign goals including press releases, pitches, op-eds, and talking points.


• Maintain, cultivate, and expand relationships with national and local journalists, publications, and thought leaders covering politics, immigration, criminal justice, and other related topics to increase the visibility of FWD.us' leadership, experts, partners, events, and other initiatives. 


• Manage internal processes to enable FWD.us’ external communications, particularly in response to fast-breaking news related to the organization’s mission and at the national and local levels.


• Speak on and off the record with national and state level media professionals, including but not limited to producers, journalists, podcast hosts, to advance organizational priorities and to shape narrative around immigration and criminal justice reform.


• Manage communications contractors and internal communications staff to ensure they are executing against short and long-term campaign goals.


• Work with the senior leadership team to contribute to and execute an organizational communications strategy that leverages an array of communications tools and tactics, from creating communications products, directly pitching reporters, engaging elected officials, and external stakeholders on messaging, public events, and political strategy to achieve organizational priorities and amplify FWD.us voice and brand.

 

This position requires being in the office on a hybrid schedule, working from the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and an option to work remotely on Wednesdays and Fridays. Optional weekly remote work is contingent barring work travel, in-person meetings and/or on-site commitments which take priority.

Compensation and benefits: Salary range is $100,000-$150,000 annually. Offered compensation will be commensurate with relevant experience. We offer competitive health, dental, and vision insurance benefits, employer-paid life insurance, 401k match, PTO, professional development opportunities, and a myriad of other support for our staff.