Media Relations Director

For more than 75 years, Planned Parenthood has worked in our region to make sure all people have the information and means to make free and responsible decisions about their families and their futures. Planned Parenthood operates 25 clinics across our region, providing medical services and sexuality education for over 80,000 men, women and teenagers a year.

Job Summary

The Media Relations Director will be the principal liaison with the media to promote and advance the work of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. The Media Director will develop and maintain new and existing positive work relationships with key journalists, editorial writers and columnists. The Media Director will be responsible for developing media strategies and a broad array of tactics that successfully engage the media on the work and brand of the organization. The position will report to the Vice-President of External Relations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

•Lead the development and implementation of an earned media strategy that promotes and advances PPMNS programs, services and public policy goals in the region.

•Make strategic and tactical use of media to promote PPMNS and its goals.

•Create and implement media outreach and response strategies on a daily basis, monitoring and facilitating media response to breaking news, research and political/legislative events.

•Plan and execute media conferences, briefings and in-person meetings with media.

•Create, edit, proofread materials under intense deadline pressure.

•Create and maintain a press room on the PPMNS web site.

•Work closely and continually with Planned Parenthood Federation’s media relations department in creating earned media/breaking news strategy and tactics.

•Cultivate opportunities for sharing PPMNS news beyond traditional news stories and sources.

•Work closely with the core creative team at PPMNS to conceive integrated issues marketing campaigns utilizing cross-disciplinary communication and outreach channels for maximum effectiveness.

•Help prepare program staff with training and advice for media opportunities and prepare briefing materials for staff.

•Prepare summaries and analyses of media coverage on a monthly basis for the Executive Team.

•Serve as a member of the Executive Team.
REQUIREMENTS
•College degree and a minimum of three years media experience, preferably in a political or issue advocacy context.
•Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
•Superior creative and opportunistic media outreach abilities.
•Track record of producing regional media coverage.
•Excellent organizational skills including an ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks and to meet deadlines.
•Good strategic public relations and media judgment.
•Ability to multi-task and work effectively with staff on many levels of the organization.
•Able to adapt to frequent change and prioritize effectively under frequent deadline pressure.
•Strong pitching and presentation skills.

Please send cover letter, resume, AND a short writing sample