BIG BUCKS: Work for the Koch-Soros Alliance

The new Koch-Soros partnership, the Quincy Institute, is looking for a media relations person.

I would like to see a hardcore libertarian infiltrate this position

Director of Media Relations

Company NameQuincy Institute Company Location Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Posted Date

Overview

The Quincy Institute (QI) seeks a Director of Media Relations. The principal objective of the director will be to create a comprehensive media strategy for QI and its experts. The director will enhance QI’s mission by disseminating of the work of QI experts among journalists, various media outlets, and the general public. Particular emphasis will be given to working with media serving marginalized communities who are particularly affected by America’s overly militarized foreign policy and whose voices rarely reach Washington. 

The person holding this position will work with policy scholars, executives, and support staff to devise media marketing plans for the Institute’s research work. This includes building the Institute’s media contact network, implementing and evaluating new publicity tools, training, and managing staff to support media efforts, and developing metrics to measure success. She or he will also oversee the Institute’s video and podcast production team.

The position will require coordinating QI marketing strategies with the in-house video production team, the website editors, the Responsible Statecraft platform editors, and the social media team. The person selected for this position will report to QI’s Executive Vice President. 

Responsibilities

Media relations and strategy:

• Lead the development and implementation of Quincy Institute’s strategic communications plans and messaging.
• Coordinate and support a public narrative about the Quincy Institute that builds awareness of its mission and increases its visibility.
• Coordinate and implement media outreach strategies to elevate the work, impact, and brand of the Quincy Institute.
• Coordinate outreach efforts to national and local media.
• Coordinate media requests via phone and email inquiries, directing inquiries to research staff as appropriate.
• Prep scholars for media interviews, as needed.
• Use knowledge of current events and the Quincy Institute’s research to connect scholars to priority media audiences and elevate the portfolio’s work.
• Write press releases, draft key messaging, talking points and other materials used for public dissemination.
• Build and maintain media databases and track media outreach efforts.
• Support production of media performance reports, as needed.
• Identify target audiences and media contacts for relationship cultivation, in support of the program and individual scholars’ goals.

     

Social media:

• Develop and implement QI’s social media strategy across relevant platforms.
• Maintain daily Twitter and other social media activities with the goal of increasing awareness, engagement and support to the organization and its scholars.
• Draft and schedule tweets and social media posts from the Institute’s handles in coordination with individual scholars.
• Prepare Twitter and social media guidance memos for major releases and events.
• Coordinate and/or assist with scholars’ social media presence.
• Use knowledge of current events and the program’s research to connect scholars and their work to timely and/or trending topics on social media.
• Gather social media analytics.
• Ability to translate foreign policy concepts into exciting and engaging content.
• Drive engagement and conversations on social media platforms. 

Community outreach:

• Conduct regular outreach to media serving marginalized communities. 
• Organize workshops with editorial boards and community leaders from marginalized communities in order to conduct two-way education. 

Qualifications and Requirements

Education and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required. 
• Minimum of three years of professional communications experience needed, preferably in a public relations agency, think tank, nonprofit organization, other political/policy environment, newsroom, or a related field. 
• Ability to speak and write knowledgeably and comfortably about public policy research and research findings to news media, key partners including state, local and federal policymakers, and broad general audiences. 
• Experience working in digital and social media communications is required. Experience with Twitter is required.
• Familiarity with the foreign policy landscape and experience representing an organization and its agenda to external audiences.
• Experience with multimedia editorial production and dissemination as well as the savvy to hire and supervise design professionals, photographers, filmmakers, and other consultants when appropriate.
• The ability to take charge of projects and complete them on time, on budget, and attentive to detail.
• A high level of energy, commitment, and enthusiasm for the Quincy Institute’s programs and goals.
• The ability to work cooperatively with colleagues in the Institute’s collaborative culture.

Knowledge and skills:

• Ability to foster creative ideas to help increase media coverage and create new opportunities for outreach and dissemination of Quincy Institute research. 
• Strong writing and editing skills, and familiarity with AP Stylebook guidance. Ability to understand and accurately summarize public policy research, including breaking down data. 
• Can determine the newsworthiness of key research and is able to track and respond to broad trends in media coverage.
• Good organizational skills and strong interpersonal skills; and comfort working within a small team. 
• High initiative, discretion, poise, mature judgment, team player and articulate. Attention to detail, and strong multi-tasking skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet tight deadlines. Project management skills and the ability to think critically about long-term operations and goals.

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and a list of three references.

About the Quincy Institute

The Quincy Institute is a newly formed public policy think tank in Washington, D.C., whose mission is to promote ideas that move U.S. foreign policy away from endless war and toward vigorous diplomacy in the pursuit of international peace. It envisions a world where peace is the norm and war the exception. The Institute operates independently of any political party.

The Quincy Institute is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other legally protected status.

Apply here.

 

-RW