FordFoundation Manager, Media Relations and Strategy
The Manager, Media Relations and Strategy plays the lead role in developing proactive and reactive media plans for the foundation as part of an overall communication strategy that helps to influence debate and advance social change in the U.S. and around the world. The position reports to the Director of Communications and plays an important and active role across the organization, working with outstanding program and communications colleagues on an array of national and global issues that have relevance in public debate and affect hundreds of millions of people.
The position requires a professional who knows how to work within a complex organization, find its best and most potent content, and successfully develop and place that content in targeted media in a way that conveys compelling ideas, fulfills strategic objectives, builds reputational capital, and advances the Ford Foundation brand.
This strategic position is part of a team of senior communications professionals that works closely with the Director and VP of Communication in guiding Ford leadership on key media issues and opportunities, and in working with the President to maximize his role as voice of the organization and its mission.
Responsibilities Include
• Media Relationships: Developing and maintaining high-level and fruitful relationships with key media.
• Proactive Strategic Outreach: Strategic thinking and forward planning as part of a team, with responsibility for developing and carrying out proactive media outreach that results in strategic news, feature and oped placements that advance foundation priorities, including in online and traditional venues.
• Reactive Tactical Response: Responding to breaking news and identifying opportunities in public debate to highlight foundation initiatives and values. On the flip side, responding to critics in a timely and effective way.
• Day-to-Day Management: Managing and executing day-to-day media relations, including prioritizing and managing multiple concurrent requests for support from journalists, program officers, and field offices.
• Writing: Taking the lead on drafting strategic messaging, Q&As, background briefs, talking points, news releases.
• Events & Training: Organizing press events and press conferences; scheduling and managing media coaching and training for program staff.
• Brand Strategy: Working with the larger communications team in developing overall brand and strategic thinking and activities.
Qualifications
• BA/BS or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Minimum eight to ten years experience in strategic communications work, with an emphasis on building mindshare in public debate, and serious background in the nonprofit and/or public sector.
• A superior writer and conceptual thinker with the capacity to develop and follow through on long-range plans while managing day-to-day demands.
• Must be able to maintain fruitful relationships with high-level journalists, bloggers, opinion writers and others in the global media.
• A demonstrated ability to interact successfully with internal and external partners in a complex environment is essential – in particular the ability to translate high-level technical thought into clear, compelling, and results-driven communications strategies and messages.
• Detail-oriented and self-directed; yet able to work well in teams.
• Leadership and ability bring out the best in others.
• Personal commitment to the foundation’s mission and values.
Preferred Qualifications
• Excellent grasp of the evolving media environment, including new media, and the political, cultural and economic impact of the changing media landscape on non-profit communications.• Thorough familiarity with agenda-setting media organizations and journalists, both in the US and globally, and a proven ability to develop and execute media strategies that drive coverage and conversation and influence key audiences.
• Nuanced understanding of frontline efforts to advance democracy, human rights, economic development, free expression, and other areas that define the Foundation’s grant-making.
Manager, Media Relations and Strategy
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