This position has been filled. Thank you for your interest.
The Center for Global Development (CGD) seeks an energetic and creative Media Relations Coordinator to join our communications and policy outreach team. We are a nimble, independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank based in Washington, D.C. and London that works to reduce global poverty and inequality through rigorous research, creative communications and active engagement with the policy community. Our aim is to turn ideas in to action.
Our world class researchers focus on all areas of policy that can affect international development, including aid, trade, migration, health, agriculture, energy, environment, finance, technology, infrastructure, data, and transparency.
The Center's research and analysis is actively marketed to policymakers, the media, the development and finance communities and the public, through our robust communications program, which involves constant innovation and management of our website, blogs, newsletters, podcast, social media assets and media relations efforts. CGD regularly produces research and policy materials including policy briefs, congressional testimony, public education materials, op-ed columns, working papers, and books.
CGD experts also give regular media interviews, both to talk about our work and to give expert analysis and comment on relevant subjects. We have expertise in many areas and we want the world to know about it! That’s why an effective Media Relations Coordinator is essential.
The successful candidate will develop and implement strategies to grow CGD's relationships with US, UK and international media, and to secure positive coverage of our research and our expert analysis. The Media Relations Coordinator reports directly to the Vice President of Communications and Policy Outreach, and works closely with the communications and policy outreach team to strategically coordinate media efforts with new research, world news, congressional outreach, and events. The Media Relations Coordinator is also responsible for managing institutional social media accounts.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Handle day-to-day media relations activities, both responsive and proactive
- Prepare CGD experts for interviews, including helping to hone clear, effective messaging and staffing interviews
- Cultivate and manage relationships with reporters, journalists and key influencers, including creating targeted media lists, sharing CGD materials on an on-going basis, and regularly arranging meetings and press briefings between CGD experts and influential journalists.
- Design and implement communications plans and media outreach strategies for research produced by the Center’s experts.
- Write press materials including news releases, media advisories, and pitch notes.
- Provide guidance on and place op-eds written by CGD experts.
- Manage social media outlets, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
- Utilize all communications tools (online outreach, podcasts, events, publications, video, social media) to maximize media coverage, and contribute creative ideas to better leverage these channels.
- Develop new content partnerships and social media outreach opportunities.
- Manage media attendees at all CGD events.
- Track and analyze the quality and quantity of CGD's media coverage.
- Inform CGD staff and leadership of media coverage by producing weekly media updates and a monthly media report.
- Help prepare content for CGD website as needed.
Experience/qualifications:
- Minimum 2 years of media relations experience, with preference for formal PR training/background.
- Ability to build a strategic media relations plan and implement multiple media outreach strategies simultaneously.
- Knowledge of the news cycle, and traditional and online media outlets.
- Ability to understand complex research and synthesize it into clear and concise oral and written communications, including for social media.
- Ability to build, in collaboration with CGD experts, effective messages that resonate with key audiences.
- Experience pitching and placing op-eds.
- Ability to think strategically about how CGD’s mission and expertise might align with, influence or support world affairs. Experience with media monitoring software (e.g, Vocus or Cision).
- Coordinating/conducting media training
- Must be a creative and enthusiastic team player, with good sense of humor.
- Relationships with development journalists a plus.
- Experience with think tanks, the development policy community, or international relations preferred.
- Experience training experts for on-camera, radio and print interviews
- Bachelor's degree in international development related field or communications.
CGD offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and an outstanding benefits package to all full-time employees.
Interested candidates should send their CV with a cover letter and writing sample to [email protected]. Please use the subject “Media Relations Coordinator” in all e-mail correspondence. No phone calls please.
CGD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age or sexual orientation shall have equal access to positions, limited only by their ability to do the job. Finalists for the position may be subject to a pre-employment background screening.