Assistant Director for Media Relations

1. Understanding the various LIRS audiences and the value that LIRS brings to each
2. Working as part of the LIRS Strategic Communications team, the Assistant Director for Media Relations collaborates with multiple departments across LIRS to identify and publicize our programmatic, development, and advocacy priorities
3. Taking a leadership role in developing and implementing a plan to increase media coverage and public awareness of LIRS
4. Responding to requests for information from the media and designating appropriate spokesperson(s) or information source
5. Prepare and distribute press releases and advisories
6. Build and manage media distribution lists
7. Establish and maintain relationships with journalists at key media outlets
8. Arrange interviews and help prepare LIRS participants for them
9. Work with staff to plan and organize visits to LIRS partner sites by journalists and accompany them as needed
10. Writing and creating other story/message channels (blogs, videos, social networking sites) for the organization across all media channels, maintaining organizational voice and integrity
11. Leading development and maintenance of annual media and advertising plan.
12. Assisting the President and CEO and leadership team members with key written materials and providing strategic input on key initiatives, including crisis media messaging
13. Developing creative, comprehensive, short- and long-term media plans for LIRS and its resources and events, using multi-media communication channels
14. Developing media strategies to recruit and maintain LIRS constituents, including unusual and untapped audiences
15. Implementing media plans and campaigns aggressively and quickly
16. Working well and collaboratively with all LIRS staff; collaborating and closely working with development and advocacy units directly for an integrated communications, outreach, marketing, and advertising approach; functioning as a team player who communicates openly, well, professionally, and consistently
17. Exercising discretion and independent judgment in the responsibilities associated with media related work and writing
18. Leading the strategy used in identifying and coordinating media plans for advocacy and program-related work
19. Strategically placing LIRS within all forms of media
20. Overseeing strategy and personnel related to news media and ensuring that all media-related relationships and written pieces are aligned with the LIRS voice and message
21. Performing other duties as assigned

1. Commitment to LIRS's core mission and values and an ability to model those values in relationship with colleagues and partners; commitment to refugees and immigrants
2. Bachelor's degree and at least three years of post-graduate work experience in journalism or public relations.
3. Strong writing and editing skills, including the ability to draft and edit text from different sources or brief notes
4. Demonstrated ability to write for different audiences and in different forms of media
5. Familiarity with journalistic priorities and protocols and with editorial processes at print, broadcast and new media outlets
6. Proven ability to work with complex immigration and refugee policy issues and to present key points clearly and compellingly to non-specialists
7. Demonstrated ability to assess priorities, manage many activities simultaneously and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality
8. Proven ability to take initiative and work autonomously while working as part of a team
9. Demonstrated experience in journalism and/or public relations, preferably with a focus on issues related to migration, immigration, refugees, international issues or related fields
10. Familiarity with Lutheran theology and a proven ability to navigate Lutheran denominational structures and write with a distinctive Lutheran voice; an articulated understanding of Lutheran denominational polity and practice
11. Experience working with refugees, migrants, and ethnic communities
12. Exceptional oral and written communication and presentation skills
13. Ability to successfully design and implement effective, innovative media and advertising campaigns
14. Knowledge of and facility using web-based tools as part of media strategy and campaigns
15. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion
16. Ability and willingness to travel approximately 15-20 percent of the time domestically/internationally
17. Ability to conceptualize, oversee, and analyze market research
18. Experience and knowledge of working with technical team/production managers to extend traditional programs/media collateral to the web
19. Ability to create and edit video
20. Demonstrated ability in strategy creation and communication with a strong proficiency in corporate writing, editing, publication production, web site content writing, speech writing, crisis media management, strategic writing and communications
21. Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office and other applications as needed for research and web-based tactics within marketing campaigns, including the Blackbaud software suite as well as social networking and other web 2.0 and web 3.0 channels