Press Officer

Washington, DC
Full Time
Communications
Experienced
Tired of the Trump administration’s disregard for the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law? Public Citizen is helping lead the charge against Trump’s rising authoritarianism. Our Communications Department is seeking a Press Officer to join a creative, energetic and fast-paced team and to publicize our lawsuits against the Trump regime’s illegal and unconstitutional actions.  Public Citizen is a progressive nonprofit consumer-advocacy organization fighting on behalf of consumers, workers, and the public generally for a government that responds to their needs first instead of the interests of corporations. We conduct public education campaigns, run coalitions, handle litigation, and do research and advocacy on issues concerning consumer protection, access to justice, healthcare, worker health and safety, climate, and other issues.

The Press Officer will be responsible for publicizing and generating media attention for our litigation against the Trump administration, as well as related policy work. We seek someone bright and nimble, with a passion for public interest work and a solid knowledge of the legal and political news landscapes. We need someone who has strong writing skills, pays keen attention to detail, can work in a fast-paced environment, and enjoys collaborating with others. The Press Officer will be part of a communications team that works closely together to coordinate media outreach with social media, email activism, and communication to Public Citizen members. This position reports to the Director of Communications and works closely with the Deputy Director of Communications.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Craft and execute comprehensive strategic communications plans for individual lawsuits and our litigation overall, with minimal oversight.
  • Build out the human element of lawsuits we file and pitch them to reporters;
  • Knit together the stories of multiple lawsuits, to explain what the administration is doing, highlight victories, and show where the courts are falling short 
  • Author narrative descriptions of case impacts to deliver to key audiences (opinion makers, policy makers, etc).
  • Identify and develop relationships with journalists in diverse outlets – from major national news reporters to podcasters –who cover issues related to our litigation work.
  • Write, edit and distribute press releases, press statements, media advisories, notes to reporters, editorial board memos, quote sheets, talking points, fact sheets and other written materials as needed. 
  • Assist in planning and executing press conferences and teleconferences, media briefings and other press events, including preparing press kits and media lists, and calling journalists.
  • Keep up with breaking news and other news about our issues and engage daily in rapid response, identifying media opportunities to publicize our litigation. 
  • Create social media content and provide digital media staffers with topline messaging to translate our cases to broad audiences. 
  • Other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS:

Experience: Minimum 6 years of professional experience in communications. Experience working on legal issues and litigation, or a law degree, is a plus.
Knowledge:  Must have general knowledge of national current events. Must have general understanding of litigation. Familiarity with Cision, Wordpress, and other similar platforms are a plus. 
Skills:   Strong writing and editing abilities; comfortable with frequent on-background communications with reporters over phone and email ; organized and conscientious. Ability to juggle many tasks simultaneously and under deadline pressure, and work with a wide range of people. Must enjoy working in a fast-paced and demanding environment.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Competitive salary and benefit package. Below is a list of some of our benefits (please note that some benefits have eligibility requirements). Salary range:  $74,734 - $121,319

Benefits include:
  • Great medical and dental coverage, including full coverage for children;
  • Three weeks paid vacation for new employees, plus five personal days;
  • Paid leave Christmas – New Years.
  • 401K plan with a 5% contribution from PC after one year of employment;
  • 12 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment;
  • Sabbatical after 8 years of employment; and
  • Student loan reimbursement program.
TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to [email protected]. No phone calls please.

 
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