Manager, Media Relations

What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation's leading voice on mental health.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.nToday, we are an alliance of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and a national office that work in communities across the United States to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.

NAMI advocates for all who are affected by mental illness, both the individuals and the people in their lives.

We work to address disparities and injustices and to promote dignity and inclusion for all people with mental illness and their families.

In addition to being advocates, we educate, we listen, and we lead as evidenced by our public awareness campaigns, the range of programs we provide, and our strong public policy.nWe currently have an opening for a Manager, Media Relations.

The Manager, Media Relations, serves as a strategic, hands-on role responsible for managing, tracking, and evaluating NAMI's media inquiry email, ensuring responsive and compelling media service.

This position will manage the inbound media inquiry email, triaging and routing requests to appropriate NAMI teams and personnel.

The manager will also track and report on media engagement metrics to identify opportunities for increased visibility, as well as evaluate media coverage and provide insights to strengthen NAMI's external communications and directly tied to NAMI's strategic plan.nTo align with NAMI's organizational 'objectives and key results' OKRs, the Manager, Media Relations will develop and execute media relations strategies that directly support NAMI's strategic goals and objectives, establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact and effectiveness of media relations activities, continuously analyze media coverage and engagement data to identify areas for improvement and optimization, collaborate with NAMI's leadership team to ensure media relations efforts are synergized with the overall marketing and communications plan, and provide regular updates on media relations OKR progress and recommend adjustments as needed.nThis full-time position is based out of our Arlington VA office 3 days per week.

May work hybrid the additional 2 days.nSalary Range: $65,000 – $70,000nESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:nnManage and respond to incoming media requests, ensuring message consistency, spokesperson recommendations, spokesperson prep, coaching and execution, in-concert with the Director, as appropriate.nConduct research and analysis using the Cision software suite, with advanced capability to build, customize, and leverage tracking dashboards for strategic media monitoring, analytics, and reporting.nCollaborate with NAMI department teams to ensure timely and accurate dissemination of information, including press statements, analysis and special projects.nDraft, disseminate and pitch various media materials including press advisories, media releases, opinion pieces, and letters to the editor.nIdentify and target reporters to grow relationships with, including engagement through social media and media management tools.nWork with the Director to support the activities of the staff and field as they relate to media relations including support and updates, creating materials/toolkits and holding trainings.nHelp maintain and improve the image of NAMI.nOther duties as assigned.nnMINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:nnBachelor's Degree required in a relevant field; advanced degree preferredn3 – 5 years of public relations experience, with 3 years specifically focused on media relationsnExcellent writing and verbal communication skillsnCause-related communications or agency background preferred; experience in media relations at a non-profit or public health organization is highly desirablenDemonstrated expertise in Cision media monitoring and analytics software.

Ability to build customized tracking dashboards, conduct comprehensive media analysis, and generate strategic reports.

Experience leveraging Cision's full suite of tools to optimize media relations and communications strategies tied to NAMI's strategic plan.nAbility to work collaboratively and diplomatically with strong customer service skillsnEditorial and creative skillsnSkilled at prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment with attention to detail and precisionnStrong interpersonal and cultural awareness skillsnHighly organized with experience in project management; ability to self-managenPassionate about storytelling, dedicated to NAMI's mission, and enthusiastic about staying informed on the latest news-a true news junkie.nMust pass background checknnYour salary is only one component of the total compensation package.

NAMI offers a range of standard and unique benefits that are reviewed annually:nnGenerous and comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision PlansnPaid Time Off: Vacation, Personal, and Sick LeavenPaid Parental Leaven403(b) retirement plannFlexible Spending Accounts for health care, dependent care and commuter expensesnLife Insurance and Disability coverage paid by NAMInFlexible Work and Telework programsnProfessional Development Reimbursement programnA variety of wellness offerings to support team membersnEmployee Referral ProgramnThe Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which provides support for personal and family problems common in contemporary lifennNAMI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce.

NAMI prohibits discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, genetic information or any other legally protected group status.

We also provide reasonable accommodation for candidates with disability.

Full Time