Organizing Resilience (OR), an initiative within the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, is hiring a Communications Associate. The Communications Associate will structure and implement communications strategies during both "blue sky" (before/long after climate disaster) and "gray sky" moments (during climate disaster and immediate aftermath). Within the first two months, the Communications Associate will be asked to devise a capacity structure to ensure that Organizing Resilience meets its communications goals, which could include recruiting and managing additional staff and external partners as necessary.
ABOUT ORGANIZING RESILIENCE:
Organizing Resilience (OR) is a new initiative that coordinates national and local expertise to develop the tools, talent, and networks that will allow movement organizations, the philanthropic community, and government leaders to respond to the humanitarian and political crises that unfold during and after moments of disaster.
By pre-building key aspects of disaster response and networks across regions and sectors before crises surface, OR connects resources to on-the-ground leaders where they will have an immediate and lasting impact. The OR model builds more powerful organizations, increases the efficiency of direct relief efforts, asserts control over the narrative, and protects dedicated capacity for policy campaigns.
We are seeking an effective communicator who is passionate about advancing progressive message frames to control the narrative during climate disasters in ways that increase the ability to advance systemic change. Our Communications Associate will understand the ways in which financial, political, and other assets get unlocked when disaster hits as well as the ways in which the current disaster response landscape is fraught with inequalities — and how oppositional and predatory forces advance their goals through targeted messaging and policy plays, and the implications of disinformation and a lack of equitable representation in media coverage.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Press & Media Management
- Build and maintain national & state press lists focusing on disaster relief, related issue areas following disasters (e.g. housing, racial equity, climate change etc.), and political movements
- Identify and regularly liaise with communications leads from on-the-ground organizations in climate prone regions to understand their year-round policy campaigns and prepare related story pitches to be on the ready for media attention during climate disasters
- Selectively provide logistical and surge capacity for on-the-ground organizations dealing with emergencies
- Generate talking points for appropriate dissemination
- Prepare and pitch rapid response pieces to reporters responding to acute emergencies
- Prepare and pitch long form pieces to reporters in the aftermath of emergencies
- Prepare and pitch information about vetted community-led relief funds to reporters and news outlets
- Track and coordinate opportunities to amplify stakeholder voices and key validators and surrogates in the media - particularly during climate disaster
- Research & Analysis
- Develop and execute a launch plan to deploy our Disaster Communications Toolkit, a resource developed in 2021 to share best practices for rapid response and reaching the media
- Regularly update Organizing Resilience communications toolkits to be readily available and as tangibly useful as possible to progressive organizers, donors, social service providers and government allies
- Track and identify media strategies employed by groups, leaders, and constituencies that are most likely to undermine our mission and develop proactive counter messaging
- Outreach & Coordination
- Create, grow, and maintain a database of national and state-by-state validators, including:
- Experts
- National and local advocates
- Elected and appointed office holders
- Groups that organized impacted communities
- Talkers & operatives in-state and in DC
- Organize regular check-ins with validators, including possible regular email and calls
- Leverage relationships with validators to connect them with media, craft pitches based on their issues, and disseminate messaging guidance
- Create, grow, and maintain a database of national and state-by-state validators, including:
- Internal Narrative & Branding Development
- Manage the Organizing Resilience website and update all of the project's collateral material as needed
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- 1+ years of total experience
- Experience working closely with organizers or as an organizer (especially in a disaster-prone area)
- Experience successfully developing and implementing communications strategies
- Excellent writing, editing, verbal, and interpersonal skills
- A strong track record managing multiple deadlines with internal and external stakeholders
- Experience building and sustaining relationships with diverse communities and across different sectors
- Demonstrated commitment to equity and anti-racism
- Independent thinker with drive and initiative to propose and execute new ideas
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graphic design skills, ability to create visually appealing and digestible content and slide decks
- Previous experience playing a lead role in a high-profile, national or statewide communications strategy
- Lived experience in a disaster prone region
We encourage individuals to apply even if they feel they do not have any or all of the preferred qualifications.
SALARY + BENEFITS:
Annual salary for this position will be $65,000.
This position will be remotely based within the United States.
We offer generous benefits that include:
- 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and family;
- 20 days of paid time off;
- Paid parental leave, pregnancy leave, and caregiver leave;
- Matching 401(k)
Amalgamated Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
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