Senior Director of Media Relations

The Senior Director of Media Relations leads Amnesty International USA’s overall media work as part of the Marketing and Communications Unit and reports directly to the National Director, Marketing and Communications. The ideal candidates thrives in a creative, fast-paced environment and has an extensive background in media relations strategy, building and cultivating relationships with media outlets and reporters, managing a team, and working directly with senior leaders on media-engagement tactics.

Essential Responsibilities
External Responsibilities
Leads AIUSA’s overall strategy and tactics on earned media strategy and tactics, including:
Creating and implementing organization-wide and project-specific media strategies
Ensuring AIUSA’s media-facing work is of the highest quality in accuracy, content, sensitivity, relevance, and power of messaging to advance credibility and impact in the media, including through writing and editing media-facing work
Collaborating with team members and staff to develop strategic and media-worthy messages and messaging architecture on priority human rights issues
Overseeing crisis communications
Developing and implementing strategic outreach activities to uplift our human rights work such as through media interviews, editorial board engagement, and press conferences to engage and educate media members on Amnesty International’s human rights campaigns and programs, and use media as a tool for impact on human rights
Overseeing the production and distribution of news releases, statements, advisories, announcements, fact sheets, notes, and other printed, filmed or recorded materials to US-based media
Working directly with the organization’s principles, including the Executive Director and other relevant staff, to develop thought leadership initiatives that amplify their voices and areas of expertise via media engagement and placements
Works with the marketing and communications team to continuously develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with reporters, producers, bookers, and editorial decision makers at national and local media outlets, and channel media requests strategically and swiftly.
Works with staff and external partners to develop and implement media strategies that expand reach to and authentically engage BIPOC communities
Closely monitors human rights news and events to identify and leverage proactive and reactive media opportunities