Media Relations/Social Media Specialist, American Foundation for the Blind, NYC

Media Relations/Social Media Specialist
American Foundation for the Blind
New York, NY

Job Requirements:
To implement AFB marketing and media, and social media plans, activities, and strategies. Provide administrative support to the Communications Group.

1. Monitors news each morning to identify media opportunities, or stories relevant to AFBs programs. Fields informational media calls and determines the appropriate staff person to respond. Works with appropriate staff to provide coaching on AFB messages for print, radio, and television interviews.

2. Positions AFB and staff as experts to members of the press. Pitches story ideas and spokespeople to key reporters and editors on issues of importance to AFB and our strategic imperatives.

3. Writes press releases, statements, opinion pieces, letters to the editors, talking points, and other media materials. Contributes written pieces to AFB's blog and other publications. Coordinates and distributes press releases via web and online postings.

4. Manages AFBs social media pages, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. Works with program and communications staff to identify appropriate content (i.e. news stories, fun facts, updates on AFBs programs, etc) and update pages.

5. Fields calls and e-mails related to informational requests, Helen Keller Archives, and photo permissions and research questions, and determines the appropriate staff person to respond.

6. Oversees department intern (when active) including identifying, hiring, and managing the day-to-day work and performance of the intern.

7. Performs administrative duties for department staff, including, but not limited to, answering phones, sorting mail, scheduling meetings, conducting research, preparing written correspondence (ensuring adherence with accessibility guidelines), and arranging travel for the Communications department. Routes/answers e-mails received in the Communications e-mail account. Orders office supplies and coordinates other purchases. Processes financial instruments, such as check and petty cash requests, travel expense reports, and American Express allocation reports; maintains records of such transactions.

8. Develops, with direction from other Communications Department staff, materials for board meetings, staff meetings and other presentations such as Powerpoint presentations and media clippings. Disseminates materials to attendees in a variety of formats (ensuring adherence to accessibility guidelines.)

9. Maintains hard copy archive of marketing materials, administrative documents, correspondence, press releases and news clipping files for department.. Builds and maintains press lists. Manages and maintains various computer databases. Monitor Meltwater and Profnet newsfeed services.

10. Other duties and special projects, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: College degree (Communications, English preferred) plus a minimum three years experience in a Communications work environment or an equivalent combination of work and experience. Prior media relations experience strongly preferred. Strong writing and oral communication skills are essential. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, including the ability to clearly and comfortably interact with diverse public contacts, ability to work well independently and under pressure, conscientious attention to detail.

EQUIPMENT: Experience with the following preferred: Cision, Burrelles-Luce, Microsoft Office.

About Our Company The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for the more than 25 million people with vision loss in the U.S.

AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. AFB's work in these areas is supported by its strong presence in Washington, DC, ensuring the rights and interests of Americans with vision loss are represented in our nation's public policies.

AFB is based in New York, and maintains the Public Policy Center in Washington, DC; the AFB Center on Vision Loss in Dallas, TX; AFB TECH in Huntington, WV; and offices in Atlanta and San Francisco. AFB is also proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than forty years that Helen Keller dedicated to working with AFB.

Website: www.afb.org

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Interested parties, please email a Cover Letter, Resume, and Salary Requirements to the Human Resources Department at hr@afb.net