Service Women’s Action Network Communications Director, F/T, New York City or Washington DC

Service Women’s Action Network Communications Director, F/T, New York City or Washington DC

SWAN’s mission is to transform military culture by securing equal opportunity and freedom to serve without discrimination, harassment or assault; and to reform veterans’ services to ensure high quality health care and benefits for women veterans and their families.

In just six years, SWAN has established itself as the leading national organization focusing on gender-specific issues faced by women in the U.S. Military. SWAN’s visionary work has been responsible for sweeping changes in military and veterans’ policy. SWAN is regularly featured in top-tier national press outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, MSNBC, CNN and Fox News, amongst others.   

The Communications Director will be an energetic, collaborative and visionary thinker. S/he will bring a strategic perspective to SWAN’s communications activities, working closely with the Executive Director and policy team to lead a comprehensive communications strategy that leverages strengths and focuses national attention on organizational issues. The Communications Director will have media relations expertise and will streamline and implement clear internal processes for managing communications opportunities to advance SWAN’s mission in a measured and coordinated manner. The candidate will have exceptional writing skills, and be able to manage messaging around high-profile national policy initiatives. 

This position reports to the Executive Director and is based in New York City or Washington DC. 

 Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director and agency directors to develop and lead a national, multi-year communications strategy designed to elevate SWAN and build sustained visibility and support for our initiatives.
• Build an expanded national media presence through targeted outreach, pitching and relationship building with key journalists.
• Identify policy and partnership opportunities that can be leveraged to broaden SWAN’s impact, and build and sustain relationships with policymakers, thought leaders and other key audiences.
• Work with program staff to integrate communications, providing sound advice and relating work to the organization’s strategic plan.
• Write briefing materials for executive management, press releases and op-eds, preparing talking points and presentations, and supervising interviews with staff.
• Write compelling, polished organizational e-mail alerts.
• Manage SWAN’s brand identity to enhance public awareness of initiatives and maintain messaging consistency.
• Lead expansion of communications channels including increasing our social media presence to broaden SWAN’s reach and engagement with key audiences.
• Produce content (e.g., write op-eds, brochures, reports) and manage the development and promotion of print, broadcast and online materials to ensure accuracy and consistency across all communications channels.
• Oversee all organizational websites, including SWAN’s main website and Summit website.
• Manage robust social media platforms, to include Facebook, Twitter and organizational blogs.
• Develop organizational policies regarding staff use of social media.
• Attend weekly Directors’ meetings and any other meetings called by the Executive Director.
• Secure top-tier media coverage, prepare stakeholders and supervise media during all SWAN press conferences and events, including the Summit on Military Sexual Violence.
• Plan and execute media training of select stakeholders.
• Supervise and direct SWAN’s Webmaster and ensure timely and accurate posting of all web content.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 5 to 7 years of communications experience in marketing, media relations, communications, or a related field.
• Bachelors and/or advanced degree in communications, public policy, or related field preferred.
• Public policy or legislative background, and passion for national-level politics and national security issues is ideal.
• Exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Demonstrated record of developing and effectively leading cause-oriented and digital marketing communications campaigns.
• Traditional and social media relations expertise and savvy in generating interest, as well as managing media inquiries, interviews, and other requests.
• Ability to interact confidently with press and stakeholders on sensitive topics such as sexual violence and combat related trauma and national security issues.
• Adept at developing and navigating high-profile partnerships and relationships.
• Experience supervising other people.
• Experience using Vocus software.
• Exceptional written, spoken, and visual communication skills.
• Proven ability to produce high-impact materials, as well as manage daily communications activities while maintaining a big picture, strategic mindset.
• Enthusiasm for social change and the desire to make history.
• Supreme confidence in dealing with top media and government stakeholders, and ability to multi-task under pressure and on deadline while staying calm, positive, poised and professional is a must.
• Experience interacting with a marginalized or traumatized population is preferred; patience, humility and willingness to gain cultural competency to interact well with veterans and military survivors is a must.
• Knowledge of and passion for veterans’ and women’s rights, sexual violence prevention and social justice.
• Experience working in multicultural environments, and the ability to work collaboratively and incorporate multiple political and cultural perspectives.
• Salary commensurate with experience.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, three references and two writing samples tojobs@servicewomen.org. Write “Communications Director” in the Subject Line. No phone calls please.