The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Communications Director, Government and Community Relations (GCR), works in close collaboration with WWP’s marketing and communications leadership and teams to identify, develop, and drive communications efforts as part of the government and community relations strategy. This position serves to amplify the work of WWP in the National Capital Region by bolstering relationships with Washington-based government and non-government communities, enhancing organizational awareness, and identifying new and timely opportunities to communicate the impact of WWP programs, services, and community partnerships and investments.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Support government and community relations executive leadership to implement an outreach, and partnership strategy with key government influencers, the Federal Government, and in the VSO/MSO and military community.
- Coordinate with the communications and marketing teams to develop and execute audience-specific communications strategies, plans, and tactics as part of a comprehensive government relations and community partnerships and investments strategy.
- Partner closely with teams across the organization to develop content for external communication efforts, draft and edit communications materials including press releases, talking points, speeches, explainer videos, testimony, and other documents.
- Draft and secure placement of thought and opinion pieces related to issues and priorities in the policy, legislative, partnership, venture philanthropy, and social good programming realm.
- Identify opportunities to position GVP, GCR and other senior WWP leaders as thought-leader in the military and veteran policy space.
- Secure speaking and engagement opportunities, e.g. forums, panels, roundtables, for WWP senior leadership to highlight policy, legislation, and partner engagement with third party organizations.
- Coordinate media outreach and identify opportunities for earned media related to issues and priorities in the policy, legislative, partnership, venture philanthropy, and social good programming realm.
- Serve as WWP’s communications point of contact for media and WWP senior level engagement at events.
- Lead the development and execution of events to promote exposure to issues and priorities supported by WWP in the policy, legislative, partnership, venture philanthropy, and social good programming realm supported and/or championed by WWP.
- In coordination with key WWP teams and leadership, develop proactive public relations campaigns and materials for distribution to educate the media and key influencers about new WWP initiatives, programs, successes.
- Facilitate internal communications efforts to build organizational awareness of the work being done related to issues and priorities in the policy, legislative, partnership, venture philanthropy, and social good programming realm.
- Develop and manage communications efforts related to the Community Partnerships and Investments portfolio, including drafting and execution of joint communications and engagement plans with partner organizations.
- Serve as primary communications and marketing point of contact for community investment partners’ communications leads.
- Conduct periodic (quarterly) reviews, and report to SVP, GCR, all community partner invitees regarding compliance with communications restrictions and plans.
- Manage media monitoring, evaluation, and analysis, including scanning print, television, radio, and the internet for newsworthy items and current events that directly impact the GCR portfolio.
- Manage relevant vendor relationships to include formulating statements of work, managing payment, and coordinating with other internal stakeholders, including Legal and Finance teams.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Educational Background:
Bachelor’s Degree. Equivalent combination of education, training, certification, and experience may be substituted for degree requirements
Skills/Experience:
- Strong written and verbal communications skills – both from an internal and external capacity
- Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- Excellent presentation skills
- Ability to break down complex issues into easily understandable terms
- Highly motivated, passionate, creative team player
- Able to work in a collaborative team environment, and willing to collaborate with a large number of internal stakeholders throughout the organization
- Commitment to working with shared leadership and in cross-functional teams
- Ability to communicate with diverse personalities in a tactful, mature, flexible manner
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and prioritize duties appropriately
- Possess professional presence and demeanor
- Mission-driven, guided by core values, and a pleasure to work with
Education & Experience Requirements
- Ten or more years of experience in communications, public relations, and media relations in public policy, issues management, or public affairs
- Eight or more years’ staff management
- Experience managing issues and driving crisis communications in fast-paced environments
- Experience writing messaging materials
- Experience working with cross-functional groups
- Experience building outreach programs and coalitions and managing stakeholder relations at a national level
Preferred Education & Experience
- Master’s degree
- Previous experience working in the veterans/military community or on Capitol Hill or federal agency preferred
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Apr 21 2018
Active Until:
May 21 2018
Hiring Organization:
Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.
industry:
Nonprofit