Media Relations Manager 🔥
The Pollination Project seeks to unleash the goodness in each person we come into contact with (and beyond), therefore becoming a formidable antidote to apathy and indifference. We make seed grants to individuals and small start-up organizations who seek to spread compassion in their communities and the world at large. Since we began, The Pollination Project has made over 4,000 grants in 112 countries. Through pollinating and amplifying the good in our grantees, we hope to create the conditions for new ecologies of compassion consciousness in society.
LEADERSHIP AT THE POLLINATION PROJECT AND HOW YOU FIT IN:
Since its inception, we have chosen to question existing paradigms of philanthropy in ways beyond the size of our grants and our democratized grant approval process. We’ve prioritized intersections of issues over clean silos, volunteerism over careerism, and internal transformation along with external impact. Anticipate a role that is inspiring, challenging, and creative. Don’t expect to be a standard non profit executive. This is more like an entrepreneurial opportunity, where your role is more about being a ladder then a leader, where your own personal growth sets the ceiling for the organization and is therefore prioritized. We are looking for someone that can include multiple constituencies, from the board to staff to grantees to impacted communities, in conversation over how we can uproot apathy and amplify compassion. We believe an integration of these varied constituencies will generate new ways to expand kindness, deepen relationships, and transform conventional currency effectively into its more valuable siblings (compassion, courage & wisdom).
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Media Relations Manager role requires someone with an ability to be highly collaborative, who can think outside the box when it comes to strategic communication plans, media pitching, and who has incredible attention to detail to manage the execution of outreach activities.  Â
This is a part-time contract position, with opportunities for advancement and a salaried position in the future.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Planning:Â
Understand and evaluate the news cycle for how it ties to TPP’s work and pitching opportunities
Work with leadership team to determine priority messages, spokespeople and opportunities
Identify news pegs that creatively connect TPP’s work and programs with relevant world events
Develop a media strategy and work plan in coordination with the over-arching communications planning
Measure success against objectives
Continually review and re-align strategic priorities based on evolving trends and needs
Execution:
Continuously develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with reporters, producers, bookers, and editorial decision makers at international, national and relevant regional media outlets
Execute media plans through proactive media outreach across all platforms (broadcast, print, online, social); prior experience increasing coverage both in terms of quantity and quality
Prepare and distribute news releases, statements, advisories, announcements, fact sheets, notes, and other printed, filmed or recorded materials to the media
Create and nurture relationships between TPP and reporters/producers
Maintain Regular contact with print, broadcast, and digital media.
Supervise media coverage of appearances by experts and TPP leadership
Familiarity with media campaign evaluation metrics
Manage rapid-response and crisis communications, as needed
Communication:
Craft pitches with minimal supervision
Write draft blog posts/short articles as needed
Draft talking points for executive leadership and staff as needed
Leads on monthly media training and weekly opportunity-specific media prep for spokespersons and senior leaders
QUALIFICATIONS:
TPP is seeking an accomplished Media Relations Manager who has at least 5 years of communications experience, ideally in an “in-house” leadership role within a complex (number and variety of constituents) nonprofit entity, and covering areas such as digitall media, journalist relations and PR communications. The ability to take knowledge and transform it into exciting and useful messaging, and disseminate it to the right audiences through the best distribution channels is critical.
Specific requirements include:
Highly collaborative style
Experience developing and implementing communications strategies
Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills
A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently
Relationship builder with flexibility and finesse
Maturity and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels
Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, grantees, and other supporters
Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
The Pollination Project is committed to a just and equitable society wherein all people are treated equally, opportunity is justly distributed, and all voices are heard. We affirm and seek diversity in gender, race, color, ethnicity & national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), class, religion, ability, life experiences, and background as both a positive contribution to our organizational environment and a critical asset for informing and enabling our work. With this in mind, we are committed to maintaining a work environment that recognizes, understands, respects, and encourages the unique contributions of each member and we approach every hiring decision with a commitment to workplace diversity.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The Pollination Project is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related) or conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions (ARC). Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.