Hybrid Director, External Communications and Media Relations

at Partnership for Public Service

• Job title: Director, External Communications and Media Relations
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Lead
• Salary: $125,000 - $160,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Washington, United States

About the role

• Director of External Communications and Media Relations developing communication strategies for the Partnership for Public Service. Elevating visibility and ensuring consistent messaging across channels in a hybrid work environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Partnership’s proactive and rapid response media relations work and team by providing strategic direction and high-level oversight to elevate the Partnership as a local and national expert and leader in government reform.
• Monitor and analyze the current media and policy landscape to identify opportunities for engagement and proactive media strategies to support and amplify organizational priorities (e.g., op-eds, interviews and strategic content placement).
• Oversee rapid response communications during breaking news and relevant policy developments, ensuring timely, accurate and accessible messaging.
• Manage rapid response protocols, communication systems and decision-making frameworks.
• In partnership with the Vice President of Communications and Public Engagement, lead crisis communications, including reputational risk anticipation and response planning.
• In partnership with the Vice President of Communications and Public Engagement, develop and refine organizational messaging, brand voice and narrative strategies, ensuring they reflect the organization’s priorities and policy positioning.
• Serve as a thought partner to executives on message development, narrative framing and public positioning.
• Train and support staff and key partners as ambassadors of the Partnership’s value proposition and messaging.
• Oversee the editorial team and editorial process.
• Set the standard for high-impact writing and provide high-level content leadership that elevates quality and clarity, while empowering team to own and deliver consistently excellent work.
• Serve as principal copy writer and editor across external facing products, including media materials (e.g., news releases, statements, etc.), research reports and policy papers.
• Ensure products reflect Partnership’s style, values and messaging and advance strategic goals.
• Collaborate with Partnership’s researchers and policy experts to ensure external products are accurate, accessible and strategically aligned.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of successful experience demonstrated in external communications or media relations, ideally in a senior or leadership role.
• National-level experience with understanding the evolving media landscape, crisis management and rapid response communications and campaigns.
• Experience supervising staff, managing competing priorities and maintaining high-quality output in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Experience navigating complex political, operational and interpersonal dynamics.
• A Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications or a similar field, or a combination of experience and education in professional work or military experience.

Benefits

• medical, dental and vision coverage
• life insurance
• long- and short-term disability insurance
• 401(k) program with a 4 percent employer match
• opportunities for training and development
• commuter benefits
• 15 days of annual leave per year
• 10 days of sick leave per year
• plus all federal holidays and the day after Thanksgiving off
• use of an on-site exercise facility