Nonprofit Remote Digest - Issue #625

Jul 8, 2021

Health, equity, justice and sustainability. — resource-media.org Resource Media is a nonprofit communications firm focused on social change. We provide media strategy and support to progressive causes.

Program Director - Seattle

ABOUT YOU

It’s a noisy world out there, and being heard is only half the battle; you’re a creative, curious communications professional with a passion for changing hearts and minds. You’re a quick study, ready to geek out on media impressions or brush up on the latest TikTok trend. You have a nose for politics and don’t mind the occasional rapid response campaign.

You’re a persuasive writer, you’re a multi-tasker and a creator. You relish corresponding with reporters to convince them to dive in on a story, and pitching advertising campaigns to clients—and see them take flight. Most importantly, you’re a committed team player who’s grounded in equity and justice. Your self-awareness and humility help foster healthy relationships with colleagues and partners.

ABOUT US

Resource Media is a nonprofit PR firm working for social change. We provide communications services to a variety of progressive organizations and causes and also operate independently or in coalition when we see unmet communications needs in the field. We work on issues that have an impact on the health of people and the planet, including climate change and clean energy; social and environmental justice; public health; food and farms.

At Resource Media, we know that there is no progress without equity. We embrace and honor differences in age, culture, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity and expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees and partners unique. It’s our moral and strategic imperative to build cultural competence and cultural humility and to eradicate oppression in all its forms, both within our organization and in the work that we do. Read our equity statement here.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR POSITION

We’re looking for a Program Director in the Seattle area to primarily support communications projects from our Seattle office, with additional support to our offices nationwide. “Program” at Resource Media refers to our mission-driven communications work. This position will support community health, health equity, public education, water quality, parks and clean energy projects, with room to expand to other issue areas. The Program Director will be instrumental in implementing communications strategies—from media relations and content development to creative social media campaigns—as well as collaborating on functions that we share across the organization: professional development, business development, etc. Although we don’t require prior experience working in a particular issue area, we are looking for someone who has an interest in or a curiosity about the field and isn’t afraid of a learning curve on the political and technical aspects of these issue areas.

Program Directors at Resource Media are more than just proficient communicators; they’re organized and relational collaborators, always strengthening their resilience for the realities of our work: multitasking, ambiguity, and a world in flux. For all staff, we will invest in mentorship, training, and ongoing support. We’re asking the new Program Director to come in the door with sharp communications instincts, a strong interest in social change, and a willingness to learn and grow. Here are a few things you will be responsible for:

Communications Consulting

Project manage communications projects for multiple clients simultaneously, and serve as the main client point of contact, as well as support staff on accounts
With support from colleagues, develop and execute communications plans and approaches that include messaging, strategy, and tactics for a variety of projects and issues
Serve as a nimble coordinator and producer for a wide range of content: messaging, talking points, blog posts, opinion columns, web copy, DIY social media videos, infographics, social graphics, press releases and pitches, fact sheets, leave-behinds, slide decks
Execute wide-ranging media outreach strategies, including: story and opinion pitching to media outlets, development and maintenance of media lists and reporter relationships, coverage tracking and reporter follow-up
Advise and counsel clients from nonprofits, foundations and government agencies on how to best achieve their goals, using strategic communications principles, creative content and brand-building inspiration
Conduct media and digital scans to assist colleagues on issue and media landscape assessments and analyses
Help develop materials and facilitation/presentation for meetings, trainings, workshops, conferences
Maintain and update skills in a changing communications landscape, and share learning and experience via RM blogs, staff meetings, webinars

Relationship and Project Management

Manage relationships with an instinct for client service, how to communicate and produce value for clients so they have positive experiences with your projects
Help colleagues coordinate communications activities on campaigns and projects across multiple platforms and partners to ensure work is high quality, meets expectations and is on deadline and on budget
Communicate regularly and accurately with RM team members on project status updates, identifying problems or successes
Hire and liaison with vendors and contractors, such as graphic designers, video producers, photographers
Plan and facilitate meetings, including creating agendas, taking and synthesizing notes and next steps
Assist on grant proposals and reports, and contribute creative thinking and ideas for future work
Promote Resource Media services and resources through blog posts on Resource Media’s website or elsewhere online
Network within your issue areas and/or your local community to build relationships and learn
Serve on and lead Resource Media committees, as needed and so desired.
Foster a collaborative and mutually supportive work atmosphere throughout the organization
Track time and keep an eye on budget, and have an understanding of how individual actions can affect the team and the project’s budget

Equity and Justice

Commitment to equity as the cornerstone of progress toward a just and sustainable world
Support and participate in equity and inclusion work in the organization, including participation in relevant committees, trainings, and caucuses
Demonstrate a keen understanding of one’s own race, culture and identity and how it fits into the staff and client environment and landscape, as well as the world at large
Model vulnerability and accountability
Comfortable giving and receiving feedback
Model a sensitivity toward dynamics between white mainstream audiences and the needs and priorities of diverse communities, as well as the ability to manage work within and for a number of different identities, both internally and externally
Demonstrate an ability to communicate across differences

To be successful in this role, these minimum qualifications are essential:

Four to seven years of relevant experience in communications, public relations, media, nonprofit, community-based advocacy, or brand promotion work.

Demonstrated experience managing projects from brainstorm through implementation and completion, including assessment, within a team
Demonstrated experience in digital media platforms and strategy, from e-newsletters to Instagram
Basic understanding of the creative content production process, from conception to evaluation
Basic understanding of public policy and the role of communications as a central strategy in successful campaigns for social change
A demonstrated commitment to social justice, racial equity, and intersectional practice with experience executing those values through your work
Demonstrated skill in persuasive writing for media, funder and social media audiences.
A willingness to learn on the job and be flexible with the fast-paced nature of campaigns and client work
Ability to manage details and track work with multiple teams amidst shifting priorities and timelines
Familiarity with the cultural and political dynamic of Seattle, King County and the Pacific Northwest.

Additional skills that we value, but do not require:

A passion for a specific communications practice or strategy, and a willingness to learn more and teach others, through internal and external trainings and workshops
Experience in a complementary field, such as organizing and community outreach, political or electoral campaigning, advertising and other creative fields, event management or public affairs
Familiarity with one or more media research tools, such as Cision, Meltwater, LexisNexis, Radian 6, or Crimson Hexagon
Visual storytelling technical skills (e.g. Canva, ESRI story-maps, Adobe Spark, Wochit)
Experience with multicultural communications, transcreation, local culturally-specific media outlets and digital platforms
Second language fluency in a work setting, especially Spanish, Amharic, Somali, Vietnamese and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)

Salary and Benefits

We want to be able to attract the best and support them holistically to make for a happy, healthy and productive workplace. RM employees enjoy benefits that support their health, their local community and financial future, and contribute directly to their professional and personal development. This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary range of $65,000 – $94,000.

Resource Media offers a lively, spirited, intellectually-stimulating, and geographically diverse workplace. We are committed to the health, wellbeing and work-life balance of our team, so we’ve also added:

Flexible, family-friendly work schedules
Generous employer contribution to health insurance benefit premiums, of approximately 90 percent for employees, spouses/partners and their dependents
Support for the rest and regeneration of our employees through offering generous paid time off, which includes three weeks of vacation to start; sick days, personal days, eight holidays, as well as an end-of-the-year winter break
Cell phone subsidy
Transit subsidy
403(b) plan with company match
Funded support for professional development
Combination of virtual/remote working environment and co-working office/spaces.
Access to mentoring and coaching support
Trainings and learning opportunities focused on racial justice, trauma and self-care
Leadership opportunities through participation in committees that manage distributed decision-making across the organization

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and something to show us who you really are! It’s your choice – that could be a written summary or a video cover letter, or whatever showcases your passion for the work you’d be doing. Using the subject line “Program Director – Seattle,” send those materials to jobs@resource-media.org. Please include your name on your attachments. No phone calls, please.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will be open until filled.
We will review applications until the position is filled and anticipate conducting initial phone interviews before the end of June. Shortly thereafter, those selected to advance in the hiring process will be invited to a one-hour video interview with our panel. Finalists will be invited to a second one-hour interview with the Director of Operations and additional Resource Media staff.
This position would ideally start before or in August.

Resource Media prioritizes an equitable and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color; LGBTQIA+, transgender and gender non-conforming people; people of different abilities and neurodiverse identities; and other individuals from diverse backgrounds. People from these and other historically marginalized backgrounds are encouraged to apply. If you require assistance or accommodation during this application and interview process due to disability, please email us at jobs@resource-media.org.

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