Senior PR & Media Relations Specialist
Primary Responsibilities:
• Develop and execute PR strategies for Habitat for Humanity International initiatives, events, disaster response efforts and corporate partner news, working in coordination the PR team as well as key internal stakeholders.
• Provide crisis communications and media relations counsel to Habitat affiliates as necessary or requested. This includes creating a communications plan, drafting messaging and talking points, and providing media training to affiliate spokespeople.
• Identify proactive media opportunities and conduct outreach that can generate additional positive media coverage for Habitat and incorporate its key messages.
• Manage and coordinate responses for media inquiries, surveys and corporate communication requests by providing general information, partnership details, financial and fundraising data, and photos; selecting appropriate subject matter experts; and arranging media interviews. Establish and maintain effective relationships with media.
• Draft media materials including press releases, media advisories, fact sheets and content for inclusion on Habitat’s website, social media pages and internal/external publications. Manage outreach, dissemination and evaluation processes of Habitat news through proactive pitching, target audience selection, media reporting and news distribution on wires and Habitat’s listservs, websites and publications.
• Monitor Habitat for Humanity's media coverage.
• Lead media training and facilitate message briefings to prepare CEO, senior leadership, directors and managers for media and corporate communications requests. Develop and provide key messages and talking points.
• Manage vendor relationships, including media monitoring services and newswire vendors.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience
• Years of related experience: At least 5 years of directly related professional experience.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within a team and cross-departmentally.
• History of successfully implementing public relations campaigns and initiatives.
• Thorough knowledge of current and emerging public relations issues and trends.
• Proven experience with providing effective counsel on critical public relations issues.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. media, with proven track record of placements in top news media.
• Outstanding written and oral communications skills, with mastery of AP Style.
• Active support of HFHI Values:
- Team Collaborator
- Good Steward
- LEAN/Continuous Improvement
- Graceful Candor
- Heart for the Mission
- Personal Integrity
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with nonprofit/philanthropy media.
• Experience in PR agency or journalism industries, or a combination of both
• Writing samples may be requested
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, is a global, Christian-based nonprofit organization that grew out of an intentionally multi-racial community in rural Georgia. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings together people of all faiths and people of no faith to build homes, communities and hope. Working alongside each other, we help families and individuals build and improve places to call home and achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Habitat seeks individuals who have a willingness to affirm these principles and values.
Habitat for Humanity International is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified personnel for all our positions in a manner that does not unlawfully discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran/reserve national guard status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.