Press Officer

Title: Press Officer

Department: Communications

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has fueled the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of more than $50 million and won the respect of law firms worldwide. Our global pro bono network includes over 2,100 lawyers across 6 continents, 88 countries, and 125 law firms, contributing over $30 million USD in pro bono legal services annually. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org

The Job: The U.S. Press Officer will sit on the Press Team and report directly to the Senior Media Advisor, working closely with the Center’s legal experts and policy staff. This position will primarily focus on federal policy and the Center’s efforts to combat harmful actions from federal agencies, Congress or the White House. At this critical time for reproductive rights, she/he/they will help shape the organization’s messaging and create proactive press strategies to influence public discourse and policy makers, effecting real change. 

The Press Officer will play a critical role on the Press Team, securing coverage of the Center as well as its clients in high-profile media. The Press Officer will collaborate with the larger Communications Team to increase the visibility of the Center’s work in the U.S., including litigation and policy/advocacy work at the federal level. 

They will engage journalists at the national and local level, placing stories that move the needle on the Center’s priority issues like abortion access and maternal health care. This includes securing media coverage and interviews (TV, radio, online and print); placing op-eds in key media outlets; developing press materials and talking points; creating comprehensive press plans; and preparing spokespeople for media appearances. 

The Press Officer plays a strategic role in the Communications Department, continually surveying the media landscape for upcoming opportunities and challenges—and working with colleagues within and outside the department to develop strategies for responding to them, often on very tight deadlines. 

The positions will be based in the Center’s New York City or Washington D.C. offices in a hybrid model of 3 days in-office, 2 days working from home. Covid-19 vaccination is required for all US-based employees of the Center.

This is a 2-year, fixed-term position.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Work with the larger Press Team to create and execute impactful public relations strategies for the Center’s federal lawsuits and U.S. policy initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Center’s Federal Team to expose the human impact of harmful federal policies and actions that restrict access to abortion, IVF, quality maternal health care, etc.
• Translate dense legal arguments and concepts into digestible messaging that resonates with press and the general public.
• Cultivate, maintain and expand relationships with key journalists, editors, and producers, specifically those who cover Congress, The White House, health policy, gender and reproductive rights.   
• Secure top tier profile pieces on the Center’s legal experts.
• Write press releases, statements, briefing memos, talking points, and op-eds related to the Center's U.S. work (in partnership with the larger Press Team).
• Monitor trends and developments in media and culture related to reproductive rights issues, looking for ways to position the Center as a leading public authority in the field.
• Prepare Center spokespeople for press interviews and public appearances, including drafting talking points and providing formal media training and informal prep sessions prior to each interview or event.
• Help manage the Center’s robust database of media contacts, ensuring it is current and constantly expanding as reporter assignments change. Proactively develop relationships with reporters and editors.
• Work closely and collaborate effectively with other departments to ensure strategies are aligned across the organization.
• Work with partner organizations on joint messaging and shared media goals as appropriate.
• Execute special projects as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Occasional travel for congressional hearings, court cases and other events. 

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 8 years experience in media relations or journalism;
• Bachelor's Degree required;
• Successful track record of developing and executing communications strategies and campaigns in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment;
• Hill and/or political experience of some kind is preferred;  
• Existing press relationships is a plus, especially with DC/politics reporters;
• Ability to understand complicated laws and legal arguments and explain them to reporters in a concise and compelling way;  
• Must be extremely proactive and self-motivated;
• Exceptional writing, editing and messaging skills;
• Strong verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively;  
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and problem-solving skills, and the ability to operate professionally under intense pressure;  
• Proficiency with PR software such as Cision is a plus;
• Extremely sharp organizational skills and ability to manage large volumes of projects, tasks, and files;
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced environment with a wide variety of strong personalities; sense of humor;
• Willingness to work outside of standard work hours when breaking news occurs;
• Deep dedication to the Center’s mission, values, and strategic objectives. 

 Don’t meet every single requirement? At the Center, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.  You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. 

Compensation: The annual salary for this position is $96,000. This salary is reflective of a position based in New York City or Washington D.C. 

Duration: This is a 2 year fixed-term position.

Union Status: This position will be part of the CRR Union, a shop within Local 2110 United Auto Workers—Technical, Office, and Professional Workers Union.

FLSA Exempt Status: This is an exempt position.

Benefits:

• Health: The Center pays up to 90%* of the premium for a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage. (* % may differ in various countries).
• Flexibility: The Center currently operates in a hybrid model, requiring staff to work 3 days per week in the office and allowing work 2 days per week from home.
• Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical, and community well-being. The Center provides generous leave, including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend winter holiday time with their loved ones.
• Growth: You will be working with and learning from some of the top legal and operational minds, all passionate about advancing reproductive rights worldwide. You will also be eligible for a stipend to use towards professional growth.
• Global: You will get a front-row seat to the fight for reproductive rights globally. You will have access to Employee Resource Groups to connect to colleagues with similar interests/backgrounds/views.
• Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (*applicable only in US and Kenya).

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights.

Center policy on visa sponsorship for U.S.-based positions: Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by The Center for Reproductive Rights.

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