Director, Communications & Public Relations

The Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) is a leading professional provider of social support and programming for all at-risk youth, particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning ("LGBTQ") youth. HMI provides a broad range of vital programming to thousands of youth each year, ranging in age from 12 to 24, from the five boroughs of New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area. HMI has also recently initiated programming in Newark, NJ.

We are seeking a Director, Communications & Public Relations for our NYC location.

Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Working with Executive Director and Associate Executive Director (AED) of Development, assume key role in ensuring positive perception of the Agency.

2. Set priorities, and develop annual strategic plan, for effective branding as well as marketing and public relations campaigns.

3. Lead all administrative communications efforts, including speaking events, issue-organizing campaigns, press and public relations efforts, and new media initiatives.

4. Strategic management of all media and press relations; proactively create, lead, promote and coordinate all public relations opportunities (stories, interviews, events, press briefings, press conferences, etc.).

5. Act as organizational spokesperson as needed.

6. Research and prepare all written materials such as press releases, fact sheets, letters to the editor, editorials, e-newsletters, talking points and other pieces.

7. Supervise design, production and distribution of all marketing and collateral materials.

8. Organize and maintain all communications and public relations records, physical and electronic.

9. Creation, marketing, placement and maintenance of the HMI brand in the community.

10. Train staff, youth members, volunteers and others on positioning of HMI and how to work most productively with media.

11. Review, approve, promote and coordinate all aspects of third-party partnerships, paying particular attention to appropriate Agency positioning and outreach.

12. Develop and maintain the Agency's social media initiatives (includes website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.).

13. Create and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders and manage third-party partnerships; strategic development of these partnerships.

14. Work with program staff and youth members to achieve the goals of the Development Department, including relationship management and reporting.

15. Liaise with Board of Directors and other volunteers, providing support and training as needed.

16. Cultivate long-term relationships with media contacts and other partners to ensure continued positive support, placement and involvement.

17. Proactively create, lead, promote and coordinate opportunities with partners that have direct funding implications.

18. Assist in the planning and execution of other Development Department and Agency priorities, as requested.

19. Develop and institute policies to effectively run department. Maintain policies and procedures manual for individual area of responsibility.

20. Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

1. Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or other related area.

2. Knowledge of LGBTQ/at-risk youth issues.

3. Minimum 3+ years of strategic communications and public relations experience with demonstrated success in managing all aspects of media relations and branding.

4. Knowledge of various media outlets, including print, television, radio and web-based/social media.

5. Knowledge of website design and maintenance.

6. Excellent writing, verbal, interpersonal and group communications skills.

7. Exceptional administrative, organizational, and time management skills.

8. Successful track record of collaboratively working with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external.

9. Computer Skills: Strong with proficiency in all programs of the current Microsoft Office suite; Adobe InDesign, and the major component parts of Raiser's Edge.

Additional Desirable Qualifications:

1. Knowledge of and skill in using desktop publishing, presentation and project management software applications.

2. Contacts/relationships within the New York/Tri-State media, individual and institutions.