Manager, Media Relations

What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Today, we are an alliance of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and a national office that work in communities across the United States to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. NAMI advocates for all who are affected by mental illness, both the individuals and the people in their lives. We work to address disparities and injustices and to promote dignity and inclusion for all people with mental illness and their families. In addition to being advocates, we educate, we listen, and we lead as evidenced by our public awareness campaigns, the range of programs we provide, and our strong public policy.

We currently have an opening for a Manager, Media Relations. The Manager, Media Relations is a strategic, hands‑on communicator responsible for ensuring NAMI’s media presence is both responsive and forward‑looking. This role manages incoming media inquiries with speed and consistency, while also driving a proactive pitching cadence that showcases NAMI’s programs, expertise, and impact in the national conversation on mental health.

Working in close partnership with the Director of Communications and colleagues across the organization, the Manager triages and routes incoming media requests, prepares leaders and subject matter experts with compelling talking points, and develops creative, timely opportunities to elevate NAMI’s visibility. By tracking coverage, analyzing trends, and surfacing insights, the Manager helps strengthen NAMI’s already strong share of voice and reinforces the organization’s role as a trusted thought leader and go‑to resource on mental health, with all efforts aligned to NAMI’s strategic plan.

This full-time position is based out of our Arlington VA office 3 days per week. May work hybrid the additional 2 days.

Salary Range: $65,000 - $70,000

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage and respond to incoming media requests, ensuring message consistency, spokesperson recommendations, spokesperson prep, coaching and execution, in-concert with the Director, as appropriate.
• Drive the creation and execution of a proactive media pitching cadence — generating creative ideas, identifying seasonal, topical, and mission‑driven opportunities, and working in partnership with the Director and colleagues to ensure intentional, high‑impact outreach to priority outlets and reporters.
• Conduct research and analysis using the Cision software suite, with advanced capability to build, customize, and leverage tracking dashboards for strategic media monitoring, analytics, and reporting.
• Collaborate with NAMI department teams to draft, disseminate, and pitch compelling media materials — including press statements, advisories, releases, opinion pieces, and letters to the editor — ensuring timely, accurate, and coordinated communication on priority issues and special projects.
• Identify and build relationships with key reporters and outlets, leveraging social media and media management tools to drive meaningful engagement.
• Work with the Director to support staff and affiliate field activities related to media relations — including updates, toolkits, and training sessions.
• Help maintain and enhance NAMI’s share of voice, reputation, and visibility as a leading voice on mental health, reinforcing the organization’s role as a trusted thought leader.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree required in a relevant field; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• 3 – 5 years of public relations experience, with 3 years specifically focused on media relations
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• Cause-related communications or agency background preferred; experience in media relations at a non-profit or public health organization is highly desirable
• Demonstrated expertise in Cision media monitoring and analytics software, with the ability to design dashboards, conduct in-depth analysis, and translate findings into actionable insights aligned with NAMI’s strategic plan.
• Ability to work collaboratively and diplomatically with exceptional customer service and relationship‑building skills.
• Strong editorial judgment and creative story telling abilities
• Skilled at prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment with attention to detail and precision
• Strong interpersonal and cultural awareness skills
• Highly organized with experience in project management; able to self‑manage while keeping stakeholders informed.
• Passionate about storytelling, dedicated to NAMI’s mission, and enthusiastic about staying informed on the latest news—a true news junkie.
• Must pass background check

NAMI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. NAMI prohibits discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, genetic information or any other legally protected group status. We also provide reasonable accommodation for candidates with disability.