Communications Associate, Client Services

ReThink Media seeks a Communications Associate to support their Client Services team. In this role, you will join a small, dedicated team of communications professionals, researchers, and trainers to work on the most pressing issues of our time. Rather than focusing on a single issue or organization, joining the ReThink team means putting your communications skills to work for multiple fantastic organizations, coalitions, and campaigns.

About ReThink Media

ReThink Media strengthens progressive movements through communications. We work with coalitions, campaigns, and values-aligned organizations to strengthen their communications power. Our work spans strategy and analysis, media and messaging support, skills-building for advocates, discounted access to essential communications tools paired with hands-on guidance, shared learning through data and collaboration, and direct connections between experts and top reporters covering their issues.

Overview

The Client Services team bolsters movements by working one-on-one with individual nonprofits, helping them build their communications capacity while being that capacity. In some instances, we are acting as a part-time comms staff for an org that has none; in others, we are supplementing the existing staff to boost a project or lend specialist talent. When organizations have more capacity and can wield communications tools more effectively, they are better coalition partners and campaign leaders. We help them get there.

Position Description

The Communications Associate reports to the Chief Operating Officer, and will work in close coordination with members of the Client Services team and other staff to build and implement communication strategies, generate news coverage, and fine-tune messaging on behalf of client organizations. The Communications Associate will also, from time to time, bring their skills and experience to bear on coalition projects, working closely with the Collaborative Campaigns team.

Principal Duties

• Assist organizations in strategic communications planning and media work, including but not limited to: co-developing communications plans and goals; co-developing digital media strategies and tactics; developing and implementing strategies for editorial outreach; assisting with pitching and placement of spokespeople and content; coaching spokespeople and communications staff at client organizations.
• Assist in the development of communications tools and materials, including messaging and talking points, tailored press lists, sample social media content, and, where appropriate, story pitches, press releases, and opinion pieces.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key journalists; assist client organizations in building their own networks of media contacts.
• Assist with media monitoring, using emerging news stories to engage ReThink’s clients in responding to emerging media opportunities.
• Work with the Research & Analysis team to leverage media analysis, public opinion analysis, and message research for more effective communications; help clients make their communications data-driven.
• Represent ReThink in client meetings, as assigned, to provide media and communications expertise in those discussions.
• Assist in planning and carrying out events, seminars, journalist meet-and-greets, press conferences, etc., as needed.
• Work with the Collaborative Campaigns team, as needed, to do one or more of the duties described above in a coalition/campaign setting.

Essential Skills and Qualifications

ReThink will make at least one hire in this position. We are open to candidates from within a range of both length of experience and area of communications expertise, including unusual or non-traditional combinations thereof.

• 1-6 years of relevant work experience in strategic communications and/or media engagement.
• Expertise in at least one of the following areas:
  • Communications strategy and tactical advising (e.g., comms planning, tailored messaging, crafting press releases, digital toolkits, media briefings)
  • Utilizing and integrating research into a communications strategy (e.g., public opinion analysis, data and polling, community listening sessions for audience development)
  • Earned media support (e.g., local and national pitching, building reporter relations, media planning, knowledge of how to engage digital-only new platforms like NowThis)
  • Rapid response support and planning (e.g., planning and training for crisis preparedness, supporting organizational response in a crisis)
  • Owned media support (e.g., drafting blogs, op-eds, and LTEs)
  • Digital content creation (e.g., social media, online ads, and influencer engagement strategies)
• Ability to identify opportunities, creatively and strategically frame ideas, develop stories, and synthesize complex policy issues in a way that appeals to reporters, editors, producers, and a wide variety of audiences.
• Strong writing and editing skills.

Desired but not required

Basic understanding of and/or facility with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp); media contact and monitoring databases (e.g., MuckRack, Cision); familiarity with the Google Suite.

Experience with basic graphic design principles and tools (e.g., Canva).

Experience with leveraging AI large language models (e.g., Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT) for communications use cases.

Location, Benefits, and Salary

This is a remote, full-time position. ReThink aims to recruit the best people for every position and currently has an all-remote staffing model. At the same time, some locations are more immediately relevant to the strategic objectives of our work. Applicants are welcome from across the country, but will be considered in conjunction with their strategic proximity to key partner locations or constituencies. We have a preference for candidates based in and around the Washington, DC area. The position will require occasional travel (2–4 trips per year) to staff and planning meetings, and to presentations, convenings, and events. In all cases, ReThink requires employees to live within 90 minutes of a major airport to facilitate occasional travel.

The salary range listed below pertains to employees in Washington, DC and might be adjusted for candidates in locations with much lower costs of living. ReThink Media is committed to pay equity and transparency in our salary, raise, and benefits structure. We regularly conduct market comparisons. Staff receive an annual 360º performance review and ReThink is strongly committed to internal and external professional development. We aim to attract, develop, and retain diverse, talented, and growth-minded staff.

This is an intermediate-level position that comes with a generous benefits, vacation, sabbatical, and retirement package (details provided to candidates invited to interview). Salary is commensurate with experience; the starting annual salary range for this position is $50,000–78,400.

Diversity Statement

ReThink Media is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best available person in every job. ReThink Media policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race (including traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression (including sex stereotyping), age, religion or religious creed (including religious observances, practices, dress, head scarves, beards, and grooming standards associated with one’s religious beliefs or practices), physical, intellectual or mental disability, medical condition, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, AIDS/HIV status, marital or domestic partnership status, military service, veteran or military status, military caregiver status, status as a victim of domestic violence, assault or stalking, criminal history (including arrests and records of conviction), political affiliation or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws (collectively referred to as “protected characteristic”). It also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of protected characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. All such unlawful discrimination will not be tolerated. ReThink Media is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in organizational operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and coworkers.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ReThink Media is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. We embrace applicants of any race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related) or conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions (ARC), and other protected characteristics under local, state and federal laws and regulations. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

This is an intermediate-level position that comes with a generous benefits, vacation, sabbatical, and retirement package (details provided to candidates invited to interview).