Communications Coordinator

Job Title: Communications Coordinator

Department: Communications

Reports to: Director, Communications

Who We Are:

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the leading organization in the U.S. working to end the drug war, repair its harms, and build a non-punitive, equitable, and regulated drug market. We envision a world that embraces the full humanity of people, regardless of their relationship to drugs. We advocate that the regulation of drugs be grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights. In collaboration with other movements and at every policy level, we change laws, advance justice, and save lives.

DPA has 40 staff across the U.S. an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million, and 200,000 members, activists, and supporters. The organization has a solid track record of success at the local, state, and federal levels and consistent visibility in prominent media and policy circles.

Recognizing the broad reach of the drug war, DPA works across issue areas to engage more deeply with organizations and leaders in immigration, family policing, education, reproductive justice, housing, and other aligned spaces. This commitment to building power across movements and building a base contributes to and works in tandem with DPA’s work on policy and legislative change.

Learn more about working at the Drug Policy Alliance here and learn about our work to end the drug war here.

The Role:

Supervised by the Director of Communications, the Communications Coordinator will work closely with the full communications team to advance DPA’s mission through communication campaigns, media relations, and strategic communications. The Communications Coordinator will contribute to day-to-day functions for DPA’s communications team, including messaging support, media relations support, campaign communications, and content creation.

Expect a supportive and busy work environment where you will navigate managing multiple projects, prioritizing competing deadlines, and catering our messaging to multiple audiences.

Opportunities for growth include developing your understanding of modern drug policy and as a leader in public relations and communications.

Key Responsibilities:

Support the Director, Communications in executing DPA’s communications and media strategy, following best practices and drawing from core messaging, polling, and audience research.

• Draft, edit, and distribute media-facing communication materials including but not limited to media pitches, press releases, press statements, op-eds, and letters to the editor.
• As news stories break and developments emerge related to organizational priorities, provide timely, effective rapid response communications support.
• Monitor key media outlets for coverage related to DPA’s areas of work, summarizing coverage, and identifying areas for engagement.
• Manage media lists using DPA’s media monitoring software. Ensure that lists are accurate, strategic, and constantly updated. Support Director, Communications with tracking and building media relationships.
• Provide communications support for Reform, the Drug Policy Alliance’s bi-annual international conference.

Provide communications support on identified campaigns or priorities. These are determined and assigned by the Managing Director, Communications & Marketing.

• Attend key internal and external meetings relevant to the campaign to provide holistic campaign communications support and project coordination.
• Provide timely execution of communication strategy, including for earned and owned media.
• Track tasks, providing timely updates on competing projects, and managing the completion of communications deliverables to ensure goals are met each week.
• As directed by the campaign communications leads, work to improve coverage of campaign areas by connecting members of the press to speak with our experts, pitching story ideas, and providing journalists with relevant research and background information.
• Support overall communications needs of DPA’s campaigns, which in addition to the aforementioned media support, can include drafting social media, website, and email content.

Provide logistical support for vendors, related accounts, volunteers/interns, and billing where appropriate.

Skills and Experience:

To fulfill the responsibilities of the role, we are seeking candidates with the following qualifications and characteristics:

Passion: Strong commitment to DPA’s mission to end the war on drugs.

Skills and Experience:

• Intermediate understanding of key issues related to drug policy and criminal justice reform. For example: how drug criminalization has contributed to harms such as theoverdose crisis and over-incarceration, how harm reduction reduces the spread of infectious diseases and saves lives, and why we need a public health approach to the overdose crisis and addiction.
• Be a great writer. Proven ability to write clearly and persuasively for different audiences in different mediums. For example: drafting an op-ed from the perspective of a doctor, writing a press release about a piece of legislation, composing a mass email to our base about a campaign, or crafting a social media post to educate our followers on an issue.
• Commitment to being open-minded, trauma-informed, and anti-racist.
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, ability to write and deliver work products under tight deadlines, and commitment to high quality standards.
• Solid understanding of trends and best practices in messaging and media relations.
• Demonstrated experience with project coordination and working effectively in a fast-paced environment, and
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, organizational skills, and proactive work style.

Technology: Proficiency in media monitoring software such as Cision or Meltwater desired but not required.

Compensation:

This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary range for this position is $60,000-$65,000 depending on the level of experience. Benefits for DPA staff include comprehensive health insurance and coverage (including dental and vision), 403b retirement plan with 10% employer matching contribution after completion of one-year, paid time off including 20 days of vacation, plus national holidays, sick days, organizational closure at the end of December, and year-round early dismissal on Fridays.

Location

This role is based in New York City. The Communications Coordinator is expected to be onsite 2-3 days per week and may work remotely on other days.

Hours:

Full-time, flexible schedule.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit the following three things:

1. Your resume
2. A cover letter that includes brief responses to the following prompts:

• Why you want to work in drug policy/for the Drug Policy Alliance.
• Choose one skill listed in this job description and explain how you possess that skill.
• Briefly describe your career goals, and
• Your salary requirements

1. Share at least two varied examples of your written work from the last year that demonstrate your ability to write for a broad audience. Examples include: a press release, mass email, op-ed, blog post, or social media post. No academic papers or graphic design work please.

Equal Opportunity

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. DPA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibility, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction. Drug Policy Alliance is particularly interested in hiring people who have been adversely affected by the war on drugs.