Director of Communications

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

The National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) and the National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund (NIRH Action Fund), advocacy groups that fight for just and equitable access to reproductive health care, are seeking a full-time Director of Communications to directly support its communications department. 

This is a benefits eligible, full-time, non-exempt position that will require 35 hours of work, with flexibility, during normal business hours, Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM. The annual salary for this position is between $115,000 and $122,000, commensurate with experience. 

WHO WE ARE 

The National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) and the National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund (NIRH Action Fund) are advocacy groups that fight for just and equitable access to reproductive health care and build political power for reproductive freedom. For decades, our strategy has been to go on the offensive, at the state and local level, so we have a long track record of passing laws that are safeguarding and advancing access. 

In states and cities across the country, we launch campaigns, change policy, and elect candidates who champion our cause, all by working hand-in-hand with reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations; health care providers; and other groups invested in this fight. We partner in communities where change is needed and where we can make a difference. At the national level, we engage in groundbreaking public opinion research, proactive policy initiatives, and innovative advocacy campaigns to help reshape the national conversation about reproductive freedom. 

Our approach to advocacy, policy, and politics strives to center the people who are most impacted by barriers to care, historically underserved, and often under-represented — Black women and Black communities, Indigenous and other communities of color, low-income people, and immigrants.  

We don’t just push back against restrictions on reproductive autonomy; we fight for a society in which everyone has the freedom and ability to control their reproductive and sexual lives. 

THE ROLE

As the NIRH/NIRH Action Fund’s Director of Communications, you will be responsible for creating and managing organizational messaging, media campaigns, and 360 communications strategies that shape the narrative around NIRH’s work to advance proactive reproductive freedom measures. In this role, you will actively focus on media engagement and placement, maintaining national reporter relationships, organizing and streamlining communications resources and assets, generating and updating organizational talking points and messaging materials, and staffing key spokespeople in media interviews. The Director of Communications will collaborate with the digital communications team to ensure brand and message consistency across NIRH platforms. The Director of Communications will also support media trainings for internal and external stakeholders and collaborate with NIRH’s partnerships team to ensure message alignment across workstreams.    

The Director will also represent the organization in relevant communications coalitions and contribute thought leadership with VP of Communications as to overall strategy, priorities, and positioning. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO 

• Create strategic messaging on various reproductive freedom issues in support of NIRH goals.  
• Monitor media for trends and opportunities related to NIRH’s mission and values. 
• Track NIRH media hits, sharing with staff and other stakeholders as appropriate. 
• Collaborate closely with digital communications team to ensure message and brand consistency across platforms (eg, messaging on website and social media). 
• Represent NIRH in relevant communications coalitions  
• Actively focus on proactive media engagement including pitching and placing national media.   
• Manage press lists and quarterly maintenance of press lists. 
• Prep and staff principle and other spokespeople.  
• Collaborate cross-departmentally to ensure strategy alignment and transparency. 
• Collaborate with VP of Communications and with other departments to track major developments pertaining to the reproductive freedom movement, assessing, planning for, and working collaboratively to execute rapid response plans. 
• Work with other Communications team members and cross-departmentally for thought leadership and project planning and execution, including policy reports, RFP releases, fundraising events, and other projects. 
• Contribute thought leadership with VP of Comms (and LT, as needed) as to Communications overall strategy, priorities, and positioning within movement.  
• Collaborate with Strategic Communications and Partnerships Director to ensure organizational alignment on technical communications assistance for partners including message development, media and message trainings, etc. 
• Monitor the media inbox daily, this includes evenings and weekends.  
• Ensure communications campaigns and assets center NIRH’s race equity values. 

WHAT YOU’LL BRING 

• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit communications, public relations, or related field. 
• Experience with media monitoring tools and social media platforms. 
• Knowledge of media relations and placement strategies. 
• Experience with project management and collaboration.