Press Secretary

Position Title: Press Secretary, Welcoming Neighbors Network Communications Hub

Location: Fully Remote

Reports to: Director of Welcoming Neighbors Network Communications Hub

Hours per week (average): 40

Overtime Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $95,000 - $115,000

Welcoming Neighbors Network (WNN) is seeking an energetic, collaborative, knowledgeable, experienced Press Secretary to help grow a new strategic communications hub to help the efforts of Welcoming Neighbors Network members and partners across the nation as they strive to pass pro-housing policy.

Through coalition-building, community organizing, policy development and grassroots lobbying, Welcoming Neighbors Network member organizations advocate to legalize abundant housing options, lower the cost of housing, reduce the displacement of marginalized communities and ensure all Americans can find safe, stable housing that fits their needs and budgets. As a national network, WNN members come together to hone strategies, support one another, share lessons, replicate successes, avoid mistakes and tackle challenges creatively.

The Press Secretary will play a central role in a new communications hub that will serve as the rapid response, earned media, paid media, digital communications and messaging hub for groups focused on delivering more abundant housing policy in their communities. The new small team will act as an internal agency for pro-housing policy communication efforts across the nation, with a particular focus on supporting and uplifting the work of state and local organizations.

Working with the Communications Hub Director, the Press Secretary will develop and execute an overall media relations strategy with a focus on:

• Build the media relations skills and capacity of WNN member organizations and other supported groups by providing strategic counsel, holding skills-building training and helping with direct reporter outreach in local and state campaigns to pass pro-housing policy.
• Executing rapid-response media relations efforts as needs arise in state and local housing fights across the country.
• Leveraging media relations to elevate local success stories nationally and continue to build momentum for further pro-housing policy efforts.

The Press Secretary will build relationships with reporters and consistently share information on behalf of the Communications Hub, but will not serve as the primary spokesperson--rather, the Press Secretary will shape stories behind the scenes, and elevate the voices and perspectives of local leaders, storytellers with lived experience and other partners and experts in the movement.

Responsibilities include:

• Build local advocates’ media relations skills by organizing and facilitating trainings and providing ad-hoc coaching and strategic guidance.
• With the Director, develop and execute a proactive national press strategy to shape conversations around housing policy, including:
  • Monitoring national media coverage of housing and related issues, identifying pitch opportunities and providing media analysis to colleagues and partners;
  • Conceptualizing and executing high-level national media pitches and reporter education efforts and building a robust network of relationships;
  • Developing and placing opinion content;
  • Curating new coverage of pro-housing leaders and campaigns across broadcast, podcast and “new media” channels;
  • Organizing and executing press conferences and activations, as needed;
• Collaborate closely with the Director and Digital Strategy Manager to ensure messaging and strategic alignment across all channels and campaigns.
• In coordination with the Director and policy team, maintain collaborative and respectful partnerships with a diverse range of pro-housing advocates and groups nationwide.
• Draft and edit written materials such as press releases, interview briefing memos, communications plan memos, op-eds and talking points for activists.
• Conduct nuanced rapid-response reporter outreach in local and state media markets when time-sensitive or challenging political moments arise.
• Maintain knowledge of pro-housing policy developments in target cities and states across the country.
• Incorporate polling and messaging research into materials and campaigns, and distribute new research to media and partners.
• (Plus other related responsibilities as needed)

Qualifications:

(Research shows that members of marginalized groups often do not apply if they do not meet all qualifications. If you feel you can excel at this role, please apply.)

• Ideally, four to six years of combined employment in communications advocacy; and/or in communications for federal or state candidate campaigns or governmental offices.
• Zeal for our organizational goals and strategies, including:
  • Passing ambitious pro-housing policy in communities across the country;
  • Supporting local advocates to run powerful campaigns;
  • Cultivating strong, creative, trusting coalitions;
  • Working with a diverse array of partners behind the scenes to accomplish our objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to work well under a fast-paced campaign environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong understanding or a willingness to develop strong understanding of housing policy, in able to communicate on the issue effectively.
• Extraordinary writing skills, including the ability to turn around high-quality written content quickly.
• Sophisticated understanding of the traditional news landscape and growing “new media” ecosystem.
• Successful track record of securing national, state and/or local-level press coverage of complex issues and shaping coverage that elevates storyteller voices and/or nuanced policy solutions.
• Experience managing a mix of proactive and rapid-response or crisis communications efforts around complex issue areas or political moments.
• Ability to quickly and effectively tailor messaging across a variety of audiences using rhetoric that appeals to the left, center, and right.
• Dedication to participating in an inclusive, empowering organization that leans into collaboration, plays well with others, and values outcomes over credit.
• Commitment to racial and social equity, inclusion, and empowerment, inside our organization and in our work with partners and collaborators.
• Strong interpersonal abilities, with a willingness to cross boundaries and work with diverse people, including with unlikely allies.
• Passion for executing effective communication campaigns, rooted in tangible examples of successful campaign approaches both inside and outside of pro-housing policy.
• Exceptional attention to detail, super organized, great time management, systems-thinking.
• Calm under pressure and a commitment to kindness and respect.
• Dynamic problem solving skills.
• Comfortable with technology & ability to quickly learn to use new tech tools.

Pay and benefits: This is a full-time, remote work position that offers flexibility in terms of hours and days. Periodic travel will be necessary for this position. The salary range is $95,000 - $115,000 (depending on experience), with a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 4% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive up to 180 hours of annual vacation time (accrued at 5 hours per pay period), 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

About Welcoming Neighbors Network:

The Welcoming Neighbors Network (WNN) is America’s only national network of independent state and local pro-housing advocacy organizations. Comprising 52 member organizations across 30 states – plus a prospective member and partner network extending further still – Welcoming Neighbors Network powers the most effective pro-housing organizations and policy campaigns in the country.

WNN member organizations were driving forces behind landmark statewide pro-housing policy victories in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawai’i, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington state, and citywide victories in New York City, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Portland, Cambridge, Columbus, Anchorage and Austin. These policies promise to translate into untold thousands of homes for middle class, working class, and low-income Americans in integrated, amenity-rich, climate-friendly communities.

The Welcoming Neighbors Network is a hub for local pro-housing groups and leaders to connect with one another across state lines. WNN documents and shares organizational and campaign resources, based on the successes and learning from across the membership. WNN also helps on-the-ground members and partners build capacity and power by providing access to their national relationships and economies of scale.

WNN facilitates collaboration and peer-support of network members across the country and targets resources to maximize campaign impact. We embrace incremental victories on the way to transformative goals and we incorporate a wide variety of allies to navigate different political contexts to achieve policy goals.

Welcoming Neighbors Network commits to building an organization that empowers the leadership of directly impacted communities, especially Black, Indigenous, Asian American, Latine, immigrant and low-income or working class communities. WNN prioritizes policy priorities that improve social and economic outcomes for historically oppressed communities, especially communities of color.

Hiring Statement

Welcoming Neighbors Network aims to cultivate and maintain a work environment that is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working. If you require accommodations at any time throughout the hiring process, please don’t hesitate to let our hiring team know.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter that includes your background in communications as well as your interest and any relevant experience in housing, zoning, and land use. Priority will be given to applications received by Tuesday, August 26.

The target onboarding date for this role is November 10.

This hiring process includes 3 interview stages for qualified candidates, with the candidate pool winnowing significantly between each stage:

• Stage 1: Phone interview
• Stage 2: Exercise assignment and panel video interview
• Stage 3: Panel video interview, potential additional exercise assignment and reference checks

E-Verify

Welcoming Neighbors Network participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.

Artificial Intelligence

Regarding the use of AI: We understand that AI is a tool that is growing in popularity and is widely available. While we do not prohibit the use of AI in polishing your written materials in your application, please ensure that your work expresses your original thoughts and accurately reflects your abilities, skills, knowledge, and problem-solving capabilities. We want to get a feel for you! We maintain the right to disqualify any candidate who we feel has plagiarized and/or misrepresented their skills via the misuse of AI generators and other tools. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out for clarification.