Job Title: Communications Specialist at Rethink Priorities. Remote. Deadline: August 11

Job Detail
Job ID
19811
 
Work Location 
Remote Jobs
Engagement Type 
Job
Experience 
3-4 years
Industry 
Research
Qualifications 
Degree Bachelor
Job Description
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Communications Specialist
To apply for the Communications Specialist position, please click “Apply Now” and respond to the prompts in the application form and submit your CV. We ask that you spend no more than 1 hour preparing your responses to the prompts.
Application Deadline: August 11, 2024, at the end of the day (11:59 PM) in US/Eastern (EST) time zone.
Note Before Applying: We invite anyone who is interested in this role to apply, and will assess applications primarily based on anonymized prompt answers, so please ensure they represent your fit for the position well. We will advance candidates to the next stages based on their quality of responses during our hiring process, putting only minimal weight on CVs and references.

Please do not include a cover letter, photograph, or headshot of yourself, or any personal information that is not relevant to the role for which you’re applying (including marital status, age, identity traits, etc.). Additionally, please do not ask our staff members involved in the hiring process to meet with you – to ensure fairness, we try to minimize these interactions, and requests for meetings with the hiring committee members during the process will be declined.

Contact: Please email careers@rethinkpriorities.org if you have any questions.
About the Role
Rethink Priorities’ key path to impact is communicating our work to decision-makers in an accessible and actionable way. Therefore, effective communications is a key priority for the organization. The mission of the Communications Specialist is to strategically enhance and disseminate our organizations’ and individual research departments’ message, achievements, and impact to a diverse range of external audiences. Through expert media relations, rigorous impact analysis, and targeted engagement with stakeholders, policymakers, and industry influencers, the Communications Specialist will support the Senior Communications Strategy Manager in implementing effective communication strategies that amplify our reach, foster strong relationships, and advance our organizational goals. This role is pivotal in ensuring our company’s voice is heard, understood, and influential in the public sphere, thereby contributing to our overall mission and success.

This role is fully remote and we are able to legally hire in many countries. In certain cases, we may be able to provide visa sponsorship to the US or UK and help candidates relocate. If you have questions about whether we can hire or provide visa sponsorship in another country and if this will influence your decision about applying, please contact careers@rethinkpriorities.org before submitting your application.

While we welcome applicants from all time zones, you may be expected to attend meetings during working hours between UTC-8 and UTC+3 time zones, where most of our staff are based. Depending on your personal timezone, this might mean early morning or evening calls; however, you would not be required to attend calls outside of waking hours.

This role is equally open to full-time and part-time candidates who are available to work at least 20 hours per week.

Key Responsibilities
External Communications:
Develop and implement external communication plans to effectively communicate initiative and impact.Utilize various communication strategies, such as proactive press outreach, social media, and SEO, to achieve strategic priorities.Help lead on crisis communications.
Audience Engagement and Strategy Development:
Identify and analyze target audiences.Repurpose RP’s work products into effective marketing and communications materials.Collaborate with internal teams to ensure impactful and consistent messaging across multiple channels and platforms.Support process improvement initiatives by evaluating current procedures and practices, and contributing to or completing tasks related to process enhancement.Help plan and manage communications calendar; identify high-impact events, secure speaking engagements, and see engagements through to completion.Manage digital marketing channels, including social media, email marketing, and website content.Track and analyze engagement metrics for emails and website engagement and coordinate promotional efforts across communications channels in order to grow our audience base.Develop plans for increasing engagement with emails, website, and social media updates.
Media Relations:
Cultivate and maintain relationships with external media outlets.Pitch stories to relevant media outlets.Monitor media coverage and identify opportunities to amplify RP or respond to media inquiries.Develop PR/media strategies to engage and resonate with target audiences effectively.Identify, anticipate, and mitigate reputational risks, advising on emerging issues that can affect RP’s brand.
Content Creation and Management:
Write or rewrite communications materials for external audiences.Contribute to the drafting of newsletters and regular updates for stakeholders.Contribute to the creation of webinars about our research for specific audiences.Respond to staff requests regarding external communications.Liaise with research teams to develop communications plans for planned research and to finalize and publish research pieces.Assist in writing research summaries.Ensure key web pages are updated regularly and when needed, partner with web developer(s) to identify opportunities to improve user experience.
Skills and Competencies Required
Please note that while we think that these skills/qualifications are essential to the position, we do not necessarily expect every qualified candidate to have all of them upon entry.
Core Competencies:
Strong self- and project management competencies, including organization and time management skills.Open-mindedness; willingness to carefully consider ideas and comfort in explaining reasoning.Resourcefulness and ability to problem-solve.Creativity and initiative for developing new ideas and strategies.Comfort with remote work and asynchronous collaboration using technologies such as G Suite  (RP is a remote-first organization with staff in multiple time zones).
Technical Skills:
Media Relations: Ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, bloggers, and influencers.PR and Campaign Management: Proficiency in pitching stories, managing PR campaigns, and securing media coverage.Digital Marketing and Literacy: Experience managing digital marketing channels, including social media, email marketing, and website content, and proficiency in using digital tools and platforms for communication, marketing, and engagement
Communication Skills:
Content Development and Management: Excellent writing and editing skills for creating and refining communication materials, press releases, newsletters, and research summaries; Experience in developing marketing collateral and webinars for specific audiences.Audience Sensitivity and Strategic Communication: Strong instincts for how diverse audiences will perceive our communications and the ability to understand and anticipate the reactions of audiences to communications, ensuring clarity, appropriateness, and sensitivity in conveying complex ideas; Ability to develop and implement communication strategies that effectively convey the organization’s message and impact.Content Simplification: Ability to understand economic principles and complex reasoning, and translate this technical content into clear, accessible language for a non-technical audience.
Interpersonal Skills:
Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Strong ability to collaborate with internal teams and liaise with research teams to develop and publish communication plans; Skills in engaging with various audiences, including policymakers, advocacy groups, nonprofits, and industry associations, and the ability to interface effectively with both internal departments and external audiences.
Strategic Thinking:
Planning and Execution: Strategic thinker capable of developing comprehensive communication plans and adjusting strategies based on data insights and industry trends.Problem-Solving: Ability to navigate complex external affairs landscapes and provide strategic guidance on policy-related communications.
Benefits, Perks, and Additional Information
Compensation:
Annual salary between $100,500 to $118,500 USD pre-tax for a full-time position, prorated for part-time work.Compensation is not restricted to US Dollars. Payments can be made in different currencies.The exact salary will be based on the candidate’s prior relevant experience and corresponding title level and calculated using RP’s salary algorithm. To ensure fairness, RP does not negotiate salaries.
Other Perks and Benefits:
Opportunity to contribute to a fast-growing, high-impact organization — our research is used by key decision makers who influence the distribution of hundreds of millions of charitable dollars.Flexible work hours and location.Comprehensive global benefits package (while they vary by country, we make every effort to ensure that our benefits package is equitable and high-quality for all staff).Generous paid time off (PTO) leave and unpaid leave, including:Unlimited vacation with a minimum number of required statutory paid days off“Mandated” 3-week total mid- and end-year organization-wide breaksUnlimited (within reason) personal and sick paid and unpaid leaveParental leave – up to 6-9 months of a combination of paid and unpaid parental leave that can be taken prior to and/or during the first 2 years after a child’s birth or adoptionOther paid and unpaid leave (e.g., bereavement)A caring team that values respectful work relations and a healthy work-life balance.Opportunities to grow/advance your career and engage in professional development.Low administrative bureaucracy.We don’t provide snacks, but we could mail you a box of Oreos if you want!
We’re supported by Open Philanthropy, the Survival and Flourishing Fund, and additional institutional and individual donors.