Interim PR/Media Contractor

AAUW; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 61,000; Part time

Job summary

AAUW, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit advancing equity for women and girls, seeks a PR/Media Contractor to lead earned media and proactive storytelling across higher education, policy, business, and culture. This is a fractional, hybrid role with on-site presence at AAUW's DC office three days a week.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in PR, deep media relationships, strong digital publishing and podcast experience, and a track record of events and webinars that grow audience and brand reach.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of PR or communications experience with a demonstrated track record in earned media.
• Deep, existing media relationships across higher education, politics, mainstream business, culture, and entertainment outlets.
• Digital publishing and podcast experience required; higher education media experience preferred.
• Experience supporting events and webinars to grow audience and brand reach.

Responsibilities

• Earned Media & Press Strategy: Develop and execute a year-round PR calendar; draft and pitch press releases; secure coverage in national and trade outlets.
• Pillar‑Specific Storytelling: Support campaigns across Higher Education, Political, Business, and Lifestyle/Culture pillars.
• Executive & Thought Leadership: Position AAUW leadership as voices on equity and economic empowerment; secure speaking engagements and op-ed placements.
• Events & Webinars: Support planning and promotion of AAUW events and webinars to expand audience engagement.
• Reporting & Infrastructure: Manage media lists; deliver monthly coverage reports and KPI tracking; maintain collaboration with leadership and lean marketing team.

Skills

Media relations

Story pitching

Content strategy

Podcast experience

Job description

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. Our dedicated staff serves a diverse community that breaks through educational and economic barriers so that all women have a fair chance.

Do you have deep, existing relationships with journalists and editors across higher education, politics, business, lifestyle, and culture? Are you a proactive storyteller who earns coverage — not just responds to it? If so, AAUW wants to hear from you.

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. As the nation's leading provider of graduate funding for women, AAUW has spent more than 140 years breaking barriers and driving bold policy solutions. We're seeking a PR/Media Contractor — an individual consultant or boutique agency — to amplify AAUW's voice outside our current networks, attract new supporters to our mission, and build sustained, proactive storytelling across all pillars: funding, advocacy, partnerships, and culture.

This engagement is focused on three strategic priorities:

• AAUW Funding Awareness & Reach — Expand audience to penetrate mainstream media and build AAUW's profile as the country's leading provider of graduate funding for women.
• Government Advocacy Awareness & Reach — Increase national visibility around AAUW's public policy priorities, positioning the organization as a trusted, nonpartisan authority on issues affecting women and girls.
• Partnership Growth — Elevate AAUW's credibility and visibility to attract new sponsors, donors, and institutional partners across new industries.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Earned Media & Press Strategy: Develop and execute a year-round PR calendar; draft and pitch press releases; proactively pitch stories across higher education, political, business, lifestyle, and culture verticals; and secure coverage in mainstream national and trade outlets. Manage press relationships and media list development on behalf of AAUW.
• Pillar‑Specific Storytelling: Support campaigns across four pillars — Higher Education, Political, Business, and Lifestyle/Culture — including potential development of a short‑form alumnae media series. Proactively pitch stories aligned to AAUW's fellowships and grants cycle, policy work, programs, and mission priorities.
• Executive & Thought Leadership: Position AAUW leadership as voices on equity, higher education, and economic empowerment. Secure speaking engagements, podcast interviews, op‑ed placements, and awards/recognition submissions.
• Events & Webinars: Support the planning and promotion of AAUW events and webinars, expanding audience engagement and growing brand reach beyond existing networks.
• Reporting & Infrastructure: Manage media lists and press relationships on behalf of AAUW. Deliver monthly coverage reports, KPI tracking, and transferable communications assets at engagement close. Provide regular syncs with the AAUW leadership team and maintain responsive, collaborative communication with a lean marketing team.

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years of PR or communications experience with a demonstrated track record in earned media — individual consultant or boutique agency welcome. Nonprofit, advocacy, or mission‑driven experience preferred.
• Deep, existing media relationships across higher education, political, mainstream business, culture, and entertainment outlets — this is required, not preferred.
• Digital publishing and podcast experience required; higher education media experience preferred.
• Proven experience supporting events and webinars with a focus on audience growth and brand reach expansion.
• Cross‑industry PR experience spanning culture, entertainment, and business strongly preferred.
• Collaborative and nimble — ability to work effectively alongside an in‑house team with a proactive pitch mentality, not just reactive press management.

ABOUT THE ROLE & COMPENSATION

This is a fractional contract engagement of approximately 10-15 hours per week for a period of 9-12 months, beginning no later than November 2026, with the possibility to extend 3-4 months during leadership transition. This role reports to the Director. The position is hybrid, based out of AAUW's Washington, D.C. office, with a requirement to be on‑site three days per week (Tuesdays mandatory).

Compensation: Up to $5,500 per month, commensurate with experience.

SUCCESS CRITERIA

The engagement will be considered successful when AAUW achieves:

• Development and execution of a year‑round strategic PR calendar aligned with AAUW's fellowships and grants cycle, public policy priorities, institutional partnerships, major programs, and organizational milestones.
• Consistent earned media coverage across priority verticals — higher education, public policy, business, lifestyle, culture, and mainstream national media.
• Elevated positioning of AAUW and its leadership as trusted thought leaders evidenced through speaking engagements, podcast appearances, media interviews, and opinion placements.
• Increased public awareness of AAUW's role as the nation's leading provider of graduate funding for women and a leading advocate for gender equity policy.
• A strengthened media infrastructure including updated media lists, cultivated journalist relationships, documented pitching strategies, and transferable communications assets

Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation’s leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of members, donors, and advocates across the United States, as well as 700 local branches and more than 450 college and university partners . Since AAUW’s founding over 140 years ago, we have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW’s commitment to educational equity is reflected in our research, policy work, national partnerships, and programming.

The AAUW office is located near the McPherson Square Metro station in Washington, D.C.