Lead Associate, Media Relations (P2)

Save the Children US; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Paid time off and holidays

Health coverage

Family leave options

Retirement plan

Wellness programs

Employee Assistance Program

Learning & Growth opportunities

Job summary

Save the Children is seeking a Lead Associate for Media Relations to advance policy and advocacy priorities through strategic communications and media engagement. The role emphasizes collaborating with policy experts and external partners to craft clear materials, monitor trends, and coordinate multi-market media efforts.

The candidate will maintain journalist relationships, prepare spokespeople, and help drive the agency’s visibility across local, state, and national outlets, with a focus on

Qualifications

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent with at least 3 years of relevant experience.
• Proven writing and editing skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to engage across the political spectrum and champion bipartisan policy.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English; adept at media monitoring and communications tools.

Responsibilities

• Execute media relations and strategic communications activities that advance policy and advocacy priorities for Save the Children and SCAN.
• Draft, edit and package communications materials including press releases, talking points and media advisories.
• Build relationships with journalists and media contacts across local, state, and national outlets.
• Support media outreach, pitches, interviews and coordination with internal policy and advocacy teams.
• Collaborate with the Media team to support international portfolio focus, especially in the Middle East.

Skills

Writing skills

Editing skills

Attention to detail

English proficiency

MS Office

Media monitoring tools

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Media monitoring tools

Job description

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

The Lead Associate for Media Relations will execute key media relations and strategic communications functions that advance the priorities of Save the Children, including a special, but not exclusive, focus on policy and advocacy of the agency and its advocacy arm, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN). Working collaboratively to implement communications strategies, the Lead Associate helps identify and engage key audiences—including media, coalition partners, policymakers, advocates, and the public—through clear, compelling communications. The position maintains regular contact with traditional and emerging media, including journalists across local, state, and national markets; drafts and edits communications materials; and plays a key role in monitoring, analyzing, and evaluating media advocacy efforts and their impact.

Location

Hybrid – Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Strategic Communications and Content Development 35%

• Support implementation of communications and media outreach plans that advance SCAN's priorities in alignment with broader federal policy goals.


• Draft and edit communications materials including press releases, talking points, media advisories, statements and spokesperson briefing materials.


• Collaborate with policy, advocacy, and technical experts to translate complex information into clear communications products.


• Monitor policy developments and news trends and share opportunities with communications team members.


• Assist with coordinating communications activities across internal stakeholders and external partners.

Media Relations 50%

• Support day-to-day media activities, including developing pitches, coordinating and scheduling interviews, and maintaining press lists.


• Help establish and maintain relationships with journalists, producers and media contacts across local, state and national outlets, as well as other influential content creators.


• Assist in preparing spokespeople for media opportunities by gathering background materials and coordinating logistics.


• Partner with Media team members to support Save’s international portfolio, with a primary focus on the Middle East.


• Develop and maintain a diverse roster of subject matter experts and backup spokespeople.

Media Monitoring and Reporting 15%

• Monitor media coverage related to organizational priorities and policy issues.


• Produce regular media coverage summaries and reports.


• Maintain media tracking systems and communications calendars.


• Compile basic metrics and reporting to support evaluation of media outreach efforts.


• Track communications deliverables and help coordinate workflows across the Media team.

Required Qualifications For The Role

• Minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent, plus at least 3 years of relevant experience


• Proven writing and editing skills


• Demonstrated attention to detail


• Proven ability to organize and execute tasks for several campaigns simultaneously


• Ability and eagerness to engage across the political spectrum and to champion the organization’s bipartisan approach to effective policymaking


• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite and knowledge of media monitoring tools


• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English

Preferred Qualifications For The Role

• Experience pitching stories and cultivating relationships with journalists and media professionals, with a focus on political reporters in Washington, DC, and across the United States.


• Experience in advocacy and/or grassroots campaigns.


• Experience preparing spokespeople for media interviews.

Compensation

Save the Children is offering the following salary ranges for this position, dependent on candidate location:

• Geo 1 - NY Metro, DC, and other locations with labor costs significantly above national average: Target Salary for this position is $72,250 - $80,750 base salary


• Geo 2 - Locations around the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $65,450 - $73,150 base salary


• Geo 3 - Locations significantly below the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $59,500 - $66,500 base salary

The salary ranges listed above are for US based candidates. For candidates located outside of the US, salary ranges will be based on the salary scales of the local employer of record. Actual base salary may vary based on, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location (more information on job structure is available here).

About Us

We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:

• Flexible schedules and time off: Flexible schedules, generous PTO, 11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays and hybrid working opportunities


• Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family


• Family: A variety of paid leaves: caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness and fertility benefits


• Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees


• Retirement: A retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)


• Wellness: 15 safety and wellness days annually (if hired on or after July 1, safety and wellness days prorated to 8 days), mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events


• Employee Assistance Program: free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services


• Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to [e-mail].