Manager, Media Relations

American Forest & Paper Association; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation & leave including 27-42+

Two CareFirst medical plan options

401(k) with employer contribution

Office fitness center

Job summary

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is seeking a Manager of Media Relations to advance policy priorities and executive visibility through proactive media engagement, message development, and high-quality writing. You will manage daily press secretary functions and prepare leaders for public engagements.

The role focuses on translating complex policy issues into clear messages for policymakers, reporters, and stakeholders, while coordinating with policy and communications teams in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, English, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in media relations, strategic communications, journalism, public affairs, advocacy communications, or related field.
• Experience working with or supporting senior executives, elected officials, association leaders, or subject-matter experts preferred.
• Media relations experience, including reporter outreach, pitching, spokesperson support, and issues management.
• Experience developing thought leadership materials, including op-eds, speeches, remarks, testimony support, executive talking points, and opinion pieces.
• Trade association, public policy, government, agency, newsroom, or corporate communications experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience writing for public-facing audiences and managing communications projects under tight deadlines.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with ability to produce polished communications materials under deadline.
• Strong editorial judgment and ability to tailor writing for different audiences, including policymakers, reporters, association members, executives, and industry stakeholders.
• Ability to distill complex policy initiatives, technical information, and industry developments into clear, concise, and compelling messages.
• Ability to prepare senior leaders for media interviews, public engagements, and high-visibility external opportunities.
• Strong understanding of earned media strategy, advocacy communications, and reputation management.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across departments and external stakeholders while managing projects independently.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, approvals, and fast-moving issues.
• Familiarity with media monitoring, press distribution, and media list management platforms.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a press secretary, managing proactive and reactive media relations in support of AF&PA’s advocacy priorities, public policy campaigns, and reputation.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with trade, policy, congressional, business, and mainstream reporters to generate accurate, strategic earned media coverage.
• Draft press releases, statements, media pitches, op-eds, letters to the editor, talking points, Q&A documents, background materials, and other public communications.
• Monitor news coverage and policy developments to identify media opportunities, reputational risks, and rapid response needs.
• Prepare senior leaders for media interviews, speaking engagements, public appearances, and external meetings by developing briefing materials, key messages, anticipated questions, and supporting materials.
• Manage AF&PA’s thought leadership pipeline, including op-ed opportunities, speeches, panels, speaking invitations, executive visibility opportunities, and high-impact placements.
• Draft executive speeches, remarks, testimony support, presentations, op-eds, columns, and other strategic writing for AF&PA senior leadership and subject-matter experts.
• Translate complex policy, regulatory, and industry issues into clear, concise, audience-appropriate messaging for policymakers, media, members, and external stakeholders.
• Support strategic communications planning for integrated advocacy campaigns, including message development, earned media strategy, audience targeting, and written deliverables.
• Conduct interviews with association leaders, members, policy experts, and external stakeholders to gather information and develop accurate, compelling written materials.
• Coordinate closely with policy, government affairs, legal, member relations, and communications colleagues to ensure message accuracy, consistency, and alignment.
• Manage press lists, reporter outreach, media distributions, and earned media tracking using media relations and monitoring platforms.
• Track and report earned media results, thought leadership activity, and executive visibility opportunities to help evaluate communications impact.
• Manage outside consultants or vendors as needed for media relations, writing, research, or thought leadership projects.
• Support the association’s activities and key public policy initiatives in collaboration with all departments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Media relations

Writing & editing

Strategic communications

Public affairs

Executive briefing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications/journalism/public relations/English

Tools

MS Word

Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Shape the conversation, elevate important policy issues and help position industry leaders as influential voices.

The Manager, Media Relations is responsible for advancing AF&PA’s policy priorities and executive visibility through proactive media engagement, strong message development, and high-quality writing. This position manages day-to-day press secretary functions, develops and places thought leadership opportunities, prepares senior leaders for public engagements, and drafts clear, compelling communications materials that translate complex policy issues for targeted audiences.

Read on to learn more about American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), this important role, and the impact you can make on our industry.

Essential job functions

• Serve as a press secretary, managing proactive and reactive media relations in support of AF&PA’s advocacy priorities, public policy campaigns, and reputation.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with trade, policy, congressional, business, and mainstream reporters to generate accurate, strategic earned media coverage.
• Draft press releases, statements, media pitches, op-eds, letters to the editor, talking points, Q&A documents, background materials, and other public communications.
• Monitor news coverage and policy developments to identify media opportunities, reputational risks, and rapid response needs.
• Prepare senior leaders for media interviews, speaking engagements, public appearances, and external meetings by developing briefing materials, key messages, anticipated questions, and supporting materials.
• Manage AF&PA’s thought leadership pipeline, including op-ed opportunities, speeches, panels, speaking invitations, executive visibility opportunities, and high-impact placements.
• Draft executive speeches, remarks, testimony support, presentations, op-eds, columns, and other strategic writing for AF&PA senior leadership and subject-matter experts.
• Translate complex policy, regulatory, and industry issues into clear, concise, audience-appropriate messaging for policymakers, media, members, and external stakeholders.
• Support strategic communications planning for integrated advocacy campaigns, including message development, earned media strategy, audience targeting, and written deliverables.
• Conduct interviews with association leaders, members, policy experts, and external stakeholders to gather information and develop accurate, compelling written materials.
• Coordinate closely with policy, government affairs, legal, member relations, and communications colleagues to ensure message accuracy, consistency, and alignment.
• Manage press lists, reporter outreach, media distributions, and earned media tracking using media relations and monitoring platforms.
• Track and report earned media results, thought leadership activity, and executive visibility opportunities to help evaluate communications impact.
• Manage outside consultants or vendors as needed for media relations, writing, research, or thought leadership projects.
• Support the association’s activities and key public policy initiatives in collaboration with all departments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

If your knowledge, skills and abilities are transferrable and you think you’re a great candidate for AF&PA - please consider applying even if you do not meet all the criteria listed below.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, English, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in media relations, strategic communications, journalism, public affairs, advocacy communications, or a related field.
• Experience working with or supporting senior executives, elected officials, association leaders, or subject-matter experts preferred.
• Media relations experience, including reporter outreach, pitching, spokesperson support, and issues management.
• Experience developing thought leadership materials, including op-eds, speeches, remarks, testimony support, executive talking points, and opinion pieces.
• Trade association, public policy, government, agency, newsroom, or corporate communications experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience writing for public-facing audiences and managing communications projects under tight deadlines.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to produce polished communications materials under deadline.
• Strong editorial judgment and ability to tailor writing for different audiences, including policymakers, reporters, association members, executives, and industry stakeholders.
• Ability to distill complex policy initiatives, technical information, and industry developments into clear, concise, and compelling messages.
• Ability to prepare senior leaders for media interviews, public engagements, and high-visibility external opportunities.
• Strong understanding of earned media strategy, advocacy communications, and reputation management.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across departments and with external stakeholders while managing projects independently.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, approvals, and fast-moving issues.
• Familiarity with media monitoring, press distribution, and media list management platforms.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is expected to be between $95,000-$110,000. This is a good-faith estimate. Factors to be considered when determining the salary of the selected candidate include relevant skills, experience and knowledge, and the alignment of these qualities with those of existing staff.

We offer a generous benefits package that currently includes:

• Paid Vacation, Personal and Sick leave totaling 27-42 days per year (based on relevant experience), plus holidays and paid Parental Leave
• Two CareFirst medical plan options for employees and their families
• Generous 401(k) retirement plan with up to 9% employer contribution (after waiting period)
• Free fitness center and pickleball courts at the DC office location

Location

We are located in DC on 13 th Street, NW between F and G, (directly above Metro Station). Our office is hybrid, which includes up to two days of remote work.

Working at AF&PA

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) values diverse backgrounds and capabilities and invites all talented individuals to apply to be part of our team and support our culture and mission. We encourage the exchange of knowledge, innovative ideas and different perspectives to reach our goals and we support work/life balance.

About AF&PA

AF&PA serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is?among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers?in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030. Visit AF&PA online at afandpa.org or follow us on X @ForestandPaper .

AF&PA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and welcomes all talented individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability, veteran status or other category protected by law.