Press Assistant or Press Secretary

U.S. Senate Banking Committee; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senate Banking Committee seeks a communications professional to support the Communications Director and help ensure a successful, well-run press operation. This person supports functions from digital to long form writing to media relations so that the team can work at a quick pace and maintain consistent and targeted messaging.

Responsibilities include compiling daily news clips, maintaining press lists, drafting social media content and press releases, monitoring media, and updating the

Qualifications

• Experience drafting press releases and op-eds.
• Ability to translate complex policy into clear language.
• Proven written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Compile and send daily news clips to track media mentions of the Chairman and Committee.
• Maintain and update Press Lists to identify reporters and outlets.
• Keep Master Talking Point Document and communications folders current for consistent messaging.
• Monitor media and advise on opportunities for the Chairman’s voice in coverage.
• Draft social media content, press releases, and talking points.
• Clip hearings, media hits, and speeches for social media and press use.
• Update the Senate Banking Committee website with press materials and statements.
• Support hearing communications and digital content initiatives.

Skills

Media relations

Strong writing

Social media

Research

Content creation

Policy translation

Job description

The Senate Banking Committee seeks a communications professional to support the Communications Director and help ensure a successful, well-run press operation. This person supports functions from digital to long form writing to media relations so that the team can work at a quick pace and maintain consistent and targeted messaging.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Support the Communications Team

• Compile and send daily news clips ensuring the Committee is aware of the media mentions of both the Chairman and the committee, as well as relevant news in the committee’s jurisdiction.
• Maintain and cultivate Press Lists to help the Communications Team identify the right reporters to reach out to.
• Help the Communications Team maintain consistent and targeted messaging by keeping the Master Talking Point Document and the shared Communications folder up to date.
• Keep account of any media hits and op-ed placement to help inform decision making on future media opportunities.
• Compile the communications portion of the fly-out binder for Senior Staff.

Support written messaging:

• Draft social media content, press releases, and talking points.
• Conduct research for op-eds and contribute to the generation and drafting of op-eds across issue areas.

Support press activities:

• Monitor media pertaining to the Committee’s priorities, helping the Communications Team strategize opportunities to include the Chairman’s voice or the committee’s perspective into relevant news stories.
• Assist in story aggregation by identifying reporters and outlets to pitch existing stories to.

Support hearing communications activities:

Support digital activities:

• Draft content for social media platforms with the goal of reaching appropriate and purposefully identified audiences.
• Monitor relevant issue-related content and stakeholders on social media to ensure the Communications Team is up to date on the latest conversations and help advise on whether inserting the Chairman’s voice into a particular news cycle on social media may be relevant.
• Clip all hearings, media hits, and speeches for use in social media and press releases.
• Create shareable graphics, videos, and other content.
• Update the Senate Banking Committee website, to include uploading press releases and ensuring all relevant information is correct.

Other duties in the communications space as assigned.

SKILLS:

• An expeditionary spirit: proactive, good attitude, communicative, forward leaning, growth-oriented, always searching for creative opportunities, helpful to teammates, owns up to mistakes, and is accountable.
• Clear and concise writer with ability to understand complex policy issues and translate them into everyday terms.