Responsibilities

• SSN has a Communications team that supports and creates opportunities for a large and growing network of over 2,200 members who work in more than 330 colleges and universities across the US.
• SSN also supports a network of 37 chapters led by volunteer members in 33 states.
• Among other tasks, the Communications Associate will:
• Contribute to the Ideas for America Program
• - Develop custom media strategy plans: The Associate will work with SSN’s policy team and the researchers involved in the Ideas for America project to develop detailed, custom media strategy plans for each of the selected projects. These plans will focus on identifying media moments of opportunity, targeted outlets and journalists, and key talking points.
• - Identify media opportunities: The Associate will monitor national and state level news to identify timely moments to activate particular researchers or elevate specific ideas from the Ideas for America project.
• - Broker relationships & support engagement: The Associate will build relationships with national and state-level reporters, producers, and editors to help researchers participating in the project elevate their ideas via the media and gain earned media. This will entail actively monitoring and building lists of relevant media stakeholders, conducting direct outreach to build relationships on behalf of SSN, and working to introduce researchers and their policy proposals during timely moments.
• - Support and advise participating scholars: The Associate will work closely with researchers participating in Ideas for America, as well as the SSN policy staff working on this project, to identify the best ways to market and communicate their policy proposals and expertise. The Associate will help prepare researchers for media opportunities, including via pre-interview coaching sessions, feedback on pitches or op-ed drafts, and post-publication amplification efforts around earned media.
• - Market the Ideas for America project: In early 2027, the Ideas for American program will be unveiled via a DC-based launch event. The Associate will help market the event, bring press attention to the project and the individual researchers and proposals involved, and support in-person media opportunities for participants. The Associate will similarly support subsequent events as opportunities arise.
• - Support the larger SSN Communications program

Requirements

• An individual with 1-3 years of experience in communications, journalism, public relations, or similar positions.
• An excellent writer and editor, capable of translating complex concepts into accessible language through a variety of communications materials and platforms.
• Someone with experience working with research and/or academics
• Comfortable and ideally have experience working with a range of journalists, including print, TV, radio, and podcasts
• Someone with experience writing, editing, and pitching op-eds and Letters to the Editor.
• Familiar with and interested in US domestic policy and politics
• Highly organized, able to keep track of multiple projects and task, and good at multi-tasking
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Dropbox, Salesforce, virtual meeting channels like Zoom, and content databases.
• Committed to SSN’s mission and fully understand how to make use of SSN’s structure as a voluntary, federated network of member researchers.

Benefits

• SSN’s competitive benefits include generous time off, health insurance, professional development opportunities and resources, and a 403B retirement plan with an employer match.