Responsibilities

• Develops and implements local strategic communications plans that promote the American Heart Association's nationally driven priorities, local events, community impact, Science news, and cause initiatives.
• Writes, distributes, and pitches news releases and other supporting media materials to local traditional and non-traditional media.
• Secures media sponsorships for local events and priority initiatives, as appropriate.
• Implements awareness campaigns around heart and stroke-related topics and works collaboratively with other key market staff to develop an integrated approach to such campaigns.
• Works with staff to ensure that national branding guidelines are followed.
• Develops and implements communications plans for sponsor-funded activations.
• Coordinates and implements communications plans in conjunction with strategic alliances.
• Identifies, secures, and media trains local spokespersons.
• Provides marketing and communications support for development and fundraising events and activations, as appropriate.
• Identifies human interest stories for media coverage, social media posts, internal and external communications channels, and event integration.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism or related field, or some college plus experience.
• Requires minimum three years of work experience in communications, social media, public relations and journalism or any equivalent combination of training and work experience.
• Experience applying the principles and practices of communications and marketing to the non-profit environment.
• Experience working as a team member with multiple internal and external constituencies at varying levels: staff, media, external corporations, and volunteers.
• Experience with crisis communications and sensitive issues.
• Experience implementing communications campaigns, pitching to media, planning media events, and writing news releases.
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills, including experience with speech writing, news writing for broadcast and print and general business writing.
• Working knowledge of news media operations, newsgathering, and technology.
• Must have at least intermediate knowledge and skills with Microsoft Office for word processing, email, PowerPoints, and spreadsheets.
• Ability to do daily local travel up to 50%; requires access to reliable transportation at all times on an immediate basis.

Preferred

• Intermediate knowledge and experience using Canva preferred.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution
• employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation
• Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees
• 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees. This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.