Communications Marketing Director

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.
• Develops and implements communications plans for sponsor funded activations.
• Collaborates with other key market staff to implement 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.
• Tracks all media coverage via a media tracking system and manages a spokesperson database.
• Works with video production companies to produce videos for events, social media and other marketing communications resources.
• Works with photographers to produce photography for events, social media and other marketing and communications resources.
• Develops and implements media events, as appropriate.
• Works to place Public Service Announcements (PSA) locally.
• Works with Southeast Region’s VP of Communications and Marketing to manage local crises or sensitive issues.
• Works in collaboration with media advocacy staff to develop appropriate media advocacy strategies and implements strategies, as appropriate.
• Works with executive director and team to manage local paid advertising projects.
• Manages and implements other projects as identified by the executive director.

Qualifications

• 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 20%; requires access to reliable transportation at all times on an immediate basis.