Principal Technical Advisor, Strategic Communications

About the Program

Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program partners with U.S. states, Tribal Nations, and Native communities to advance evidence-based strategies that reduce overdose deaths. Through grant funding and tailored technical assistance, the program helps government, institutional, and community partners strengthen policies, implement innovative programs, and mobilize local action to address the evolving overdose crisis. Our work spans the neighborhood, municipal, county, state, and Tribal levels, supporting sustainable public health solutions that are responsive to local needs.

Program staff are organized into multidisciplinary regional teams, each managing a portfolio of states or Native communities. These teams work closely with colleagues in Operations and with subject matter experts in Communications, Program Evaluation & Knowledge Management, and Legal & Policy to deliver coordinated, high-impact support.

About the Role

The Principal Technical Advisor (PTA), Strategic Communications brings deep expertise in communications strategy and public health to identify and develop opportunities for the program to make novel contributions at the state, national, and global levels towards overdose prevention. The position is a leader in OPP's efforts to shape professional and public discourse across multiple channels, using data-driven strategies including media relations, digital and social media, thought leadership, and advertising to advance public health approaches to illicit drug use.

The PTA works to establish Vital as a recognized voice in overdose prevention and elevate our partners and those with lived experience. They navigate complex and shifting political realities to identify strategic communication opportunities and translate program goals into action, bringing together diverse audiences from policymakers to impacted communities around a shared evidence base.

This is a new, full-time role for the Overdose Prevention program, preferably based in the New York City metro area. Other U.S. locations (North Carolina, New Jersey, Kentucky, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Nevada, or Washington state) may be considered depending on the work.

Responsibilities

• Advise multidisciplinary teams and contribute to the development and monitoring of comprehensive strategies and annual work plans for each state, integrating team expertise, overdose data, state policy landscapes, community needs, and lessons learned.
• Create data-driven annual communications strategy recommendations and maintain benchmark Key Performance Indicators to guide insights on communications successes, challenges, and opportunities.
• Lead the monitoring and integration of media coverage analysis to inform program strategies and refine messaging.
• Monitor national media trends and field developments, advising leadership and partners on programmatic positioning and reputational risks.
• Champion best practices in social media, advertising, and public relations within the team and Vital’s extended network, including public appearances with technical audiences.
• Act as a key liaison to funders on communications activities, including producing progress reports.
• Support OPP leadership to scope and evaluate new business communications opportunities.
• Apply an intersectional racial justice framework across all planning processes, program design, and implementation.
• Participate in the review of state/Native community strategy and work plans to identify communication gaps and ensure coherence.
• Proactively identify and develop opportunities for the program to contribute to drug policy and overdose prevention at multi-state and national scales, including:
  • Writing or contributing to national Op-Eds and key organizational statements.
  • Participating in coalitions, task forces, and stakeholder groups.
  • Representing the program in cross-organizational initiatives.
  • Preparing and delivering presentations to broad audiences.
  • Proposing innovative and creative communications strategies.
• Cultivate and manage strong relationships with journalists, editors, and key media outlets, building and maintaining national media contact lists.
• Develop and/or review compelling press materials including media pitches, press releases, op-eds, event advisories, and talking points for spokespersons.
• Establish the program as a trusted, go-to source of expertise for journalists covering overdose prevention and drug-related public health issues.
• Guide and mentor Technical Advisors on regional teams to lead the development and execution of media engagement strategies.
• Provide leadership for leveraging and evaluating social, digital, and emerging media, including working with influencers, paid digital advertising, short-form video content, podcasts, and Substack.
• Lead mass media campaigns implemented by state teams, including strategic planning, goal setting, formative research, message testing, agency selection and management, production, media planning, and campaign evaluation.
• Advise regional teams on creating opportunities for collaborative multimedia campaigns with state and local governments or institutions, emphasizing jointly funded and branded campaigns.
• Advise regional teams on government affairs and inside-outside policy strategies by identifying communications-oriented opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to showcase timely national, state, and program-level public health data points for messaging and communications purposes.
• Lead the writing or compiling of content for foundational external communications products, including program brochures, website content, fact sheets, and printable materials for events and conferences.
• Work with graphic design teams to create compelling data visualizations that translate complex data into accessible, audience-ready content.
• Collaborate with Vital’s digital and design teams to create necessary collateral, social and web content, frequent website updates, and contribute to the quarterly OPP newsletter and Vital’s organizational newsletter.
• Supervise Communications staff on assigned projects, providing performance management, coaching, and professional development support.
• Select and hire vendors such as creative, production, media, and PR agencies, media planners, and research companies, with approval from the Director.
• Manage select projects, contracts, and organizational partnerships to support the general program strategy.
• Recruit and support communications agencies and freelancers as required.
• Provide regular reports on the progress of OPP communications and activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience required. Advanced degree preferred.
• Exceptional written and oral communications skills, with demonstrated ability to write clearly and compellingly across formats and for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated mastery of press materials, fact sheets, talking points, social media content, and presentations.
• Strong media relations skills, including experience building and managing journalist relationships.

Benefits

Vital Strategies offers highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $170,000 USD.