Who we are:

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.

Vera has a staff of 224 people, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

About the team:

The Media Strategist spearheads media relations and is responsible for developing and implementing integrated strategies to raise the profile of the Vera Institute of Justice and our work as well as change narratives and norms around criminal legal reform and immigration. In this role, you will be assigned as the media liaison for a portfolio of initiatives and campaigns across Vera. For this portfolio, you will be responsible for managing all proactive pitching of their work to media ensuring that new pitch ideas are going out weekly, handling all incoming media requests, drafting and editing all content for media purposes, developing a media strategy in conjunction with the Vera communications department, and developing topline messaging and talking points. You will be joining a team under the direction of a Media Strategy Director and two Associate Directors.

About the role:

Media Strategy    

  • Implement strategies to garner state, local, and national media (print, online, radio, broadcast, and podcasts) that uplift Vera and our advocacy work, reports, research, and expertise on key topics related to the criminal legal and immigration fields.
  • Manage day-to-day media outreach and pitching and develop messaging strategy for a variety of initiatives and campaigns within Vera. Ensure new pitches are being distributed each week.
  • Cultivate and build long-term working relationships with reporters, editors, and producers
  • Respond to incoming media requests, ensuring reporters have the correct information, vetting requests, and coordinate interviews with Vera staff and partners
  • Monitor news developments and track related news, seeking opportunities to bring the work to diverse audiences
  • Track and report all media hits and pitches in real-time
  • Draft and provide media strategy recommendations for annual communications plans
  • Draft and manage rapid response content and provide crisis communications support for media as needed

Media Spokesperson Management 

  • Provide ongoing media training for Vera approved spokespeople
  • Provide ongoing media training for Vera partners and system impacted individuals, as needed
  • Provide interview prep and staffing for all interviews
  • Update Vera’s media training presentation as needed
  • Cultivate relationships and maintain routine correspondence and check ins with Vera partners for the purposes of media relations

Messaging Development 

  • Draft talking points and media materials that support needs and goals of the initiatives and the media team
  • Draft, manage review process, and distribute Vera press releases, statements, quotes, media advisories, op-eds, letters to the editors
  • Draft, manage review process, and distribute press releases, statements, quotes, media advisories, op-eds, letters for partners and system impacted individuals
  • Draft internal communications to staff, including leadership and trustees on media strategy and priorities, top line messaging and talking points, and areas for growth 

Other duties as assigned 

What qualifications are we looking for?

  • At least three-five years of progressive strategic communications experience, including campaign strategy and execution, media relations, and developing creative content  
  • Ability to develop and track quantitative and qualitative metrics
  • We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace—specifically, we value diverse experiences regarding educational background and justice system contact

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

  • Strong writing and research skills
  • Strong inter-relational skills and experience working effectively in a large organization with multiple stakeholders
  • Flexibility, adaptability, and productivity in a changing political climate
  • Communications experience with/or supporting advocacy campaigns is a plus
  • Ability to consider multiple perspectives, think critically, provide an analysis, evaluate risk, and implement solutions to complex problems
  • An uncompromising commitment to the human dignity of all people in prison and race equity
  • Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
  • You have knowledge of the criminal legal system and demonstrated competency in developing communications plans that pertain to other types of policy work 
  • You are able to lead, collaborate, work within interdisciplinary teams, take initiative, and manage projects independently
  • Knowledge of college in prison programs is a plus 

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

  • Highly proficient with Microsoft Office Suite 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY, office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $84,000 - $87,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here. In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325.

Application Process:

To receive further consideration for this career opportunity, applicants are asked preliminary questions about logistics, their interest and qualifications. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional details about their experience via a phone screen/form in advance of an invitation for a virtual or in-person interview with the team. Some searches may explore scenarios during the interview process and/or an assessment prior to reference checks and a hiring decision.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Media Strategist, Communications and External Affairs
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.

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