Arena Careers

Position Summary

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES — Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not
limited to the following:
Priority 1: Earned Media and Press Work, (70%)
● Collaborate with the Comms Director closely in the creation of earned media campaigns.
● Write and send pitches to members of the press in direct coordination with the
Communications Director.
● Write press release/media advisories.

● Organize press conferences and other media events.
● Monitor and vet press intakes (press email, queries etc)
● Complete phone and email follow up with journalists on earned media work.
● Write timely copy on SURJ’s work for external donor audiences in coordination with the
Development and Communications Directors.
● Maintain a calendar for earned media program alongside Comms Director.
● Coordinate with National Organizing and Grassroots Organizing staff to highlight and
feature key aspects of their work to a public audience.
Priority 2: Organize earned media backend and execute content creation, (20%)
● Cultivate and maintain ongoing relationships with journalists, publication editors, and
corresponding movement organization partners as needed.
● Maintain media contacts and engage in regular listwork.
● Conduct media training and spokespeople prep with members and volunteer leaders.
● Provide social media posting back-up for the communications team.
● Copyedit comms department copy.
● Assist in keeping the SURJ website updated with current campaigns, news updates, and
timely information from the organization.
● Support social media and email writing with comms team members.
Priority 3: Participate in SURJ team, (10%)
● Active and timely response on all communications (email, phone, texts, messaging
apps).
● Attend weekly virtual meetings with staff, members and allies.
● Participate in and support preparation for in-person staff meetings, Leadership
Team meetings, and other events as necessary.
● As the communications department grows, may need to serve as a Peer Leader for
other communications positions. Holds “Peer Leader” designation at SURJ.
● Compliance with SURJ remote working policies and procedures (calendaring, availability
online, response time to communications, receipts, etc.)
QUALIFICATIONS:
● Minimum of 5 years managing online grassroots digital campaigns and/or working with
or in the press in a professional capacity, preferably in a non-profit organization.
● Experience representing an organization to press members and media outlets.
● Alignment with the core values and strategy of SURJ and a heart for organizing in white
communities.
● Alignment with the strategic and political values of a movement-oriented communications
team.
● Experience with using data and analytics from social media, email, website, and other
communications platforms to help set communications strategy
● Experience working with grassroots leaders and building community in a social justice
environment, and sensitivity to a broad range of races, class backgrounds, cultures,
faiths, and identities.

● Experience supervising or overseeing others.
● SURJ policy requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to
reasonable accommodation under federal, state, and local law. Accommodations may be
not possible for positions that require in-person contact with other staff or members of
the public.
KNOWLEDGE:
● Deep knowledge in the area of earned media and how media outlets work.
● Knowledge of video creation/editing/production (optional)
● Willingness to adjust hours to occasionally work on weekends or after hours based on
rapid response moments.
● Willingness to travel occasionally for campaigns and group meetings, up to six times per
year.
● Spanish fluency (optional)
SKILLS:
● Fluent in with Muck Rack (or other media crm)
● Strong visual design intuition and familiarity with Canva (Photoshop/Illustrator a plus)
● Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to consult and coordinate among multiple
teams to produce content that is engaging and powerful
● Experience navigating competing interests, multiple stakeholders, conflicting rules, a
range of possible solutions and other complex elements
● Excellent written and verbal communication with the skill and desire to to write
compelling digital content. Experience writing for a wide range of audiences.
● High-level professional skills and ability to develop these skills in others.
● Experience with leading and training volunteers and/or staff with little comms experience.
ABILITIES:
● Flexible – open to new ways of doing things and experimentation
● Reliable – follows through on what they said they are going to do
● Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team
● Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision
● Ability to analyze current events, social movement developments, and the political
landscape to create relevant comms interventions.