Media Relations Officer

Job Title: Media Relations Officer

Department:  Communications

Location: Washington, DC

Supervisor: Marketing and Communications Director

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA

The mission of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS/USA) is to accompany, serve, and advocate the cause of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, that they may heal, learn and determine their own future. JRS works in 58 countries worldwide to meet the educational, health, psycho-social, and emergency needs of more than 1.25 million refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, regardless of race, ethnic origin, or religious beliefs.

Job Description

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS/USA) seeks an experienced Media Relations Officer to enhance our visibility and media presence across religious and secular national and regional platforms. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of securing coverage in TV, radio, and print outlets and building and maintaining strong relationships with national and key regional media.

Responsibilities

Media Strategy and Execution:

• Develop and implement media strategies to promote JRS/USA’s mission, programs, and campaigns.
• Pitch and secure interviews and feature stories in top-tier national media outlets, including TV, radio, and print.
• Concept, draft, and place op-eds in relevant publications.
• Make recommendations on ways to increase the pickup of our messages, the desire to hear from our spokespeople, and our share of voice within humanitarian news.

Media Relations:

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, and producers at major U.S. news outlets.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries and ensure timely and effective responses.

Messaging and Content Development:

• Craft compelling press releases, advisories, and talking points that align with JRS’s mission, strategic framework, and key practice areas.
• Collaborate with other teams (in our office and in JRS’s other offices around the world) to identify and develop impactful story ideas.

Spokesperson Support:

• Prepare and train organizational spokespeople for media appearances, ensuring alignment with organizational messaging and values.
• Occasionally serve as a spokesperson when appropriate.

Catholic and Jesuit Context:

• Leverage knowledge of Catholic Social Teaching and Church structure and hierarchy to frame messaging correctly, propose the right spokespeople, identify support resources, and develop appropriate outreach plans.
• Collaborate with Catholic and specifically Jesuit networks to amplify JRS/USA’s messages and advocacy goals.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Monitor media coverage and provide regular analysis and reports.
• Maintain database of media contacts/media outreach tool (Meltwater).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in media relations with a proven record of booking interviews and securing media placements.
• Relationships with journalists, editors, and producers at major U.S. news outlets.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to convey clear, concise, and engaging messages and present to groups comfortably.
• Proficiency with AP Style.
• An understanding of the Catholic Church (language, culture, structure, teaching).
• Strong interest in U.S. and global current events.
• Facility with the Microsoft Office suite.
• Familiarity with cloud-based workplace tools for project/workflow management, database management, and digital asset management.
• Talent for working collaboratively in a mission-driven environment.

Helpful but not required:

• Some knowledge of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits).
• Experience working with clergy and religious.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English.

Salary Range: $60,000-$75,000 annually

JRS/USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, JRS/USA does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by the law. We welcome applicants from a diverse spectrum of qualified candidates.