Communications Director

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit organization working toward compassionate and effective medical practice, research, and health promotion. For the last 26 years, PCRM has led the way for reforms of federal nutrition policies, and our clinical research programs are breaking new ground in diabetes, cancer, and other serious medical conditions. We have fought for an emphasis on prevention, higher ethical standards in research, and scientific advances in basic research and effective drug development. Over the years, we have taken on battles to end ethically questionable experiments involving children and inhumane animal experiments and have worked to improve science education. We have worked with physicians, federal regulators, politicians, researchers, educators, students, and concerned citizens. And we have so much more work to do.

The Communications Director is responsible for overseeing the organization’s media relations and other communications programs, including its websites. The Communications Director leads approximately eight employees and reports to the President.

Essential Functions

• Media Relations
  • Manage communications department
  • Locate and media-train appropriate PCRM spokespeople, including physicians, scientists, dietitians, and other experts
  • Write or review and edit all publicity-related materials, including news releases, public service announcements, and reports, to ensure that they are well-organized, well-written, effective, and consistent with PCRM’s message
  • Oversee PCRM’s letters to the editor program
  • Oversee PCRM’s writing and distribution of op-eds and other opinion pieces
  • Maintain and nurture relationships with journalists, PR colleagues, and PCRM spokespeople
  • Pitch stories to journalists and respond to incoming requests from journalists; schedule interviews; and send appropriate background information
  • Organize media tours
  • Plan news events
• Other Communications Programs
  • Oversee the development and distribution of public service announcements
  • Develop ideas for campaigns, studies, reviews, reports, and other communications tools that will help advance vegetarian diets and alternatives to the use of animals in medical research and education
  • Develop programs, plans, and strategies to continually increase PCRM’s visibility and advance its mission
  • Oversee ad development and placement
  • Oversee production and provide content for PCRM e-newsletters, PCRM’s quarterly magazine Good Medicine, and other communications tools
• Website Content
  • Oversee content for PCRM’s various websites and social media channels
  • Work with Web staff to enhance the use of PCRM’s websites as communications tools
• Strategic Planning
  • Regularly review existing communications tools and practices and looks for ways to improve them
  • Follow trends in PCRM’s target industries; monitor economic, cultural, and health developments that impact our work
  • Help senior leadership envision and develop long-term strategic plans to grow the organization and achieve program goals
  • Help steer department managers toward effective campaigns
  • Develop successful strategies for branding PCRM’s various products and organizations
• Supervision of Staff
  • Effectively lead, manage, motivate, and develop Communications staff
  • Strategically assess departmental staffing needs and work with Human Resources to fill open positions including preparing job descriptions, reviewing applicant resumes, conducting interviews, and making hiring decisions
  • Conduct three month and annual professional development reviews for all department staff
  • Encourage, identify, and approve professional development opportunities for department staff
  • Review supervisees' timesheets for accuracy and approve requests for time off
  • Work with Human Resources to effectively resolve personnel issues
• Fiscal Responsibilities
  • Develop and adhere to a department budget and approve department-related expenses
  • Review and sign vendor contracts for department-related services
  • Review and sign Check Request Forms
• Other
  • Oversee standard responses to general nutrition and research correspondence
  • Maintain standard operating procedures for primary areas of responsibility
  • Other duties as needed or assigned

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

• Education and Experience
  • A degree in a related field is required
  • Extensive experience in public relations, journalism, marketing communications, and advertising
  • Experience leading a team of professionals
• Skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to professionally advocate PCRM’s mission and summarize key issues and activities
  • Creativity
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize, work well under pressure, meet deadlines, and follow projects through to completion
  • Ability to develop solutions to any identified problems
  • Goal-oriented, self-motivated work ethic
  • Strong sense of professionalism including the ability to maintain a sense of urgency, efficiency, and flexibility
  • Proficient use of Microsoft Office Suite
• Other Requirements
  • Enthusiasm for PCRM’s mission
  • Ability and willingness to travel to related seminars, conferences, training, meetings, etc.
  • Interest in developing new competencies as needed for the responsibilities of the position
  • Ability and willingness to work outside business hours as needed

Terms of employment: Full-time in PCRM’s Washington, D.C., office (Friendship Heights neighborhood/metro).

Compensation: PCRM offers a competitive nonprofit salary commensurate with experience as well as a comprehensive benefits package that includes opportunities for continuing education and professional development.

How to apply: Please mail, fax, or e-mail (preferred) a cover letter (see note below) and your résumé to:

PCRM
Attn: Human Resources
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20016
Fax: 202-527-7410
E-mail: careers at pcrm dot org (Please note Communications Director in the subject line of your e-mail.)

Note: Please include the following in your cover letter: a specific explanation of your interest in joining PCRM, where/how you found out about this career opportunity, and your salary requirement.