Senior Manager, Environmental Health

Job Purpose:

Vital Strategies is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Senior Communication Manager, Environmental Health who will be responsible for leading strategic communications and public relations for its environmental health division, including programs in urban health, climate change, air pollution, children s health, and lead poisoning prevention. A key position in the Environmental Health division, this position will work collaboratively with technical staff on the environmental health team as well as communication professionals on the policy, advocacy, and communication division. They will be joining Vital Strategies welcoming and global community of ambitious public health professionals with diverse backgrounds and expertise.

The successful candidate will generate significant media and public attention for the under-attended linkages between poor health and environmental hazards like air pollution, and the urgent need for government to uptake known policy solutions. They will partner with Vital s leadership and technical experts worldwide to release policy reports, mount social media campaigns, and support a multi-channel communications strategy to elevate the voice of our thought leaders and local partners at key moments. The ideal candidate will be a thoughtful planner and implementer, able to strategize about how to increase media coverage, translate technical material into more digestible content, and collaborate across a global team to execute diverse responsibilities. Responsibilities include pitching news media outlets, generating content such as news releases, talking points, social media or blog posts; and mounting short-term social media campaigns around important moments such as COP or Earth Day.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Drawing from public relations, digital communication and advocacy: research, design and deliver publicity and media strategies to advance Vital Strategies environmental health division.
• Write and edit compelling content, and arrange distribution/placement across multiple platforms, including press releases, opinion editorials, press statements, story pitches, case studies, website content, social media posts, newsletters, speeches, and other material that communicates the program s goals, activities and impact.
• Promote the program s outputs by developing and implementing communications plans, including dissemination of research and programmatic reports, country case study examples, and campaigns.

• Plan and execute publicity and campaign strategies that result in high-quality media coverage for the Environmental Health division and its subject matter experts.
• Coordinate across the environmental health teams, regional communication officers, and key partners to prioritize, track, and realize key communication moments, events, and opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with the environmental health global and regional partners, as well as members of the press and other key stakeholders; stay up-to-date and informed about the division s activities; proactively identify milestones, support press and communication strategies, and track/follow-up on media impact.

• Monitor news and follow trends in relevant areas and proactively pitch ideas for stories and articles, including interviews and statements from key spokespeople.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with journalists and maintain a media database.
• Research speaking and thought leadership opportunities, draft pitches, and prepare staff for external engagements to increase our reach in front of target audiences.
• Plan and manage events, pitch speakers and panels for relevant conferences; manage award and speaker submissions, and other opportunities.
• Develop and update brochures, media kits, key messages, fact sheets, and other collateral material. Work with program teams to manage the development of new publications.
• Design and develop digital communication tools for the initiative; maintain and manage program websites and social media presence;
• Build and maintain relationships with civil society organizations and other stakeholders involved with environmental health work; represent Vital Strategies with partners and stakeholders;

• Lead internal media training sessions and support programs that train journalists on environmental health;
• Support outreach and recruitment for environmental health journalism trainings;

• Track communication activities and outputs, and routinely prepare and submit PR reports.

Qualifications:

Education and Degree -

• Bachelor s degree or higher in public health or media relations, journalism, or related field.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong media relations experience with the ability to think creatively and generate new story angles.
• Clear communicator, writer, and editor with great attention to detail.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams.
• Ability to bring new creative ideas to communicate the organizations work and grow audiences and reach.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to successfully manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to work flexibly with colleagues across time zones.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Experience:

Required

• Minimum of 8 years of communications experience.
• Experience researching, designing, and delivering media strategies.
• Experience writing and editing compelling content and arranging for distribution/placement across multiple platforms.

Preferred

• Prior working experience with international organizations.
• Knowledge of the environmental health media landscape.
• Interest in public health and/or environmental issues.

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