Senior Director, International Media Relations

Position Title : Senior Director, International Media Relations

Location : Special Olympics Headquarters, Remote, Outside of United States

Department : Brand, Communications & Content

Reports to (supervisor) : Vice President, International Media Relations and Communications

Salary Range for US Based Staff : $103,992 - $122,343

Company Summary :

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities.

We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With nearly four million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in more than 170 countries, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year.

Learn more at SpecialOlympics.org.

Position Summary :

The Senior Director of International Media Relations serves as the lead strategic media advisor to the sport, health, and global youth and education teams, specifically driving storytelling and content opportunities to capture the attention of national, regional and international media.

Our ideal candidate has international media relations experience regularly pitching and securing stories in multiple geographic areas and has a keen understanding of how to improve an organization’s public presence through various channels including paid, owned and earned media.

Working background as a journalist or producer is preferred.

The Senior Director of International Media Relations closely collaborates with each programmatic area communications lead as well as each Regional Communications Team member to :

• Develop and execute a global external public relations strategy that supports the strategic objectives and broader organizational goals.
• Constantly mine for potential news angles and data to support opportunistic storytelling and establishes an ongoing pipeline of content to pitch for media outreach.
• Identify proactive earned media moments and pitch / place breakthrough stories for targeted audiences in broadcast, print, online and new media.
• Help develop global external media strategy for international events including World Games, Unified Cups, Regional Games, etc.
• Draft communications materials, including but not limited to media strategies, key messages, press releases, statements, question and answer documents and owned assets.
• Provide high-level briefing materials and talking points to Special Olympics spokespeople.
• Collaborate across the geographically- and functionally matrixed organization to ensure consistent branding and messaging specific each programmatic area.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality. Must have attention to detail and be a critical thinker.
• Continually develop contact list of journalists and media outlets, covering all media print, TV, radio, web etc. and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the Special Olympics story to a wider audience.
• Help establish new and maintain existing relationships on behalf of Special Olympics.
• Coordinate queries from journalists and the media in general and responds to their information requests.

The Senior Director for International Media Relations helps support global external awareness efforts and requires working collaboratively across the marketing & communications department, and Special Olympics program staff supporting seven SO regions (Africa, Asia Pacific, East Asia, Europe / Eurasia, Latin America, and Middle East / North Africa, North America).

Primary Responsibilities :

• Advise the Vice President of International Media Relations and Communications on recommended top tier media and thought leadership opportunities for Special Olympics.
• Provide recommendations on whether and what type of media engagement strategy and approach is required (e.g., reactive, press release, integrated package, news note, key facts etc.

taking into account relevance, timing, audience, reach, effectiveness, branding, consistency and relationship with partners.

Proactively pitch opportunities to media in collaboration with the organizational media relations function and oversee media monitoring.

Media train organizational executives, staff at donor organizations, celebrity ambassadors, and other spokespeople on Special Olympics messaging.

Craft and gain buy-in for high-level strategic communications plans aligned with organizational and donor priorities. Create timebound communications plans for significant activations, including key milestones and moments of opportunity including the International Day of Education and the Special Olympics World Games.

Maintain communications work plans on an ongoing basis.

Required Qualifications :

• Minimum of ten years’ experience as a journalist or media relations manager in the private or public sector, in or outside the United States.
• Familiarity with emerging media platforms and a news junkie, keeping on top of trends and opportunities.
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, international affairs, or related field; or comparable professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience regularly securing media coverage for a global brand.
• Record of accomplishment of effective media relations and / or social media wins.
• Proven ability to manage large workloads and organize work efficiently under pressure and deadlines
• Excellent project management and communication skills
• Proven ability to work in a cross-cultural environment

Desired Qualifications :

• Training as a print or broadcast journalist and has a nose for the story a plus. Training in how to tell a story using words, images, or audio, and an understanding of how to create content that draws an audience
• Regularly advise senior management on media relations opportunities
• Interest in cutting edge digital media, innovative multimedia, or emerging content approaches

For USA based staff : Special Olympics offers full-time employees a generous and comprehensive benefits package, which includes : medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life insurance, disability, retirement, legal resources, and PTO.

Special Olympics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Special Olympics is an E-Verify Employer