Communications Associate, Public Relations

About the Organization:

UJA-Federation of New York is the largest local philanthropy in the world. For more than 100 years, we’ve brought New Yorkers together to solve some of the most pressing problems facing our community. Thanks to our network of hundreds of non-profits, we can leverage our expertise across any number of areas — including health and human services, arts and culture, and education — to care for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, respond to crises close to home and far away, and shape our Jewish future. Our reach extends from New York to Israel to nearly 70 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year.

The Communications Associate in our Public Relations Department is responsible for supporting the Director in executing public relations initiatives on behalf of UJA-Federation. This position is responsible for helping to tell the story of UJA-Federation of New York to the press, the public and other key constituents.

Definition of Position

The key areas of responsibility include managing media relations for UJA events and other functions of the marketing and communications department.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Support more than 15 large-scale (hundreds of attendees) events and dozens of smaller fundraising and programmatic events a year, duties may include:
  • Attend events and manage press on site (several evening events)
  • For events that honor professionals outside of UJA, the associate is the primary liaison with honoree teams to make media recommendations, devise strategy, create media invitation lists, etc.
  • Write press releases and media advisories
  • Liaise with internal UJA teams for each event
  • Create event-specific press list
  • Create post-event publicity items such as photo captions
  • Work with reporters covering events
  • Work with social media team as back-up including:
    • Suggesting quotes and photos
    • Working with photographers
    • Live-tweeting when necessary

General Communications:

• Coordinate with the Director of Public Relations and other departments to determine publicity potential of work across UJA and UJA nonprofit partners
• Draft media pitches, press releases, media advisories, evites and calendar listings, op-eds and more
• Work with UJAs PR agency
• Daily tracking and record-keeping of media placements and maintain UJA’s media webpage
• Creates approximately two dozen press reports annually for UJA committees that include brief descriptions of media coverage, spreadsheets and paste-ups
• Manages monthly department invoices

Qualifications/Skills:

• 1-2 years' experience in public relations or related experience
• Exposure to handling on-site events
• Strong writing skills and preferably some experience drafting PR materials such as press releases, media pitches, talking points, FAQs, and more
• Copywriting for social media/live event coverage a plus
• Out-going personality, excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Can manage multiple deadlines with a strong attention to detail
• Works well under pressure -stays calm and is not easily flustered
• Knowledge of the New York Jewish community and issues facing the Jewish community, Jewish history and traditions, and current affairs in Israel is a plus
• Interest in the news gathering business and in reading publications across topics to stay abreast of current trends and issues
• College degree, with a degree in a related field a plus

Salary Information:

The salary range for this role is $63,000 - $68,000 annually; commensurate with experience and qualifications listed above.