Associate Director of Media Relations

Voting Rights Lab/Secure Democracy Foundation
Location: Remote, US-based
Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Reporting to: Managing Director, Communications
Managing: N/A
Travel: Occasional, up to 5% of the time

Role Overview

Voting Rights Lab, a national nonpartisan 501(c)(3), and its 501(c)(4) affiliate are fighting the state-level battles that will shape elections in 2026, 2028, and for decades to come. In 2025 alone, we stopped a wave of proof-of-citizenship mandates in red and purple states from Texas to Michigan, and produced the first-ever map of election law vulnerabilities — showing where losing candidates can exploit state laws to challenge legitimate results. Grounded in deep state-level relationships and cross-ideological credibility, we anticipate threats and deliver solutions where democracy is most at risk.

As the Associate Director of Media Relations, you will manage our earned media work and other strategic communications efforts to secure, protect, and defend voting rights for all Americans.

You will be responsible for directing earned media strategy for the organization’s brands as well as building the CEO’s profile with journalists and media influencers. You will be the go-to resource for national journalists seeking expertise on voting and election issues and translate complex policy details into compelling messages and pitches. Media relations for Voting Rights Lab just doesn’t mean writing and editing press releases - it’s about building long term relationships with key reporters, landing exclusive placements, and being a strategist for our executive, program team, and partners to better tell our story.

Voting Rights Lab is a fully remote organization, and this position can be based anywhere in the United States. We offer a collaborative and innovative work environment, competitive compensation, and opportunities for professional advancement.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Earned Media & Communications Support 

• Grow strategic earned media opportunities and strategy for the organization’s family of brands and its executive
• Identify opportunities and trends to engage reporters
• Pitch and maintain relationships with journalists
• Assist in product creation used for earned media purposes
• Direct interview preparation and spokesperson needs
• Engage strategic partners and outside spokespeople in earned media opportunities
• Independently execute and/or supervise the execution of media-facing events, including press briefings, meet-and-greets, and other public events/webinars
• Assist in the development of policy and advocacy-related communications products, including research memos, reports, and strategic pitches
• Develop a growth plan to engage with the newest media, including but not limited to online newsletters, blogs, and podcasts.
• Provide and/or oversee the delivery of excellent communications-related services to the organization, including managing subscriptions, media monitoring, talking point development, etc.

CEO Profile Building

• Develop and execute a plan to build the profile of Voting Rights Lab’s CEO in the media and with democracy movement influencers
• Coordinate with Chief of Staff and prep CEO for media interviews, including creating interview guides, talking points, and holding practice interviews
• Identify potential opportunities for the CEO to provide thought leadership on current events or policy trends to the press, media influencers, and partners

Management & Operations

• Manage consultants or projects as assigned
• Model and encourage communication, collaboration, and a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive
• Provide internal communications support as assigned
• Participate in organizational activities, events, and learning
• Support an environment of cross-team collaboration and communication 
• Manage regular personal administration, including timely submission of receipts, reimbursement requests, travel planning, scheduling/calendaring, etc.

Requirements

Required Experience:

• A minimum of five years of relevant communications experience with a proven track record of:
• Directly owning a substantial portion of earned-media strategy/opportunities
• Regularly identifying new hooks, pitching reporters, securing coverage, preparing spokespeople, cultivating long-term reporter relationships 
• Demonstrated experience in successfully pitching state and national print and online media, as well as radio, television media, and state/local political or policy reporters
• Proven communication skills, both verbal and written, including ability to translate complex ideas, particularly relating to policy, legislation, legal developments, research, and data, into understandable messages that inform, engage, and persuade targeted audiences
• Record of directly advising and strategically preparing senior executives or subject matter experts for high-stakes media engagement, building on our current media profile 
• Skilled in rapid, strategic communications judgment, able to quickly recognize newsworthiness and how/when to engage 
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Experience managing a multi-step, time-sensitive content production and review processes across diverse teams and departments
• Demonstrated ability to function effectively in a high-paced, fully remote, tech-forward work environment and manage competing priorities
• A learning orientation, with the ability to maintain momentum through uncertainty and to adapt within rapidly changing priorities 

Desired Experience: 

• Experience working on communications campaigns at the state level for nonprofits, government agencies, or political campaigns
• Experience working with, pitching, and creating content for new media platforms, including podcasts, Substack, and content creators
• Experience working on or knowledge of democracy and/or voting/elections issues
• Experience working in or knowledge of state legislative processes
• Experience managing public relations or earned media contractors or firms
• Experience communicating on behalf of multiple brands, as well as communicating on behalf of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations

Note:  We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or relocation assistance

Benefits

Salary and benefits: 

We value our staff by offering competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package. The Associate Director of Media Relations is in the Director pay band, and the hiring range for this position is $90,000 to $110,000 annually. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may also vary depending on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors. The total compensation package may include the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, depending on the level and position offered.

At this time, we provide the following benefits for eligible employees:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance that is majority employer-funded
• 401(k) retirement plan, with up to 6% employer match
• Generous paid time off package, including unlimited flexible vacation leave, 2 weeks sick leave, in addition to 13 paid holidays, winter holiday closure, and other PTO opportunities such as parental leave, volunteer time, and more
• Flexible spending account for medical and dependent care
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Basic-term life and accidental death and dismemberment (ADD) insurance, with an employee buy-up option
• Additional benefits include work-from-home benefits, cell phone benefits, and fitness benefits, and learning and development benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Voting Rights Lab is a non-profit organization that is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. Voting Rights Lab’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

Part of Voting Rights Lab’s mission is to ensure that people with records of arrest or conviction can vote.  As such, we give full and fair consideration to all applicants, regardless of a past record of arrest or conviction.