Senior PR and Communication Manager, Data for Health Initiative

Vital Strategies, headquartered in New York City, is an international public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury and death. We currently work in 73 countries, supporting data-driven decision making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include non-communicable disease prevention, cardiovascular health promotion, tobacco control, road safety, obesity prevention, epidemic prevention, environmental health, vital statistics systems building and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis treatment research. Our programs are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences, whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We encourage people of all racial, economic, social, cultural, sexual orientation, and gender expressions to apply. As such, our commitment is to promote equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment.

Vital Strategies offers highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this position is $88,000 to $102,666 USD. The candidate must have eligibility to work in the U.S. at time of hire. Preference is for the position to be based in our New York City office but consideration will be given to suitable candidates who are based in countries where Vital Strategies can legally hire. The salary range for candidates outside the U.S. will be benchmarked to the local market.

Vital Strategies is committed to helping prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protecting the safety of our employees. All U.S. employees will be required to be fully vaccinated unless the employee is approved for a reasonable accommodation due to a disability or a religious reason.

The Position:

Vital Strategies is looking for a Senior PR and Communication Manager, Data for Health, to support PR and communication activities for the organization’s Data for Health (D4H) Initiative. The Bloomberg Philanthropies D4H Initiative aims to enhance public health data collection and use in low- and middle-income countries. The goal of the Initiative is to ensure that a billion more people live in countries where data are used to steer public policy and program decisions. Under the Initiative, Vital Strategies, in partnership with other global public health organizations, is implementing a multi-year program to support government data systems and data use in more than 45 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific. The Initiative comprises four major programs: Civil Registration and Vital Statistics; Data Impact; Cancer Registries; and the Global Grants Program.

This exciting new role is responsible for strategically promoting the D4H programs by executing a wide range of writing, communication, media relations and public relations activities which prioritize the programs’ aims to influence key policy makers, researchers and civil society organizations at the global and regional level. The Senior PR and Communication Manager, D4H, will work with the program’s global partners and provide communication support for the programs’ partners in priority countries.

Working closely with Vital Strategies’ technical staff and partners, the Senior PR and Communication Manager, Data for Health, will lead the design and execution of publicity strategies and campaigns for the initiative.

Reporting to the Vital Strategies’ Director, PR, and Senior Vice President for Public Health Programs, the Senior PR and Communication Manager, Data for Health, will work cross-functionally with the Directors of the four programs and program staff across the globe.

Specific Duties:

● Drawing from public relations, digital communication and advocacy: research, design and deliver publicity and media strategies to advance Vital Strategies’ programs within the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative.

● Write and edit compelling content, 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 initiative’s goals, activities and impact.

● Proactively seek opportunities to raise the visibility of the Data for Health programs and their goals, activities, and impact; plan, develop and deliver publicity campaigns and evaluate their success.

● Promote the programs’ outputs by disseminating research findings, evaluation data and country case study examples and campaigns.

● Monitor news and follow trends in relevant areas to pitch ideas for stories and articles, including interviews and statements from key spokespeople across the program.

● Develop pitches and secure media placements in target media outlets and respond to media inquiries.

● Identify spokespeople and deliver media training support and briefings.

● Proactively establish, cultivate, and maintain relationships with the media to identify and execute pitch opportunities. Develop and maintain media lists.

● Build and maintain strong working relationships with the D4H global and regional partners, as well as members of the press and other key stakeholders; stay up-to-date and informed about the Initiative’s activities; proactively identify milestones, support press and communication strategies and track/follow-up on media impact.

● Design and develop digital communication tools for the initiative; maintain and manage program websites and social media presence.

● 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.

● 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.

● Track communication activities and prepare and submit PR reports.

● Support outreach and recruitment for D4H journalism trainings.

Qualifications:

● 8+ years of PR, communication and/or marketing experience

● Excellent writer and storyteller

● Ability to connect with audiences through exceptional written and verbal communication skills

● Proven track record of managing media relations (online, broadcast and print) and building relationships with journalists and other key members of the press

● Experience writing and preparing marketing materials, including press releases, fact sheets, pitches, programs, one-pagers, web, newsletter and social content

● Demonstrated ability to secure high-quality media coverage

● Excellent interpersonal skills

● Self-starter with ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams

● Experience working in international settings

● Experience with media intelligence platforms (e.g., Cision; Meltwater); email marketing services (e.g., Mailchimp); social media channels

Qualities:

● Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across time zones and platforms

● Excellent interpersonal skills

● Ability to work fast, meet deadlines, manage multiple tasks, and thrive in a fast-paced environment

● Ability to inspire and bring new creative ideas to communicate the Initiatives’ work, and grow audiences and reach

● Excellent organizational and innovative and creative problem-solving skills

● Desire to contribute to a team atmosphere

Preferred Experience:

● Agency experience (+ 2 years)

● Public health / Nonprofit experience (+ 3 years)

● International experience (+ 1 year)

● Candidate based in NY