External Relations Manager

AARP • Washington, DC

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.
AARP’s Office of Chief of Staff keeps AARP operating and informed on a day-to-day basis. The staff works closely with the CEO and other E-Team members to provide leadership and direction to make strategic decisions.
The External Relations Manager develops public relations programs and tactics to build relationships with key community and thought leaders and to advance the organization’s initiatives. They build and maintain a robust media presence, manage media relations, and ensure awareness of the national narrative around enterprise priorities and issue areas. Additionally, they help advance and protect the organization’s reputation and brand.

Requirements

• BA/BS degree with 5+ years of experience in public relations, communications, or a related field.
• Manages media relations planning, implementation, executive visibility, and reporting.
• Synthesizes complex public policy reports, including those related to financial security, economic policy positions, and data analysis, into content accessible to a general audience.
• Serves as a liaison with AARP state offices and over a dozen business units enterprise-wide to identify cutting-edge research and analysis.
• Conceives and supports the execution of media events and oversees projects, editorial planning, and relationship development.
• Writes media-facing documents that are often complex, nuanced, technical, or sensitive in nature.
• Assists in reputation and issue management efforts.
• Provides counsel and support to leadership and management for all media interactions.
• AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.
• Regular and reliable job attendance
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions

Responsibilities

• Manages media relations planning, implementation, executive visibility, and reporting.
• Manages projects, editorial planning, and relationship development.
• Writes media-facing documents that are often complex, nuanced, technical, or sensitive in nature.
• Helps in all aspects of reputation and issue management.
• Provides counsel and support for leadership and management in all media interactions.
• Synthesizes complex public policy reports, including those related to financial security, economic policy positions, and data analysis, into content accessible to a general audience.
• Serves as a liaison with AARP state offices and over a dozen business units enterprise-wide to identify cutting-edge research and analysis.
• Conceives and supports the execution of media events and oversees projects, editorial planning, and relationship development.
• Assists in reputation and issue management efforts.
• Provides counsel and support to leadership and management for all media interactions.

Benefits

• AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level