Press Secretary

American Rivers seeks a press secretary to play an integral role in strategically expanding American Rivers' visibility in print, broadcast, and online media outlets in support of the organization's integrated program campaigns. The manager, who reports to the Communications Director, will have primary responsibility for day-to-day media activities and play a central role in the America's Most Endangered Rivers campaign, our flagship public outreach and education effort.

American Rivers is a national non-profit conservation group dedicated to protecting and restoring healthy natural rivers and the variety of life they sustain, for the benefit of people, fish, and wildlife. We are based in Washington, DC, with offices in California, Connecticut, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Washington state. We have a staff of 49 and an annual budget of $6.7 million.

For an overview of American Rivers, please visit www.americanrivers.org

This position will be located in our Washington, D.C. office.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Work with Communications Director to develop short and long-range communications strategic plans in support of specific organizational goals, and work with staff from a variety of departments to execute these plans.   
• Develop a strategic approach for cultivating journalists and other media "influentials" to increase the visibility of American Rivers in print, broadcast, and online media outlets.   
• Write or edit press releases, advisories, Op Eds, pitch memos, letters to the editor, fact sheets, and other materials that inform and influence journalists.   
• Write the annual America's Most Endangered Rivers report.   
• Create and oversee media events such as press conferences, teleconferences, and photo ops.   
• Create press lists and maintain our media database.   
• Coordinate joint press activities with headquarters staff, field staff, and partners.   
• Track placement of stories related to American Rivers and its issues in newspapers, radio, broadcast and on the Internet.   
• Identify opportunities for and coordinate American Rivers' participation in events that support our broader communications goals, such as journalist conventions.   
• Work with staff to craft effective messages.   
• Prepare senior staff for high stakes or controversial interviews.   
• Assist in tracking program activities as part of monitoring effectiveness of our tactics and message.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, MA in Journalism or Communications a plus.   
• Three to seven years of experience in journalism, marketing and/or communications, with at least one year of experience in media relations or as a working journalist.   
• Innovative and high energy opportunity seeker, with a passion for advocacy, journalism, and strong critical thinking skills.   
• Excellent writing and editing skills.   
• Articulate and confident public speaker.   
• Ability to organize, meet deadlines, work with teams, manage time and handle multiple projects simultaneously.   
• Computer literacy.   
• Familiarity with digital multimedia production principles and techniques a plus.   
• Familiarity with new media techniques and technologies, such weblogs and RSS feeds, a plus.   
• Knowledge or demonstrated interest in rivers, environmental issues, and the outdoors a plus.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits include health, dental, life insurance, retirement plan, and generous leave time. This is an exempt position. American Rivers is an equal opportunity employer.

Application Deadline and Start Date:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The start date for the position is September 1, 2005 or later.

To Apply:

Applications should include a rsum, professional references, a writing or relevant work sample, salary history, and a cover letter addressed to:

Walt Sisson
Vice President for Finance and Administration
American Rivers
1025 Vermont Ave  Ste 720
Washington DC  20005

Electronic mail: wsisson@americanrivers.org
Attn: Press Secretary

No telephone calls, please.