MDA Overview:

At MDA, we believe our biggest asset is our combination of different backgrounds, cultures, and disciplines united to form one high-performing team. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, we ensure that we all have access to the opportunities, relationships, and resources necessary to learn, grow and thrive. What we do starts with our people and the neuromuscular disease community we serve. As America's largest voluntary health organization covering research, healthcare, and advocacy for people with neuromuscular diseases, MDA is leading the way in improving the quality of life for those living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, spinal muscular atrophy, and dozens of related disorders - many first discovered and diagnosed by MDA supported scientists and clinicians.

Department Overview:

The Communications & Marketing Department takes a holistic view across the organization to strategically implement and execute the MDA strategic plan across audiences, platforms, programs, and pillars as well as strategic partnerships within each department. Stewarding the MDA brand is a critical role of the team to protect and promote the MDA image, reputation, and to optimize resources. Communications & Marketing team works closely in collaboration with departments across the organization such as, fundraising, advocacy, mission, and human resources. As high performing of subject matter experts, the Communications & Marketing Team is responsible for leveraging its knowledge to help the organization achieve its strategic goals.

Position Description:

The Manager, Public Relations is instrumental in elevating the Muscular Dystrophy Association's mission through strategic communication initiatives, cross-departmental collaboration, and a commitment to amplifying awareness. The Manager, Public Relations crafts compelling narratives, managing media relations, coordinating campaigns, and overseeing the production of multimedia assets.

What you'll do:

• Provide local PR briefing support for event initiatives.
• Provide written communications for internal weekly staff updates on press coverage and organic social media posts, such as the Communications Updates email.
• Give support for weekly internal communications.
• Write media alerts/press releases, pitch local events to media contacts, schedule interviews and briefings.
• Produce briefing documents for interviews and speaking engagements.
• Deliver reporting and recaps for internal department alignment.
• Team's lead for tracking PR calendars, press releases, speaking engagements.
• Field and respond to incoming inquiries from the communications email.
• Vet opportunities and people of interest.
• Initiate and help facilitate copyright permissions requests for the communications team.
• Map out and create timelines for campaigns, events, etc. to organize PR and communications strategies and planning.
• Work with our media monitoring service and news distribution companies to ensure MDA needs are met. And monitor deliverables and services and troubleshoot for behalf of communications/PR team.
• Manage the production of all field public relations content and collateral - video, digital and print assets used across MDA and its relevant stakeholders to drive relevance and revenue. Make critical assessments and decisions on copy, design, video production, etc. and inspire and support teams to deliver their best work.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams and departments including Fund Development and Advocacy.
• Align with the content team on strategies for elevating the neuromuscular disease community's voices and the overall MDA mission.
• Deliver creative content work on time and on budget.

Salary Range:

This position's salary range is $65,000 - $70,000. Final offer amounts and levels are determined by multiple factors, including your experience, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

Travel Percentage: 15%

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience required.
• 3 years of experience in franchised or federated public relations or communications-related fields.
• Experience in a communications team, especially internal communication, for a large organization, is most sought after. Experience of writing for a variety of different audiences is also desired. General journalistic or marketing experience is beneficial.
• Writing skills: You need excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills as well as the journalistic ability to source stories from employees.
• Interpersonal skills: You need good interpersonal and relationship-building skills to work with communications and HR departments. You also need to possess the confidence to deal with senior executives and explain communication techniques to them.
• Prior experience in health care and/or nonprofit communications is strongly preferred, preferably for a nationwide organization with a prominent brand; agency experience is a plus.
• Exceptional interpersonal communications skills both verbally and in written matter.

MDA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

MDA Benefits:

*For full-time employees

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance with prescription coverage
• Health Savings Account with contribution matching and Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and/or dependent care
• Paid sick leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 100% contribution towards basic life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Optional additional life insurance and dependent life insurance available
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with company match
• Generous paid time off policy, with increasing accrual rate schedule
• 16 paid holidays
• Standard 35-hour work week with flexible hours
• Remote, work from home opportunities
• Professional Learning and Development training opportunities, including Leadership Skills
• Company sponsored Wellness Program