About Us

The vision of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is to make mental wellbeing, including recovery from substance use challenges, a reality for everyone. Despite overwhelming need, nearly 30 million people across the U.S. do not have access to comprehensive, high-quality, affordable mental health and substance use care when they need it.

Founded in 1969, the National Council is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of nearly 3,300 mental health and substance use prevention, treatment and recovery organizations and the more than 10 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services and support. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 3 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

The National Council is growing rapidly to meet this moment; both our budget ($77M) and passionate staff (250 ) have grown more than 50% since 2020. In addition, while we maintain office space in Washington, DC, we are a remote-first organization, meaning our employees work remotely from their locations across the United States.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and commit ourselves to creating an inclusive environment for everyone.

Position Summary

As Senior Manager Communications and Public Relations, you will support both internal and external communications efforts as it relates to the entire organization and communications initiatives, with an emphasis on public policy writing, messaging, and content development. You will be responsible for storytelling and developing general and advocacy related communications, strategic messaging, media relations requests and supporting media coverage through proactive initiatives and assisting with broader departmental public policy efforts.

In this role, you will work with colleagues across the Public Policy, Marketing, Communications and Events (MCE) teams and across the organization to develop, execute and track public policy and communications priorities and strategies. These priorities require you to have a high degree of organization, collaboration with internal stakeholders and subject matter experts.

This is an individual contributor role. While this position can be done remotely from anywhere in the US, you must primarily work our Washington, DC business hours of 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM ET.

Key Responsibilities

• Create policy-oriented content including but not limited to earned media (Op-Eds, letters to the editors, press releases, statements, etc.), collateral (one-pagers, factsheets), member emails, website copy, advocacy action alerts, and social media copy
• Work with the MCE and Public Policy teams to develop and execute strategic communication efforts, public affairs and media strategies for advocacy priorities by closely tracking activities and work streams and providing media relations, communications counsel and support for public relations initiatives for Public Policy
• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive internal and external communications strategy with an emphasis on the external communications for Public Policy
• Develop, lead and execute advertising campaign for advocacy related event (Hill Day) in collaboration with the Policy department. Manage outreach to prospective vendors, contracting, content creation, reporting, etc.
• Integrate communications strategies across social, web and other platforms to ensure messages are tailored to and resonate with target audiences
• Align closely with other departments and working with colleagues from various teams, including attending inter-departmental meetings, understanding advocacy goals/objectives, managing issues proactively, executing coordinated communications campaigns and responding to requests promptly
• Assist in the development and execution of communications and public policy plans as they relate to the boarder strategic goals that include Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), CCBHC Impact Report, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and other public policy initiatives
• Work with consultants and take primary lead timely development of writing, developing and copy editing impactful messaging and a variety of collateral materials including press releases, statements, op-eds, speechwriting, talking points, stakeholder quotes, FAQs, policy marketing emails, blog posts, briefings, topline findings from survey results, and fact sheets for both Public Policy and general communications initiatives
• Work with policy media and building and managing relationships with print, broadcast and online/web reporters. Proactive outreach to reporters and other external audiences as well as handling responses to media inquiries, as needed
• Collaborate with the Policy team on their legislative, grassroots and third-party activities, including providing communications and messaging support
• Support the PR team in developing and pitching story ideas/statements to policy reporters
• Manage interview requests, as needed
• Manage vendor relationships as it pertains to campaign initiatives and other work.

Required Qualifications

• 4-6 of strategic communications experience with at least 3 years in public policy communications at a public relations firm, trade association or marketing agency, media relations and/or on Capitol Hill
• Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field, or additional years of equivalent work experience
• Exceptional communication skills with demonstrated ability to write short- and long form; advocate, inform, and persuade audiences; and build relationships across different levels and functions
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to confidently communicate strategic updates and insights to leadership
• Creative thinker with a passion for storytelling in a variety of formats
• Experience using data to inform and optimize communications strategies
• Ability to manage numerous critical deadlines simultaneously and manage projects while maintaining attention to detail and strong internal and external relationships
• Ability to effectively communicate complex information to a wide variety of audiences
• Experience with policy reporters and general media to generate local and national print and broadcast coverage
• Results-oriented with a high attention to detail, ability to multi-task and meet deadlines in a dynamic work environment
• High level proficiency in Microsoft Office – MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to contribute to a strong team-based environment
• Work experience and/or deep personal interest in mental health and addiction
• Working knowledge of Cision and PRNewswire
• Ability to travel up to 15%