Demo

Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations

The Heritage Foundation
Washington, DC Full Time
POSTED ON 2/25/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 4/25/2026
Title:                          Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations
Reports to:             Director, Media and Public Relations

Job Summary:         The Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations is responsible for supervising a team of communications staff who promote The Heritage Foundation policy solutions and ideas in print, broadcast, and digital outlets. In addition, the Assistant Director is responsible for managing media relations for a portfolio of Heritage policy experts, serving as their point of contact for media. The Assistant Director works closely with the Director to ensure all outreach is in line with Heritage principles and policies, execute best-in-class media relations operations, and collaborate with stakeholders across the Heritage enterprise.

Job Duties: 
  • Position, promote, and defend The Heritage Foundation and its related brands by developing and executing media relations strategies that advance policy priorities. 
  • Ensure staff media pitches are aligned with Heritage policy messaging points, media relations standards, and institutional priorities.
  • Monitor ongoing policy debates for focused, high-impact opportunities for Heritage experts and leadership to go on offense and, where necessary, take appropriate defensive action.
  • Work with Communications Associate and outside vendors to manage the tracking of all national print and broadcast appearances, ensuring weekly, quarterly, and ad hoc reports are prepared thoroughly and consistently; supervise daily clipping operations.
  • Collaborate with colleagues throughout the Heritage Enterprise to gain an understanding of how conservative policies can best be advanced in the media. 
  • Provide strategic guidance for communications staff on messaging, media opportunities, and media relations tactics.
  •  Advance media strategy, generating daily pitches on relevant issues on multiple platforms including print, broadcast, digital, and editorial.
  • Build and maintain relationships with media who cover relevant policy issues including print, television, radio, and digital.
  • Monitor media for relevant experts through various means and brief the Director on relevant threats.
  • Maintain and share, in an easily accessed manner, media lists on relevant issues for institutional use.
  • Draft news releases, web content, commentaries, and talking points.
  • Work closely with experts in leveraging the media to accomplish Institute policy goals.
Qualifications:
  • Education: BA/BS required
  • Experience: 7-9 years of relevant experience working in public relations,                communications, journalism, or a closely related field
  • Communication: Must have excellent interpersonal and communications skills, including demonstrated proficiency in writing and editing
  • Technology: Microsoft Suite

Other Requirements:
  • Understand and support the Heritage mission and vision for America, and the department’s goals and objectives.
  • Must be assertive, detail-oriented, and highly organized.
  • Promote policies consistent with Heritage’s priorities; speak with one voice.
  • Must have existing contacts among print reporters and broadcast producers.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to manage an experienced team, and to collaborate with various departments. 
  • Ability to provide and receive direction and feedback. 
  • Comfortable in social and professional settings with editors, producers, and reporters.   


Benefits and Salary:

The Heritage Foundation offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, best-in-class health care, vision, and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement funding, “take what you need” PTO and sick leave, 14 weeks of paid leave for new moms and 6 weeks of paid leave for new dads, among other programs.

The salary range for this role is $105,000 - $125,000 annually. This range is a good-faith estimate, and the final salary offered to a selected candidate depends on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, and other qualifications; internal and external market pay for comparable jobs; and level of hire based on aforementioned qualifications.

Salary : $105,000 - $125,000

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$85,429 - $107,235
Income Estimation: 
$114,183 - $151,971
Income Estimation: 
$97,840 - $130,650
Income Estimation: 
$114,945 - $147,946
Income Estimation: 
$162,123 - $210,901
Income Estimation: 
$248,253 - $377,667
Income Estimation: 
$251,562 - $374,315
Income Estimation: 
$71,085 - $91,088
Income Estimation: 
$88,426 - $116,821
Income Estimation: 
$95,555 - $145,324
Income Estimation: 
$92,664 - $115,984
Income Estimation: 
$114,731 - $155,985
Income Estimation: 
$125,835 - $157,927
Income Estimation: 
$156,374 - $224,893
Income Estimation: 
$95,555 - $145,324
Income Estimation: 
$162,123 - $210,901
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at The Heritage Foundation

  • The Heritage Foundation Washington, DC
  • Title: Digital Marketing Specialist, Membership Reports to: Director, Membership Job Summary: The Digital Marketing Specialist supports the strategy and cr... more
  • 13 Days Ago

  • The Heritage Foundation Washington, DC
  • Title : Video Fellow, Digital Productions Reports to: Director, Digital Productions Job Summary: The Video Fellowship is training program focused on video ... more
  • 14 Days Ago

  • The Heritage Foundation Washington, DC
  • Title : Regional Communications Associate, Media and Public Relations Reports to : Director, Media and Public Relations Job Summary: The Regional Communica... more
  • 15 Days Ago

  • The Heritage Foundation Washington, DC
  • Title : Senior Communications Manager, Media and Public Relations Reports to: Director, Media and Public Relations Job Summary: The Senior Communications M... more
  • 15 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations jobs in the Washington, DC area that may be a better fit.

  • Alliance Defending Freedom and Careers Washington, DC
  • Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given r... more
  • 27 Days Ago

  • Fannie Mae Washington, DC
  • Playing an essential role in the U.S. economy, Fannie Mae is foundational to housing finance. Here, your expertise can help fuel purpose-driven innovation ... more
  • 15 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!