Job Title: Director, Media & Entertainment Industry Engagement - Home Office

Location: Chicago, IL

Full time based on 37.5 hours per week

Grade: 512

Reports To: VP, Global Communications

Who We Are:

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia - by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

At the Alzheimer's Association, our employees are at the core of all we do. Our network of more than 1,700 employees across the United States makes a difference each and every day for those impacted by Alzheimer's and those at risk for the disease.

We warmly invite qualified applicants to consider this opportunity to make a life changing impact on the millions living with Alzheimer's, their caregivers and those that may be diagnosed with the disease in the future. Read on to learn more about the role, then visit our website www.alz.org/jobs to find out more about who we are and why we've been recognized as a Best Place to Work the last eleven years in a row.

Position Summary:

Responsible for the day-to-day management of Association's entertainment industry relations, including managing, cultivating and growing the Association's Celebrity Champions program, identifying and pursuing storytelling opportunities within pop culture, earned media and overseeing the creation of entertainment platforms to increase concern Alzheimer's disease and awareness of Association.

Lead efforts for accurate representation of Alzheimer's and other dementia, caregiving and other related narratives in creative works (e.g. film, television, books and other art forms). This may include management of select, but impactful partnerships.

Responsibilities also include story mining, pitch development and active engagement with reporters for both traditional and online media and fulfilling reactive media needs. In this role, the Director is responsible for public relations plan development and execution, outreach strategies and integration across marketing communications channels, following and capitalizing on health, philanthropy and media trends, working with internal and external constituents and special projects to extend the reach of the Alzheimer's Association.

This individual will serve as the point of contact and strategically manage engagement of influencers, talent, and entertainment entities on behalf of the Association. They are also responsible for management of multiple agency/vendor partners, internal direct reports and staff as appropriate on a project basis, as well as detailed tracking of budgets.

Responsibilities:

Essential functions and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Demonstrate leadership as a member of a public relations and marketing team that increases concern and awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the Association brand.
• Create and execute plans that leverage celebrity relationships on an ongoing basis to increase concern and awareness of the disease and Association, including annual celebrity Champions campaign.
• Establish and cultivate celebrity relationships and identify and execute opportunities for ongoing talent engagement.
• Field and assess inquiries from film, television, and book projects.
• Supervise and manage direct report(s), overseeing quality and workload of assigned report(s). Mentor and coach report(s) to promote professional development.
• Day-to-day strategic guidance and management of multiple vendors/agencies.
• Budget negotiation and management responsibilities.
• Navigate and prioritize requests for talent/influencers from staff at local chapters and home office.
• Develop wide-ranging media relations campaigns; create plans that leverage resources, tools and tactics optimally to achieve strategic goals.
• Write articles, press releases, pitches, backgrounders, talking points and other assets in support of media outreach efforts.
• Establish, cultivate and leverage good working relationships with national and trade media.
• Effectively pitch stories via email and verbally to a variety of media targets (trade, local, national, TV, online, radio, blogs, etc.).
• Identify current and emerging media trends/interests to determine what "works" with top-tier media and apply these insights to bolster earned media coverage of the Association.
• Conduct media training and develop spokespeople, including experts and those impacted by the disease to raise awareness.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to effectively create awareness about Alzheimer's.
• Manage outside agencies and vendors on specific projects, ensure deliverables are high-quality, on-time and within budget.
• Provide communications support and guidance to chapter communicators and other internal stakeholders to bolster Association's concern and awareness efforts

Qualifications:

• BA or BS in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism or related field.
• 10+ years related professional experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Flexible schedule that may include "non-traditional" hours.
• Strong writing skills and knowledge of AP Style are essential.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workplace required.
• Experience managing outside vendors or agencies required.
• Work well in a team environment.
• Manages multiple projects in a timely and effective manner.
• Ability to navigate relationships and complex communications with tact and diplomacy.
• Good presentation skills desired.
• Some agency setting-related experience and/or training preferred.
• Must have ability to travel (20%)
  

Employees working 24 hours/week or more are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, flex accounts, short and long-term disability, life insurance, long term care insurance, tuition reimbursement, generous Paid Time Off, 12 annual holidays and Paid Family Leave, as well as an annual Cultural & Heritage Day and Volunteer Day of their choosing. They are also eligible for our gold standard 401(k) retirement plan.

Full time employees (37.5 hours/week), will enjoy all of the above plus an annual School Visitation Day and an Elder Care Facility Day of their choosing.

The Alzheimer's Association is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and provides consideration for an employment relationship without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, genetic predisposition, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

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