Director of Media Relations and Executive Communications

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President of Global Communications, this role involves designing and implementing communication strategies for the Council's president. Collaborating with the Executive Office, the Director aims to raise the profile and amplify the voice of the president, positioning them as the primary "brand ambassador" to promote the Council's mission as a non-partisan provider of independent research and analysis.

The responsibilities include managing earned media opportunities, enhancing social media presence and engagement, and producing written content such as weekly newsletters, opinion articles, and long-form essays. Efforts will be made to broaden media outreach and diversify audiences while integrating social media to foster engagement and visibility.

This position is based in the Washington, DC office and requires on-site presence at least three days a week specifically Tuesdays through Thursdays as anchor days. Starting Monday, September 14, 2026, employees will be required to work on-site four days weekly. Remote work policies are subject to change.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the VP for Global Communications and the President's office to create and execute a proactive media engagement plan on a variety of geopolitical and economic topics.
• Identify key opportunities aligned with the president's thought leadership and significant global security events.
• Build and nurture relationships with a broad spectrum of media outlets.
• Innovate engagement strategies involving partnerships, collaborations, and events to heighten media presence.
• Prepare briefing materials including memos, talking points, Q&A documents, along with potential opinion pieces and newsletter contributions.
• Collaborate with the Executive Office and Digital audience strategy team to enhance the president's social media profile using multimedia content such as videos, photographs, and live sessions.
• Carry out additional duties as required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 7 to 10 years of pertinent experience in media relations and public affairs, with a strong background in strategic and crisis communications for senior institutional leaders.
• In-depth knowledge and contacts within the foreign policy media landscape, including national and international media.
• Proficiency with media tracking and monitoring tools such as MuckRack, Cision, Critical Mention, TV Eyes, or Meltwater.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent written, verbal, and digital communication capabilities.
• Expertise in media relations and issue management.
• Sound judgment concerning media interactions.
• Proven experience in engaging effectively with journalists, editors, columnists, producers, and other media personnel.
• Strong skills in drafting communications such as statements, talking points, and Q&A documents.
• Comfortable operating in digital environments using content management systems.
• Experience advising senior executives.
• A proactive, strategic thinker capable of prioritizing and synthesizing information.
• Collaborative approach with effective negotiation and stakeholder relationship management.
• Ability to excel in a fast-moving, goal-driven, and cooperative work atmosphere.
• Capacity to perform efficiently and accurately under pressure.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range for this full-time role is $145,000 to $155,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
• The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, highly competitive among nonprofit peers, including award-winning health and wellness programs, an on-site fitness center, generous leave policies, and health insurance plans.

Work Schedule and Location

The role requires presence in the Washington, DC office at least three days a week (specifically Tuesdays through Thursdays), transitioning to a minimum four-day onsite workweek effective September 14, 2026. The remote working policy is subject to modification.

About the Organization

The Council on Foreign Relations is dedicated to cultivating a foreign policy community in the U.S. that reflects the nation's diverse society. It values diverse perspectives to broaden and enhance the foreign policy discourse, enrich understanding of global affairs, and the U.S.'s role internationally. The Council is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in membership, staffing, research outputs, and programming aimed at diversifying the foreign policy talent pipeline.