Communications Associate

Join us in the fight to hold Wall Street accountable, and make finance work for us, not against us.  Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund (AFREF) is seeking a Communications Associate to support media and communications strategies that lift up our campaigns fighting high-cost lending abuses, addressing the student debt crisis, taking on the private equity firms and the abuses of Wall Street, all to combat the harms of systemic and continuing racism, and to advance an ambitious agenda to protect economically vulnerable consumers. AFREF strives to assure all people have access to financial products and services that meet their needs and allow them to maintain economic stability and build wealth.AFREF played a leading role in winning passage of the Dodd Frank Financial Reform law and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and we are driving the fight for broader transformations of the financial system to advance economic, racial, and social justice. AFREF’s staff develops plans and strategies in collaboration with a coalition of more than 200 consumer, civil rights, labor, community-based, and other organizations, along with academics and policy experts.The Communications Associate will work with the Communications Director to implement AFR’s integrated communications strategy around our issues, with a particular focus on raising the organization's profile in the media, and channeling information from the media into our policy and campaigns work.The Communications Associate will:● Monitor news flow in key areas of AFR interest and circulate to task forces, and stay abreast of developments in these areas; ● Build relationships with journalists covering AFR issues and broker conversations with policy and campaigns staff; ● Assist AFR staff in preparing for media interviews; ● Contribute to building and maintaining AFR coalition by assisting organizational partners with media work on an as needed basis; ● Build, maintain, and audit media lists; ● Write news releases, fact sheets, op-eds and other materials for public consumption; disseminate to media and organizational partners; ● Update website to reflect AFR media presence; prepare media highlights; ● Contribute to internal teams working on special research projects and events; ● Work with other staff to execute integrated communications strategy; ● Assist and when necessary, represent the Communications Director, internally and externally Strong candidates will have:● A demonstrated commitment to economic and racial justice; ● Excellent written and oral communications skills; ● High levels of organization and attention to detail; ● The ability to work well with a team and with diverse staff and partners; ● At least two years of experience in issue advocacy, organizing, or communications work; ● Ability to occasionally work outside normal business hours to accommodate media; ● Knowledge of media distribution and monitoring platforms, e.g. Cision; website software, e.g.  WordPress; Google Workspace suite; ● Experience in journalism a plus ● Some knowledge of financial system and/or consumer financial protection issues a plus; ● Existing relationships with reporters and TV bookers a plusCompensation:Annual salary range: 45,000 - 55,000, commensurate with experience. Generous benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and 401KHow to apply:Please send a letter of interest, resume and three writing samples to Zefanya Rampengan, at: employment@ourfinancialsecurity.org. (Enter “Communications” in the subject line and where you found the listing in the body of the email.)AFREF is committed to a workplace that reflects the diversity of America defined broadly and where the talent, skills and uniqueness of each staff member are respected. We are committed to a policy of equity for all employees and to equal opportunity for all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, family responsibilities, and disability.