Job Description
Position Overview
The American Gaming Association (AGA) seeks a Director, Media Relations to manage the AGA’s earned media efforts and industry narrative. As an integral member of the strategic communications team, the director is primarily responsible for telling gaming’s positive story and defending industry interests in trade, regional, and national media outlets.
Reporting to the senior director of strategic communications, the director works to promote the dynamic gaming industry through proactive communications efforts. We are looking for a team player with strong self-management skills who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The ideal candidate is a strong writer, interpersonal communicator, and strategic thinker with experience working at an association, agency, or on Capitol Hill.
Key Areas of Responsibility
Media Relations: Develop and implement strategic and creative approaches to earned media efforts for the association, including:
• Build and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and outlets.
• Pitch and secure regular coverage in trade, regional, and national outlets to advance the industry narrative, ensure AGA inclusion in topical news coverage, and advance storylines that support AGA advocacy efforts.
• Create, manage, and implement comprehensive communication campaigns to promote AGA’s research program.
• Write and edit error-free, compelling media materials including, but not limited to pitches, messaging, press releases, advisories, letters to the editor, op-eds, and guest columns.
• Monitor gaming industry news across traditional and social media to understand trends and appropriately follow-up when relevant.
• Manage all incoming inquiries on a timely basis by determining relevance, recommending appropriate response, and navigating internal approvals.
• Oversee media monitoring efforts to identify actionable trends and ensure accurate representation of AGA messaging and research.
• Prepare messaging and materials to brief AGA spokespeople for all media opportunities.
• Speak on background and on the record, as needed, to frame the industry’s narrative.
• Build and maintain media lists.
Event Communications: Lead strategic media relations and messaging for AGA events, including:
• Develop and implement strategic media plan for the Global Gaming Expo (G2E).
• Manage G2E external public relations agency, ensuring timely engagement and quality product.
• Ensure AGA interests are represented with G2E Asia and G2E Asia @ the Philippines media relations activities in reviewing materials, plans, and related activities.
• Oversee media relations efforts related to ad hoc AGA events, including strategy, messaging, and implementation.
Other Duties
• Contribute to social media management and engagement activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with media relations counterparts at member organizations.
• Serve as a resource across the association for messaging and communications counsel.
• Support the Strategic Director, Strategic Communications and Responsibility and Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications with ad hoc media and communications projects.
Experience, Education & Skills
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Five or more years’ experience leading media relations and communications activities.
• Preferred background with an association, agency, or on Capitol Hill.
Skills
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to tailor a message to a variety of audiences.
• Concise, persuasive writer with demonstrable experience in writing and placing op-eds, letters to the editor, and thought leadership content.
• Proactive leader with strong project management skills including the ability to effectively juggle multiple, shifting priorities.
• Superior organization skills and attention to detail.
• Effective presence with senior-level leaders.
• Command of AP Style, Cision, TVEyes, and WordPress.
About the AGA
The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers, and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.
Located in downtown DC, we offer the opportunity to work on behalf of a dynamic industry and fantastic benefits, including competitive pay; generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave; 401(k) retirement plan; comprehensive, company-paid healthcare; cell phone coverage; and monthly metro benefits.