Principal Technical Writer

Principal Technical Advisor (PTA), Strategic CommunicationsThe Overdose Prevention Program partners with U.S. states, Tribal Nations, and Native communities to advance evidence-based strategies that reduce overdose deaths. Through grant funding and tailored technical assistance, the program helps government, institutional, and community partners strengthen policies, implement innovative programs, and mobilize local action to address the evolving overdose crisis.Our work spans the neighborhood, municipal, county, state, and Tribal levels, supporting sustainable public health solutions that are responsive to local needs. Program staff are organized into multidisciplinary regional teams, each managing a portfolio of states or Native communities. These teams work closely with colleagues in Operations and with subject matter experts in Communications, Program Evaluation & Knowledge Management, and Legal & Policy to deliver coordinated, high-impact support.The Principal Technical Advisor (PTA), Strategic Communications brings deep expertise in communications strategy and public health to identify and develop opportunities for the program to make novel contributions at the state, national, and global levels towards overdose prevention.The position is a leader in OPP's efforts to shape professional and public discourse across multiple channels, using data-driven strategies including media relations, digital and social media, thought leadership, and advertising to advance public health approaches to illicit drug use. The PTA works to establish Vital as a recognized voice in overdose prevention and elevate our partners and those with lived experience. They navigate complex and shifting political realities to identify strategic communication opportunities and translate program goals into action, bringing together diverse audiences from policymakers to impacted communities around a shared evidence base.The PTA contributes their lived experience and professional knowledge while learning from the experience and expertise of colleagues as the team plans, monitors and continually improves the program.This is a new role for the Overdose Prevention program. It is a full-time position preferably based in the New York City metro area; we will consider other locations in the U.S. dependent on the work (North Carolina, New Jersey, Kentucky, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Nevada, or Washington state). We offer highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this position is $ 150,000 to $ 170,000 USD.The PTA is an integral member of two teams: as a member of PAC and a leader on the OPP team, the position serves the needs of the program while ensuring coherence with organization wide goals and standards.The Vice President, PAC provides technical supervision and the Director, provides OPP program supervision and direction. This position collaborates closely with and guides regional team colleagues, including dedicated Communications staff, as well as Legal & Policy and Knowledge Management colleagues. In addition, the PTA supervises Communications staff on multi-state and/or local initiatives.To foster continuous learning, the PTA will lead an internal Community of Practice for Communications Technical Advisors serving OPP regions.Externally, this role cultivates and manages relationships with government officials, public health departments, public health bodies, journalists, editors, key media outlets, and influential voices across the portfolio and may attend conferences with external stakeholders working on overdose prevention.Collective Planning and State Strategy Development:· Advise multidisciplinary teams and contribute unique perspective to their development and monitoring of a comprehensive strategy and annual work plan with a corresponding budget for each state that integrates the collective expertise and experience of the team, current overdose data and epidemiology, state policy landscapes, community needs, and lessons learned from prior implementation.· Create data-driven annual communications strategy recommendations.· Create and maintain benchmark Key Performance Indicators to guide insights on communications successes, challenges and opportunities.· Lead the monitoring and integration of analysis of media coverage to inform program strategies and refine messaging.· Monitor national media trends and field developments, advising leadership and partners on programmatic positioning and reputational risks and using Vital's experts, website, social media presence to respond and spur positive narratives.· Champion best practices across social media, advertising, public relations within the team and Vital's extended network, including public appearances with technical audiences.· Act as a key liaison to funders on communications activities, including producing progress reports for communications activities.· Support OPP leadership to scope and evaluate any new business communications opportunities.· Apply an intersectional racial justice framework across all planning processes, program design, and implementation.Multi-State and National Policy Initiatives:Together with Leadership, Deputy Directors, and other senior colleagues support multiple regions:· Participate in review of all state/Native community strategy and work plans with Leadership, to identify communication gaps and ensure coherence.· Proactively identify and develop opportunities for the program to make novel contributions to the field of drug policy and overdose prevention at a multi-state and national scale, contributing their unique perspective to inform possible strategies to advance policies and initiatives at this scale. This may include activities such as:Writing or contributing to national Op-Eds; key organizational statements;Participating in and actively contributing to coalitions, task forces, and other stakeholder groups and representing the program in cross-organizational initiatives, where appropriate and as assigned;Preparing and delivering presentations to broad audiences;Representing the program in national and coalition development efforts, or other means of participating in and influencing professional and public discourse;Proposing innovative and creative communications strategies that Vital Strategies is uniquely positioned to execute.Media Strategy and Press Relations:· Cultivate and manage strong relationships with journalists, editors, and key media outlets: build and maintain national media contact lists that identify outlets and reporters with a demonstrated interest in drug-related topics.· Develop and/or review compelling press materials including media pitches, press releases, op-eds, event advisories, and talking points for spokespersons.· Establish the program as a trusted, go-to source of expertise for journalists covering overdose prevention and drug-related public health issues.· Understand Vital Strategies communication approach and identify opportunities to utilize Vital's communications resources.· Guide and mentor Technical Advisors on regional teams to lead the development and execution of media engagement strategies that align with the collective strategy to elevate awareness of overdose prevention efforts across their portfolio of states.· Provide leadership for Vital and partners to leverage and evaluate social, digital and emerging media including working with influencers/creators, paid digital advertising, short-form video content, podcasts and substack.· Lead mass media campaigns implemented by state teams including:Strategic planning, goal, and objective setting;Formative research, message/concept testing, pre- and post-campaign evaluation;Advertising agency selection and management, adaptation and/or creative development; production, medial planning, and campaign evaluation; andMedia advocacy, social media, and public relations to amplify campaignsGovernment and Institutional Communications Partnerships:· Advise the regional teams to create opportunities for collaborative multimedia campaigns with state and local governments or institutions, with an emphasis on jointly funded and branded campaigns.· Advise the regional teams' development and implementation of government affairs and inside-outside policy strategies by identifying and following through on communications-oriented opportunities.External Content & Publications:· Identify opportunities to showcase timely national, state, and program-level public health data points for messaging and communications purposes; stay aware of the timing of key data releases and incorporate these strategically into regional communications plans.· Take the lead in writing or compiling content for foundational external communications products for the program — including program brochures, website content, fact sheets, and printable materials for events and conferences.· Work with graphic design teams to create compelling data visualizations that translate complex data into accessible, audience-ready content.· Work with Vital's digital and design teams to create necessary collateral, social and web content, frequent website updates, quarterly OPP newsletter and contribute OPP stories into Vital's organizational newsletterProject Management:· Supervise Communications staff on assigned projects, providing performance management, coaching, and professional development support to meet role objectives.· With approval from Director select and hire vendors such as: creative, production, media and PR agencies, media planners, and research companies.· Manage select projects, contracts, and organizational partnerships, to support the general program strategy.· Recruit and support communications agencies, freelancers as required· Provide regular reports on progress of OPP communications and activities.· Perform other duties as required.Education:· Bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience required. Advanced degree preferred.Skills & Abilities:Communications Expertise: