Media Relations Associate (Remote)

GiveDirectly has delivered more than $1B in cash directly to 2 million people living in poverty across 15 countries since 2011. We believe cash transfers are one of the most scalable cost-effective and dignified forms of aid with the research to back it up. Our work has been covered byThe Economist NPR TED and The Washington Post. We are one ofTime100s Most Influential Companies of 2026.

Our culture is candid analytical and non-hierarchical. We support high ownership and real professional growth. Curious about what its really like to work here Read our values and hear from the people who do. If they resonate this could be a great fit!

Role Overview

How this role supports our overall strategy:

The #1 obstacle to GiveDirectly increasing our impact is that donors still dont know about or buy-in to direct cash transfers. This role is fundamental to solving that problem by growing awareness of cash as an effective aid intervention and generating interest from catalytic donors.

This year were focused on ensuring direct cash and GiveDirectly are gaining fast targeted visibility and understanding among high value audiences. Two of our main tools for doing this are earned media coverage and collaborations with influencers surrogates thought leaders.

What this role will do:

This position will be responsible for pitching GiveDirectly programs and research to key media and thought leaders reporting directly to the Senior Manager of Media and Strategic Communications. This person will be pitching traditional media and supporting GiveDirectlys surrogate strategy cultivating relationships with public intellectuals newsletter writers podcasters and other content creators who can serve as credible independent advocates for cash transfers to high-value audiences. It is a role that spans lead generation research writing pitches prepping spokespeople tracking progress over time.

In addition this person will help build the infrastructure that makes the team smarter and faster. This includes maintaining and improving internal systems and being the in-team expert on AI-powered tools and automation.

What strong candidates should spike on:

• Execution: Have high accountability to outcomes (quantitative and qualitative) while balancing attention to detail with short timelines
• Details: Deliver high-quality communications products to both internal and external stakeholders
• Narrative: Hold a high bar for whats interesting to journalists and public audiences never sending things that smell like PR or AI-generated spam
• Curiosity: Stay on top of emerging media trends and AI capabilities always looking for a better way to achieve outcomes or improve understanding of direct cash aid through earned media.

Responsibilities

These responsibilities are a starting point; we expect them to evolve as the person in this role helps shape it:

Media Pitching & Placement

• Pitch Across All Contexts: Support media pitching and surrogate engagement across GiveDirectlys core work rapid-response emergency cash moments new research and innovative programs. This includes traditional and non-traditional outlets (newsletters podcasts YouTubers public intellectuals) whose audiences overlap with our donor targets.
• Build and Manage Relationships: Develop ongoing relationships with journalists editors producers and thought leaders including coordinating media visits with in-country teams.
• Track from Pitch to Placement: Work with the wider Marketing team to package GiveDirectlys work into angles that break through editorially. Keep stakeholders informed at every stage; update status and flag risks early.

Media Research and Analysis

• Reporter Research and Prospecting: Research the background of traditional and new media reporters and surrogates especially in the prospecting phase to ensure pitches break through and match up with their personal stakes and editorial interests.
• Donor Media Research: Conduct ongoing research on media outlets consumed by GiveDirectlys donors and targets gaining a deeper knowledge of each outlets editorial voice content patterns and how GDs story best fits.
• Media Monitoring: Read key newsletters verticals and media sources regularly; share roundups and flag opportunities with the broader communications team; build AI tools that make this scalable and fast.

Internal Systems and Team Support

• AI and Automation: Provide deep support to the teams AI and automation toolkit identify ways to streamline repetitive work stay current on emerging tools and be able to pilot new workflows with manager guidance that make the communications team faster and smarter (Note: GiveDirectly works on Claude)
• Coverage Tracking: Log monitor and analyze coverage in Airtable; ensure the system is a reliable up-to-date source of truth for media activity so senior leadership know the status of GiveDirectlys pipeline and can easily find relevant materials.
• Pipeline Management: Keep the media and outreach pipeline clean in Salesforce making sure outlets reporters and prospects are in the system correctly that leads dont get lost or stale and that statuses are current

Qualifications & Experience (Must Haves)

• 2-5 years of experience in media relations PR communications journalism or related fields
• Compelling experience at desk research able to make sense of opportunities and leads within an opaque industry
• Strong familiarity with traditional and non-traditional media and content creators in the United States
• Experience with AI tools for research writing and workflow automation
• Exceptional project management skills with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple workflows simultaneously
• Excellent verbal and written skills with a focus on concise and intentional communication
• Ability to think like a journalist telling a compelling story and communicating why it matters without setting off their PR alarm
• Comfort with systems and tools Airtable and other CRMs and a disposition toward building better workflows not just following existing ones
• Alignment with GiveDirectly Values and active demonstration of our core competencies: emotional intelligence problem solving project management follow-through and fostering inclusivity.

Nice to Haves

• Familiarity with the Substack podcast and YouTube especially voices in EA tech and finance.
• Experience in influencer campaigns and partnerships
• Familiarity with traditional and new media in European and Middle Eastern markets.
• Based in a major journalist & thought leader hub for in person meetings e.g. NYC SF London Nairobi DC LA Chicago Boston Austin Amsterdam etc.

Compensation

At GiveDirectly we strive to pay our employees generously and equitably. We use an accredited third party salary aggregator to calculate what we believe to be competitive pay based on role location and cost of living. We also have a no negotiation policy to ensure we are paying staff equitably across roles. Read more about our compensation philosophyhere.

Unless otherwise noted the benefits stipend may be used to cover benefits or taken as additional taxable income.

United States

• Base Salary: $74900
• Bonus at Target Performance: 10% ($7490 with potential for upside. For reference with the organizations current performance multiplier this amount would be $8763)
• Estimated Total Compensation at Target: $82390
• Annual Benefits Stipend: $21393

United Kingdom

• Base Salary: 47800
• Bonus at Target Performance: 10% (4780 with potential for upside. For reference with the organizations current performance multiplier this amount would be 5593)
• Estimated Total Compensation at Target: 52580
• Annual Benefits Stipend: 2760

Kenya

• Base Salary:$42000
• Bonus at Target Performance:10% ($4200 with potential for upside. For reference with the organizations current performance multiplier this amount would be $4914 in 2025)
• Estimated Total Compensation at Target:$46200

Why work at GiveDirectly

At GiveDirectly we work to ensure that you have everything you need to excel in your role and on your team including:

• A supportive team that works hard and cares hard
• A robust health benefits plan (exact details will vary by country)
• Flexible paid time off that staff is encouraged to take
• Allowances for desk set-up and learning and development

#LI-REMOTE

Working at GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to the persons race color religion national origin sex sexual orientation age marital status veteran status disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Flagging for US applicants: We invite you to Know Your Rights as an applicant.

Commitment to Safeguarding

As a global organization working with communities to eliminate extreme poverty GiveDirectly takes the safeguarding of its recipients staff and partners seriously. To that end GiveDirectly is a member of theMisconduct Disclosure Scheme and will systematically check with previous employers about any abuse or misconduct related matters involving potential new hires. We may also employ other robust pre-hire screens including in-depth reference checks criminal background checks and sanctions screens.

These efforts help us continue to build and maintain trust with the communities we work with and prevent abuse to our recipients and staff.

**GD is committed to observing all local national and international laws that protect people and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of zero tolerance when it comes to preventing reporting or responding to any form of abuse or exploitation. and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.**

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process or to perform the essential functions of the role please email us at with the email subject Accommodation Needed. We will work with you to ensure reasonable accommodations are made to support your needs.

Want to put your best foot forward on your GiveDirectly application Take a look at our Candidate Application Prep Guide!