Job Opportunity: Communications Assistant, Marijuana Policy Project, Washington, DC

The Marijuana Policy Project, the nation's largest marijuana policy reform organization, is seeking a Communications Assistant, to be based in the organization's main office in Washington, DC. This position is an excellent opportunity to play an integral role in a fast-paced, well-respected advocacy organization.

The Communications Assistant works in MPP's Communications Department, which is responsible for effectively communicating MPP's message to the media and the public through written materials and media relations. The Communications Assistant reports to the Assistant Director of Communications, who in turn reports to the Director of Communications.

Applicants should have excellent oral communications skills and strong writing and should be meticulous, organized, and detail-oriented.

The Communications Assistant is not a spokesperson position; rather, he or she is responsible for maintaining MPP's media database, including making corrections or additions to existing press lists and developing new lists as needed; monitoring all marijuana-related news and research, disseminating such information to relevant MPP staffers, and posting key news stories to MPP's Web site; tracking MPP's news coverage, including locating and/or ordering certain print articles, radio interviews, and TV interviews; contacting media outlets to confirm contact information; locating and obtaining copies of reports or studies that are of interest; preparing press kits; tackling small research projects aimed at identifying potential media opportunities or obtaining useful data; organizing and filing press clips and other documents; and accomplishing other tasks as assigned. Proofreading ability would be a plus, but is not required.

The salary for the position is $30,000, plus full health insurance and a retirement plan.

To apply, please see MPP's application guidelines at http://www.mpp.org/jobs/process.html and follow the instructions there. Interviews are being conducted on a rolling basis, so interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

ABOUT MPP

With 40 employees, 26,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, MPP is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana -- both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit its use -- and believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is imprisonment.