Media Relations Manager

About the Media Relations Position:

The Role

The Media Relations Manager serves as a member of the communications team responsible for supporting ExcelinEd’s external communications strategy. The Media Relations Manager takes a leadership role in managing and nurturing relationships with media outlets and journalists to share information and promote ExcelinEd’s student-centered policy solutions and policy thought leadership. This position requires a combination of strategic communication skills, a deep understanding of media relations and the media landscape, and a talent for securing constructive media coverage.

Reporting Structure

The Media Relations Manager reports to the Vice President of Communications and can work remotely from anywhere in the United States.

About ExcelinEd

Being a part of ExcelinEd means joining a high-performing and motivated team of education advocates with a shared belief that every child deserves a quality education. Team members are committed to our core values of service, integrity, collaboration, expertise, and making a difference. Our organization sets big, hairy audacious goals and works tirelessly to support states in transforming education through student-centered policies that increase student learning, expand opportunity, and ready students for college and the workforce.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive media relations strategy aligned with the organization’s communications, engagement, and storytelling goals and objectives.
2. Identify opportunities for media coverage that enhance ExcelinEd’s visibility and reputation by promoting the organization’s policies, leaders, and experts.
3. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with education and government reporters, editors, and other media contacts.
4. Pitch story ideas, news releases, and expert commentary to secure media coverage.
5. Develop clear, concise, and compelling content, including press releases, media statements, talking points, op-eds, speeches, and other materials.
6. Ensure consistency in messaging and branding across all media interactions.
7. Prepare ExcelinEd team members for media interviews and public appearances and provide guidance on messaging and interview techniques.
8. Track media coverage and sentiment and use monitoring tools to gauge the effectiveness of media relations efforts.
9. Monitor national media and compile and disseminate relevant news reports to staff.
10. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure consistent and aligned messaging.

Requirements:

• 3-5 years of experience working in media relations, communications, or journalism, preferably in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• Proven experience in media relations, public relations, or a related role.
• Experience pitching stories, relationship-building with traditional and new media outlets, and on-the-record media relations.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Fluency across social media channels.
• Exceptional relationship-building and networking abilities.
• Proficiency in media tracking and monitoring tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing media landscapes.
• General knowledge and understanding of state policymaking and political environments.
• Experience working with executives and elected and appointed officials and/or knowledge of K-12 education policy preferred.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

1. Cover letter detailing your interest in ExcelinEd’s mission and the position.
2. Resume.

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Stephanie Keaveney, Senior Manager of Outreach at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [email protected].

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.