Communications and Public Relations Manager

Primary Purpose

The Communications and Public Relations Manager is responsible for managing FCCLA’s strategic communication efforts, ensuring a professional and cohesive voice across all external channels. This position oversees newsletters, press relations, media outreach, written marketing efforts, and website content, ensuring brand consistency, audience engagement, and effective storytelling to elevate FCCLA’s visibility and impact.
This position will work closely with the Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator, who leads visual branding, social media content, and design projects. While the Coordinator does not report to this role, the two positions will collaborate regularly under the guidance of the Development and Communications Director to ensure FCCLA’s messaging and visual identity are aligned and impactful.

This position plays a key role in cross-departmental communication by ensuring all written content aligns with FCCLA’s programs, partnerships, and membership initiatives.

Professional Competencies

A successful Communications and Public Relations Manager demonstrates a commitment to excellence, consistently exceeding expectations to ensure FCCLA’s communications are clear, engaging, and impactful. This individual proactively seeks to understand FCCLA’s programs, initiatives, and industry trends, taking initiative to educate themselves and adapt messaging strategies to best serve the organization. They are highly motivated, detail-oriented, and dedicated to continuous improvement, refining and enhancing FCCLA’s public presence through strategic communication.

• Strategic Communication & Brand Consistency: Effectively crafts and delivers compelling messages across various platforms, ensuring consistency in tone, branding, and accuracy in all written materials.
• Initiative & Adaptability: Takes ownership of projects, proactively improving processes, refining messaging, and expanding media outreach. Adjusts strategies as needed based on engagement data and organizational priorities.
• Analytical & Data-Driven Decision Making: Regularly evaluates communication efforts, analyzing key performance metrics to refine content strategies and maximize audience engagement.
• Collaboration & Relationship Management: Builds strong working relationships with internal teams, media representatives, and external stakeholders to enhance FCCLA’s visibility and reach. Works cross-functionally to ensure all marketing and public relations efforts align with organizational goals.
• Commitment to Learning & Growth: Continuously educates themselves on FCCLA programs, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) education, and industry best practices to ensure messaging remains relevant, effective, and aligned with FCCLA’s mission.
• Accountability & Ownership: Demonstrates a strong work ethic by taking full responsibility for assigned projects, ensuring deadlines are met and deliverables meet the highest standards of quality and accuracy.
• Ability to Take Direction & Implement Feedback: Actively listens to guidance from the Development and Communications Director, implementing feedback effectively to align with FCCLA’s strategic vision. Balances independent initiative with following organizational priorities and leadership directives.
• Planning & Organizational Excellence: Effectively manages multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities while maintaining attention to detail. Anticipates potential roadblocks and prepares solutions in advance to ensure smooth execution of marketing and PR initiatives.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making: Uses critical thinking skills to assess challenges, develop solutions, and make effective decisions under tight deadlines. Demonstrates sound judgment in balancing proactive marketing efforts with organizational needs.

This position requires a self-motivated, detail-oriented, and forward-thinking professional who embraces challenges, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and ensures FCCLA’s communications are engaging, impactful, and strategically aligned with the organization’s mission.

Essential Functions & Time Allocations

Communications (50%)

Newsletter & Written Marketing Communications (30%)

• Oversee the development, execution, and distribution of all FCCLA newsletters, including: Member Minute, Fast Facts, State Adviser Update, Beyond the Red (Alumni), and Special Editions.
• Write and curate content to ensure newsletters are engaging, informative, and aligned with FCCLA’s goals.
• Monitor and analyze newsletter performance metrics (open rates, click-throughs, engagement) and provide a weekly comprehensive report with key insights and recommendations.
• Develop marketing plans for FCCLA initiatives, partner contests, programs, and events, including writing all related newsletter, website, and press release content.
• Draft scripts for promotional videos, ensuring messaging is relevant and appropriate for the target audience.
• Provide an outline of key points for social media posts to the Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator, who will write the content and adjust based on performance metrics.
• Ensure that all content is consistent in messaging across FCCLA’s website, newsletters, and marketing materials.

Website, Brandfolder & Resource Tracking (10%)

• Oversee all FCCLA website content, ensuring accuracy and alignment with FCCLA’s brand voice.
• Develop a tracking system for website content, ensuring materials with expiration dates are updated proactively.
• Write and edit all website resource content to maintain consistency and accuracy.
• Serve as the primary overseer of Brandfolder, tracking content, metrics, and user engagement.
• Promote Brandfolder as a resource to advisers and members and provide updates on available assets.
• Submit design requests to the Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator for new materials and ensure completed assets are uploaded to Brandfolder.

Communications Data Analysis & Reporting (10%)

• Monitor and evaluate marketing performance to optimize engagement strategies, ensuring data-driven decision-making.
• Produce a detailed weekly marketing report summarizing promotional efforts from the previous week, analyzing key strategies implemented, assessing engagement metrics, and outlining upcoming marketing plans.
• Develop comprehensive post-event and initiative reports for major FCCLA programs, including conferences, partner contests, national programs, scholarships, and Adviser Academy.
• Assess the impact of marketing strategies by analyzing participation trends and engagement data.
• Ensure initiative-specific reports are completed within two weeks of event conclusion or application/contest close.

Public Relations (50%)

Media Relations & Press Outreach (25%)

• Research and cultivate relationships with press contacts in key markets relevant to FCCLA’s mission.
• Develop and distribute press releases to generate media coverage for FCCLA initiatives, programs, and events.
• Proactively pitch stories to media outlets to increase FCCLA’s visibility and press coverage.
• Maintain a press contact database and track engagement.
• Coordinate media outreach for national events.
• Identify press opportunities through agenda and meeting review.
• Track all press hits nationally and at state level.
• Ensure every press release is uploaded to the FCCLA website and sent as a special edition newsletter.
• Support the CEO by drafting remarks, speeches, and press content.

National Event Marketing (25%)

• Develop a media strategy for national events to increase press coverage.
• Secure press for key FCCLA events such as NLC, Capitol Leadership, and Fall Leadership Institute.
• Provide media support on-site at major events under the direction of the Development and Communications Director.
• Build media relationships in advance of national events.
• Coordinate press kits, talking points, and media materials.

Additional Responsibilities

• Communications Email: Oversee the Communications email account, ensuring inquiries are addressed within two business days.
• Social Media Monitoring & Content Guidance: Monitor the FCCLA Adviser Facebook group for FAQs and respond when appropriate. Identify stories and trends for features.

National Leadership Conference (NLC) On-Site Event Support

Attendance at the National Leadership Conference (NLC) will be determined annually based on organizational needs. Responsibilities if attending include:

• Registration Desk Support (60%): Assist with check-in and attendee inquiries.
• On-Site Press Outreach (30%): Distribute press materials and contact media outlets.
• Event Setup (10%): Help with setup and logistics as needed.

Work Schedule

After an initial 60-day on-site period at FCCLA’s Herndon, VA headquarters, a hybrid schedule of two in-office days (Tues/Weds) and three remote days (Mon/Thurs/Fri) will be implemented.

Work Schedule Expectations

The standard hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. However, this role requires flexibility due to the nature of media engagement. The manager must be available to respond outside standard hours when needed.

Education and Experience Required

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or related field preferred.
Experience: Proven background in PR, communications, or marketing. Experience with media relations, digital content, or nonprofit communications is highly desirable.

Travel Requirements

1–5%

Employer’s Rights

FCCLA management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time. This job description does not constitute a contract. FCCLA is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply, please email your resume and examples of relevant work (e.g., newsletters, press releases, media strategies, or other written content) to FCCLA Development and Communications Director, Abigail Lee, at [email protected].