Public Relations Manager
About the Employer
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, communications, journalism, media, marketing, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing public relations and communications initiatives.
• Experience with media relations, including developing media materials, identifying newsworthy stories, and coordinating media opportunities.
• Strong knowledge of AP Style and professional communications standards.
• Experience developing and managing content across social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
• Experience coordinating public-facing events, community engagement activities, or similar initiatives.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive information and emerging issues.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with employees and leaders across departments and levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently, exercise initiative, and make recommendations within established organizational priorities.
• Availability to travel throughout Pennsylvania and support occasional evening and weekend events as needed.
• Valid Pennsylvania driver's license and appropriate auto insurance.
Position Summary
Working in person from Capital Campus, the Assistant Director of Public Relations strengthens the visibility, reputation, and public presence of Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) through strategic public relations, communications, social media, digital storytelling, community engagement, and event coordination.
Public Relations and Strategic Communications
• Develop and execute public relations and communications strategies aligned with CCA's organizational goals, priorities, and values.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen CCA's statewide visibility and reputation through proactive storytelling, media relations, community engagement, and strategic communications.
• Develop messaging for diverse audiences, including current and prospective families, employees, policymakers, community stakeholders, media, and the public.
• Identify and develop opportunities to highlight CCA students, families, employees, programs, services, and accomplishments.
• Support media relations, including developing pitches, coordinating interviews, preparing talking points and media materials, responding to inquiries, and building relationships with media outlets.
• Monitor news, public discussion, competitor activity, and emerging issues that may affect CCA's reputation or communications efforts.
• Assist with communications planning and response related to sensitive, emerging, or high-profile issues.
• Provide public relations and communications guidance to departments and organizational leaders.
Content, Social Media, and Digital Communications
• Serve as a lead writer and editor for internal and external communications, including press releases, media statements, op-eds, newsletters, one-pagers, scripts, talking points, web content, social media content, and other materials.
• Proofread and edit communications to ensure accuracy, consistency, quality, and alignment with CCA's voice and brand.
• Help lead the planning and execution of CCA's organic social media presence across platforms.
• Plan, write, and coordinate social media content, including captions, scripts, digital concepts, short-form video, photography, and other storytelling opportunities.
• Oversee two-way engagement on CCA social media channels to strengthen trust, responsiveness, and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor social media activity and elevate emerging issues or potential reputational concerns when appropriate.
• Conduct website content audits and recommend or coordinate updates.
• Collaborate with creative, video, digital, and other teams to ensure content is compelling and brand-aligned.
Public Relations, Community Engagement, and Events
• Coordinate CCA's participation in selected public-facing and community events that support public relations, brand awareness, and community engagement objectives.
• Research and evaluate community events and opportunities across Pennsylvania that align with target audiences and organizational priorities.
• Manage assigned events from planning through execution, including registration, logistics, staffing, materials, communications, timelines, and coordination with internal and external partners.
• Coordinate event staffing and provide participating employees with appropriate information, messaging, materials, and guidance.
• Support major schoolwide events, including graduation ceremonies, recognition events, community initiatives, and other high-profile CCA activities.
• Identify opportunities to leverage events for media coverage, social media, photography, video, and storytelling.
• Collaborate with outreach and other CCA departments to ensure public-facing activities are coordinated and consistently represent CCA's brand and messaging.
Leadership and Project Management
• Lead assigned public relations and communications projects from concept through execution, coordinating timelines, stakeholders, approvals, resources, and deliverables.
• Provide guidance and support to employees involved in communications, social media, content development, community engagement, and event activities.
• Help establish and maintain public relations and communications standards, processes, and best practices.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and resources for communications initiatives and public-facing events.
• Represent the public relations function in meetings, planning discussions, and cross-departmental initiatives as assigned.
• Exercise independent judgment in managing projects, establishing priorities, and addressing routine public relations matters.
• Perform additional public relations, communications, community engagement, event, and related duties as assigned.