Senior Manager, Communications and Public Relations

Role Overview

• Support proactive media strategies tied to organizational priorities, campaigns, partnerships, advocacy initiatives, and major announcements
• Actively pitch, secure, coordinate, and staff national, regional, local, and trade media opportunities
• Build and maintain relationships with reporters, producers, editors, and freelance writers
• Draft and edit communications materials including press releases, media advisories, talking points, briefing materials, statements, FAQs, and messaging documents
• Support media interview preparation for executives, spokespeople, self-advocates, families, researchers, partners, and ambassadors
• Monitor news cycles, identify timely opportunities for media engagement, and support rapid-response communications and sensitive media inquiries as needed
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify stories, spokespeople, and community perspectives that support communications priorities and help identify gaps in available stories, voices, or subject matter relevant to proactive communications efforts
• Help maintain consistency across external communications materials and public-facing messaging
• Help manage media lists, coverage tracking, reporting, and communications resources
• Collaborate across departments to support integrated communications efforts and ensure alignment in public-facing messaging
• Coordinate with external PR agencies, consultants, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders as needed
• Support internal communications processes and help manage communications approvals and workflows as needed
• Serve as a communications resource for regional teams, helping support local visibility opportunities and messaging alignment
• Assist with communications tied to corporate partnerships, fundraising campaigns, organizational initiatives, and community events
• Assist with communications support surrounding celebrities and other high-profile supporters, and select organizational events as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or related field preferred
• 6-8 years of experience in public relations, communications, media relations, journalism, or a related communications role
• Track record of pitching and securing media coverage
• Experience drafting and editing media materials such as press releases, media advisories, talking points, briefing materials, statements, FAQs, and messaging documents
• Experience working with media monitoring, distribution, or reporting platforms
• Experience working in nonprofit, advocacy, healthcare, disability, and mission-driven communications environments (preferred)
• Availability for occasional travel, generally a few times per year and time-sensitive evening or weekend assignments
• Commitment to respectful, community-centered communications and Autism Speaks’ mission
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling skills with the ability to translate complex or technical topics into clear, compelling messaging
• Strong news judgment, media instincts, and the ability to identify timely story opportunities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and communications needs in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Sound judgment, professionalism and commitment to respectful, community centered communications and Autism Speaks mission
• Experience using new tools and technologies, including AI, to improve workflow, efficiency, and productivity while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Flex work hours
• Weekly training sessions
• Tuition reimbursement
• Summer bonus Fridays
• Creative, innovative, collaborative, inclusive, kind and fun work environment