Director, Communications & Media Relations (Remote)

Job Description
Over 20 years ago, Stride was founded to provide personalized learning - powered by technology. We reached students where they were in their own journeys. We knocked down their barriers to great education. And we gave every learner equal opportunity to succeed - however they defined success. Stride innovated the learning experience with online and blended learning that prepared them for their lives ahead.
Stride is a community of passionate leaders. Whether teachers, engineers, curriculum writers, or financial managers - whatever your expertise or role, we all work to empower futures through learning. And changing the trajectory of learning itself is one of our greatest missions. Join us in developing more effective ways to learn and helping learners build the skills and confidence they need to make their way forward in life.
The Director, Communications & Media Relations manages and develops external and internal communications that promote the company's vision, culture, business plans and brand identity in a manner that fosters good will and drives company operating and financial goals.
The successful candidate will be a creative, inspiring writer and public relations professional who is naturally prolific, attentive to detail, highly organized and works well under pressure. This person must excel within fast-paced matrix-management structures and be accustomed to managing multiple projects simultaneously with shifting priorities. This person should be a mature, hands-on storyteller who can identify compelling human interest story angles, pitch to reporters, and place story ideas strategically in mainstream media outlets, trade media publications and on social media channels. The candidate will play a visible role in promoting the company's vision, culture, and brand identity to external audiences.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Collaborates with the Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, outside agencies and other stakeholders to develop full scale, strategic communications plans that achieve targeted goals and drive brand awareness and engagement.
• Develops, implements, and oversees multi-media campaigns and activations that meet the objectives of the company, schools, and clients. Utilizes innovative approaches, including the use of social media, to reach and engage targeted audiences with messaging.
• Drives content creation for both internal and external audiences, including but not limited to press releases, company statements, executive speeches, letters to the editor, op-eds, scripts, executive communications and presentations, the Annual Report, blogs, employee newsletter, Intranet, Board materials, and social posts.
• Manages media outreach and interview requests. Help coach/prepare executives for interviews and other public speaking, including developing talking points, and other materials.
• Acts as a spokesperson for the company, cultivating relationships with local and national media outlets, trade publications, education reporters, business, education and technology writers, and thought leaders. Coordinates speakers, forums, events, media, and other public opportunities.
• Serves as a strategic communications advisor and resource to executive management as well as Marketing, Human Resources, Investor Relations, Information Technology, and Product Development.
• Oversees media reporting; Oversees development of programs that leverage social media platforms; Stewards brand management.

Supervisory Responsibilities:Directly supervises 2 - 5 Full-time Equivalent (FTE) regular employees and/or contractors. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, communications, marketing or a related field AND
• Ten (10) years or more of experience in strategic communications and public relations utilizing traditional and new media avenues with responsibilities including planning, company spokesperson, crisis communications, copywriting and online platforms OR
• Equivalent combination of education and experience

Certificates and Licenses: ListORNone required.
OTHER REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills tailored for specific purposes, such as news releases, executive speeches and presentations, interviews, video scripts, and articles.
• Strong understanding of how to use social media to deliver public relations goals.
• Demonstrated networking abilities possessing skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with media to achieve high impact placements.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business objectives into integrated communication strategies and tactics that drive business performance.
• Proven success in project and vendor management, leveraging time and resources efficiently and effectively.
• Innovative thinker, problem-solver and communicator - especially in regard to utilizing new media technologies.
• Ability to collaborate with senior leadership to address crisis communications.
• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio, etc.); Web proficiency.
• Ability to travel 30% of the time
• Ability to clear required background check

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working at a large or medium size global, public company and/or experience working on a large change initiative
• Experience working with educational institutions developing/implementing communications strategy

WORK ENVIRONMENT:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This position is virtual and open to residents of the 50 states, D.C. but will require travel from time to time.

Job Type
Regular
The above job is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor. All employment is "at-will" as governed by the law of the state where the employee works. It is further understood that the "at-will" nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer.
Stride, Inc. is a Federal Contractor, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status age, or genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)