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VP, Public Relations
The Vice President, Public Relations Director will lead Collaborative Communications’ public relations portfolio—helping mission-driven organizations amplify their stories, shape narratives that matter, and build influence in the education, philanthropy, and social impact spaces. This senior leader will serve as both strategist and practitioner, guiding client teams and executives in developing compelling earned media strategies, strengthening media relationships, and integrating storytelling across channels to advance visibility and impact.
This is a leadership role for an experienced communicator who brings deep media expertise, a proven record of securing coverage in top-tier and education-sector outlets, and a passion for the issues that shape learning, equity, and opportunity. The VP, Public Relations will also play a key role in shaping Collaborative’s own visibility strategy and mentoring team members to deepen our collective capacity for bold, values-aligned storytelling.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Counsel:
- Lead the vision and strategy for Collaborative’s public relations practice, ensuring alignment with client goals and firm values.
- Advise senior client partners, foundation leaders, and nonprofit executives on media positioning, storytelling, and reputation management.
- Translate complex education and social impact topics into accessible, influential narratives that resonate with policymakers, educators, and the public.
- Anticipate opportunities and risks within the media landscape; provide proactive counsel and rapid response strategies when needed.
Media Strategy and Execution:
- Oversee the development and execution of earned media plans—from message strategy and pitch development to relationship management and coverage tracking.
- Cultivate and maintain trusted relationships with journalists, editors, and producers across national, local, and education trade outlets (Education Week, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The 74, etc.).
- Lead the creation and placement of op-eds, bylines, press materials, and strategic announcements that elevate clients’ thought leadership.
- Experiment with innovative engagement tactics (from briefings and conference participation to desk-side meetings and letter-to-the-editor campaigns).
Visibility, Narrative, and Thought Leadership Integration:
- Partner with internal teams to align PR strategy with content, messaging, and broader narrative goals.
- Contribute to message frameworks, talking points, and executive briefing materials.
- Bring insight and data to evaluate media performance and identify opportunities to refine strategy.
- Firm Visibility and Team Development
- Advance Collaborative’s brand through selective, strategic media placements and thought leadership opportunities.
- Contribute to business development by advising on proposals and identifying new growth areas for PR offerings.
- Mentor and coach colleagues, helping to strengthen media instincts and storytelling skills across the team.
Qualifications
- 8–10 years of progressive experience in public relations, media relations, or integrated communications, ideally within education, philanthropy, or social impact sectors.
- A proven record of securing meaningful coverage and building long-term journalist relationships, especially in education and trade media.
- Exceptional strategic thinking, news judgment, and writing/storytelling skills.
- Comfortable advising and partnering with senior executives and spokespeople.
- Experience managing complex projects across multiple clients and issue areas.
- Collaborative leadership style with a commitment to mentorship, values-driven work, and continuous learning.
- Familiarity with the interplay between earned, owned, and paid media; understanding of how media strategies connect to broader movement-building and engagement goals.
To Apply:
Please combine a cover letter, writing sample, and resume into a single file and email it with the subject line “VP, Public Relations” to jobs@collaborativecommunications.com. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. No phone calls please.
The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills for this job.
Collaborative Communications is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that embraces the power of diverse perspectives. We believe that the strength of our organization lies in the unique backgrounds, experiences, and talents of our team members. We promote equal opportunities for all candidates, regardless of gender, race, class, sexual orientation, disability, or age.
Public Relations Strategist
The Public Relations Strategist will elevate the visibility and voice of our clients and the firm through earned media, storytelling, and strategic positioning. This role blends deep media expertise with strategic storytelling, working closely with client teams to develop narratives that resonate across press, thought leadership, and influencer channels. This role requires strong media instincts, an understanding of the education, philanthropy, and social impact landscape, and a track record of placing stories and building relationships that drive influence and credibility.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Media Planning:
- Serve as a leader at Collaborative in developing media strategies aligned to client goals, audiences, and issue areas
- Identify story angles, develop pitch calendars, and guide timing of outreach based on current events and media cycles
- Advise clients and project teams on media positioning, spokesperson preparedness, and opportunities for visibility
- Monitor media trends, track coverage, and translate insights into recommendations for clients and campaign optimization
- Lead and participate in rapid response efforts when needed—crafting timely, values-aligned content that helps clients break through in crowded narratives
- Build meaningful relationships with reporters, producers, and editors to ensure that our clients are seen as go-to sources for stories, data, and quotes, and that Collaborative is positioned as the trusted PR consultancy that brings the highest quality stories and spokespeople to journalists.
- Develop unique and nimble earned media strategies outside of traditional pitching techniques to ensure that clients are reaching media from all angles, and outreach strategies are adjusted based on media response. Examples could include LTE campaigns, deskside interviews, conference engagement approaches, etc.
Earned Media Execution
- Write and pitch op-eds, bylines, and press releases to national and local outlets
- Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, and producers covering education, youth, policy, and philanthropy
- Monitor media trends and identify real-time opportunities for clients to enter public conversations
Narrative and Thought Leadership Integration
- Collaborate with internal teams to align media efforts with content, messaging, and thought leadership strategies
- Provide input on message development, thought leadership strategies, talking points, and interview prep
- Track and evaluate coverage and/or relationship development outcomes to inform future efforts
Collaborative Support and Visibility
- Support Collaborative’s own brand-building efforts through proactive media engagement and strategic counsel across business and nonprofit outlets and platforms
- Identify new business development targets by analyzing media and communications trends, assessing alignment with client needs, and positioning Collaborative for new partnerships and engagements
- Contribute to proposal development and scoping of new business by actively participating in proposal writing and supporting the definition and structuring of new business opportunities
- Serve as a resource for junior staff and provide media coaching to colleagues
Qualifications
- Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in public relations, media relations, or strategic communications.
- Demonstrated success securing earned media coverage and developing integrated media strategies in education, nonprofit, or philanthropic contexts.
- Strong writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to distill complex ideas into persuasive, accessible content for diverse audiences.
- Confidence engaging with reporters and positioning spokespeople for high-profile opportunities.
- Familiarity with digital marketing, paid media campaigns, and the intersections between media, narrative, and movement-building.
- Comfort working across multiple client teams and fast-moving deadlines.
- Strategic thinker with excellent judgment, collaboration skills, and attention to detail.
To Apply:
Please combine a cover letter, writing sample, and resume into a single file and email it with the subject line “Public Relations Strategist” to jobs@collaborativecommunications.com. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. No phone calls please.
The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills for this job.
Collaborative Communications is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that embraces the power of diverse perspectives. We believe that the strength of our organization lies in the unique backgrounds, experiences, and talents of our team members. We promote equal opportunities for all candidates, regardless of gender, race, class, sexual orientation, disability, or age.
To cultivate a truly collaborative ethos, we actively seek and embrace a diverse range of ideas, skills, and backgrounds, fostering a culture of creativity and excellence. By combining our collective strengths, we are committed to advancing opportunities for young people, particularly those historically and systemically disadvantaged in society. We are working with our clients to create a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
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