Head of Communications – PR

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Develop and take charge of Amira's communications strategy, core narrative, and messaging framework.

• Simplify complex research, the Science of Reading, AI, growth metrics, and efficacy studies into accessible stories for non-technical audiences.

• Establish annual and quarterly communications plans with measurable objectives and report on outcomes.

• Assist in policy and government affairs communications for state agencies, legislators, and coalitions.

• Cultivate and sustain relationships with reporters in education, technology, business, and policy sectors.

• Spearhead announcements pertaining to product launches, research discoveries, partnerships, state approvals, funding, and leadership updates.

• Propose and secure placements for stories, op-eds, and features that position Amira as a frontrunner in AI for reading.

• Oversee PR agency partners, budget management, and press materials.

• Organize awards, speaking submissions, and maintain the newsroom.

• Elevate Amira's public profile through bylines, podcasts, conference keynotes, and media interviews.

• Prepare stakeholders for interviews, panels, and testimonies with briefing documents and media training.

• Influence Amira's perspective on AI in education, literacy policy, and responsible AI practices.

• Manage crisis situations related to student data privacy, AI safety and accuracy, and policy debates.

• Keep crisis playbooks, holding statements, and approval workflows aligned with legal, security, and policy teams.

• Monitor media and social coverage and provide leadership with insights on emerging risks.

• Collaborate with marketing and sales to enhance district success narratives, growth data, and educator voices.

• Expand Amira's Community Hub and empower Champions to share their stories through case studies, webinars, social content, conference sessions, and media interviews.

• Transform community insights into feedback for product, research, and marketing teams.

• Set and track goals for community growth, engagement, and advocacy.

• Direct internal communications, encompassing all-hands content, leadership messages, and change communications.

• Lead a small, high-performing communications team and agency network.

• Report to the COO and collaborate closely with marketing, research, product, success, and sales leadership.

⛳️ Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in communications, PR, or journalism, including at least 3 years leading communications for a company, agency, or mission-driven organization.

• Proven history of securing top-tier coverage in national business, technology, or education media, with established relationships.

• Experience in developing thought-leadership programs that enhance a company's reputation.

• Practical crisis management experience, particularly on sensitive issues such as data privacy, children, or public funding.

• Exceptional writing and editing skills, including the ability to compose press releases, op-eds, company-wide communications, and crisis statements.

• Capability to convey research and technical concepts accurately, simply, and engagingly, without exaggeration.

• Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to advise executive leadership directly.

• A builder's mindset; comfortable executing tasks personally while scaling a team and collaborating with agency partners.

• A genuine belief that every child should learn to read, coupled with an interest in how AI can assist in this mission.

• Preferred: experience in K–12 education, edtech, literacy, or education policy, including familiarity with the Science of Reading movement.

• Preferred: communications experience in AI or another emerging technology facing public scrutiny.

• Preferred: experience in creating online communities, ambassador programs, or advocacy initiatives.

• Preferred: connections with state education agencies, legislators, or education coalitions.

• Preferred: experience supporting a company through fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, or rapid growth.

• Preferred: fluency in Spanish or experience engaging bilingual and Spanish-speaking families and educators.

• Preferred: knowledge of media monitoring, measurement, and social listening tools.

• Mission-driven, evidence-oriented, educator-focused, AI advocate, builder at heart, with a sense of urgency, collaborative spirit, low ego, candidness, trustworthiness, and inclusivity.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive Salary

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits

• 401(k) with company matching

• Flexible time off

• Stock option ownership

• Cutting-edge work

• The opportunity to help children around the world reach their full potential