Senior Manager, Brand Communications and PR

Position Summary:

The Senior Manager, Brand Communications and PR leads Make‑A‑Wish America’s public relations and communications strategy and serves as a key advisor on brand reputation and risk. This role oversees media relations, PR, and crisis communications, and partners closely with senior leadership on strategic initiatives that advance the organization’s mission and visibility.

The Senior Manager provides strategic counsel and support to National Office teams, chapters, and corporate partners nationwide, and directly manages a team of communications professionals responsible for promoting, protecting, and enhancing the Make‑A‑Wish brand. This position integrates and executes a broad range of communications and PR activities aligned with the organization’s brand strategy and positioning, and serves as an ambassador by building strong relationships with media and external stakeholders.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead and execute public relations strategy, including proactive media outreach, reputation management, leadership engagement, and consistent on‑message storytelling across traditional and emerging platforms.
• Provide strategic public relations consultation to chapters to strengthen local media engagement while ensuring national alignment and consistency.
• Identify and assess emerging issues and reputational risks, and partner with leadership to define and execute appropriate communications strategies and solutions.
• Lead public relations strategy for national corporate partnerships and brand activations, including co‑branded announcements, executive messaging, and coordinated media engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner with the Senior Manager, Digital & Social to develop and execute integrated social, owned, and earned media strategies that amplify key campaigns and ensure cohesive audience experiences.
• Assign, prioritize, and manage media opportunities, and develop, review, and approve talking points, speeches, presentations, and supporting materials.
• Serve as a spokesperson and lead contact for significant media interactions, and build and maintain strong national and regional media relationships.
• Ensure alignment and consistency across chapter and national communications strategies, practices, and all public‑facing and internal materials, including adherence to voice and brand standards.
• Lead measurement and analysis of earned media performance using monitoring tools and reporting frameworks to inform strategy, assess impact, and guide leadership decision‑
• Oversee day‑to‑day operations of the National Communications team, including planning, budgeting, staffing, and agency management.
• Foster a high‑performance culture through clear goal‑setting, accountability, performance management, professional development, and compensation administration.
• Monitor shifts in the media, cultural, and communications landscape and apply emerging approaches and best practices to continuously evolve strategies, storytelling, and engagement models.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of experience in public relations or communications, including media strategy development and creation of press releases and related communications materials, in‑house or with an agency.
• Five or more years of experience in crisis and issues management, with the ability to exercise sound judgment in fast‑changing environments.
• At least two years of experience leading, mentoring, and developing PR and communications professionals.
• Demonstrated success building and sustaining relationships with national media and top‑tier partners, and positioning stories to achieve broad visibility.
• Experience leading public relations for national corporate partnerships and supporting executive‑level communications, including leadership messaging and high‑visibility announcements.
• Proven ability to lead comprehensive, integrated communications programs across earned, owned, and social channels in collaboration with digital and cross‑functional teams.
• Experience using earned media monitoring and analytics tools to evaluate performance and inform communications strategy.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders, boards, staff, and external audiences, and to manage multiple priorities under deadline pressure.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Working Conditions

• Ability to thrive in a remote environment.  
• Some travel required, up to 25% for organizational campaigns, events, and conferences.
• May occasionally require work outside of the traditional Monday through Friday work week. This includes weekends and early evening weeknights.