Responsibilities

• Develop and execute earned media strategies that increase awareness of Blue Star Families, its programs, research, and advocacy priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with national, regional, military, defense, nonprofit, lifestyle, and mainstream media outlets.
• Identify and secure media opportunities for organizational leadership, subject matter experts, military families, and program representatives.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for media inquiries and coordinate timely responses.
• Manage the organization's public relations agency and other external communications partners, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and performance expectations.
• Develop media materials including press releases, media advisories, talking points, key messages, briefing documents, and spokesperson preparation materials.
• Monitor news cycles and identify opportunities to proactively position Blue Star Families in relevant conversations and coverage.
• Lead the development and execution of Blue Star Families' social media strategy across all platforms.
• Oversee social media content planning and collaborate with internal teams to amplify programs, campaigns, events, partnerships, and advocacy initiatives.
• Analyze audience engagement and platform performance to optimize content and drive growth.
• Develop and implement influencer, creator, and ambassador engagement strategies that expand reach and introduce new audiences to the organization's mission.
• Cultivate relationships with military-connected influencers, content creators, strategic partners, and brand advocates.
• Support communications initiatives tied to corporate partnerships, sponsorships, national campaigns, and special events.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to identify compelling storytelling opportunities that advance organizational goals.
• Ensure consistency in messaging, brand voice, and organizational positioning across external-facing channels.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of integrated communications campaigns that leverage earned, owned, shared, and partner channels.
• Develop and maintain a diverse, organization-wide story bank of military- and veteran-connected families, volunteers, program participants, caregivers, and partners available for media opportunities, speaking engagements, advocacy efforts, fundraising campaigns, social media content, and organizational storytelling.
• Develop and execute communications plans that support organizational priorities, programs, research initiatives, advocacy efforts, partnerships, and special events.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify communications objectives, key audiences, messaging strategies, and promotional tactics for major initiatives.
• Draft and refine key messages, talking points, FAQs, presentations, executive communications, website content, articles, blogs, and other communications materials.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, PR, marketing, or a related field or comparable experience
• 5+ years of experience in media relations, public relations, social media, brand marketing, or external communications with 3+ years of experience managing an in-house communications team
• Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated media and social media strategies that drive measurable outcomes
• Proven experience securing earned media coverage and cultivating relationships with reporters, producers, influencers, and strategic partners
• Experience managing external agencies, contractors, consultants, or vendors
• Strong writing, editing, messaging, and storytelling skills across digital and traditional communications channels
• Highly organized with exceptional project management skills and the ability to coordinate multiple concurrent projects, deadlines, and stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and competing demands
• Self-starter who takes ownership of projects, identifies opportunities, and proactively drives work forward with limited direction
• Experience using media monitoring, social media management, analytics, and reporting platforms
• Ability to travel locally up to 60% of the time as required to perform essential job responsibilities
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as necessary to perform essential job responsibilities
• Ability to travel overnight on an occasional basis to attend meetings, trainings, conferences, and events
• Physical ability to lift and carry supplies and equipment up to 30 lbs

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, PR, marketing, or a related field; a graduate degree is preferred
• Experience working in a nonprofit, mission-driven or community-based organization
• Familiarity with chapter-based or distributed community models
• Experience with storytelling and its application to membership engagement and data
• Strong communication skills, self-starter, and you leverage creative thinking to address opportunities

Benefits

• Flexible work options (remote, or hybrid depending on the role)
• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts, life insurance, and disability insurance
• Communications allowance
• Professional development and career growth opportunities
• PCS leave for Active Duty military spouses