Sr Manager External Communications

Katy, TX (On-site)

Salary Not AvailableSenior Level8+ years expFull time

Posted 3 months ago

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Job Summary

Lead a senior PR function, shaping Academy’s public relations and media strategy while building and guiding a high-performing team.

  • Must-have: 8+ years in communications/PR with 4+ years in management
  • Standout: Experience coaching talent, managing agencies, and cross-functional storytelling

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • You will lead a team of communication professionals to deliver Academy’s public relations and media strategy.
  • Your work will include setting priorities, coaching team members, and ensuring timely delivery of impactful campaigns.
  • You will also oversee LinkedIn content and agency partnerships to maintain consistent, compelling storytelling.
  • You will foster a culture of collaboration and accountability.
  • You will provide guidance, develop talent, and empower your team to achieve excellence while managing proactive and reactive outreach.
  • Additionally, you will partner cross-functionally to translate complex ideas into clear, impactful messages.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or related field preferred
  • 8+ years of experience in communications or PR, including agency or in-house roles, with 4+ years of management
  • Proven experience managing and developing high-performing teams
  • Ability to coach, mentor, and provide constructive feedback
  • Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills
  • Experience managing PR agencies and third-party partners
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
  • Proficiency in budget management, forecasting, and reporting
  • Expert interpersonal skills and ability to influence stakeholders
  • Strong leadership skills with a focus on collaboration and accountability
  • A team-first attitude; while your core duties are your priority, you're happy to step in wherever you're needed
  • Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed
  • Up to 10% travel, including overnight stays
  • Regular in-office attendance is required
  • Acceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job duties
Academy Sports + Outdoors logo

Academy Sports + Outdoors

3.3 Glassdoor

At Academy Sports + Outdoors, we believe in the power of fun. And we believe in helping our customers have more of it. With a wide assortment of sporting and outdoors gear, Academy offers the best brands under one roof — curated to make the most of every budget. Day in and day out, our 20,000+ Team Members bring a sense of adventure, energy, and passion to work. Understanding our people and the things that matter to them has been at the core of Academy culture for over 80 years. We take pride in creating a workplace that values hard work, commitment, growth, and of course, FUN.Academy — headquartered in Katy, TX, a suburb of Houston — is one of the nation’s largest sporting goods and outdoor stores. We offer a broad assortment of quality hunting, fishing, and camping equipment and gear, as well as sports and leisure products, footwear, apparel, and much more.Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to a wide network of 301 stores across 21 states as of March 7, 2025.Looking to join our team? Search available opportunities today: careers.academy.com

Founded in 1938
Katy, Texas, USA
14K employees (544 in marketing)
49% recommend to a friend
55% CEO approval

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
13.6M
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$847.8K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
48.1%
Direct
44%
Referral
4.9%
Social
1.7%
Paid
1.2%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~14.4K

Marketing Team

Marketing Team Size
544 (4% of company)

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