Associate Director of Public Relations and Communications

Boston, MA (On-site)

$96K/yr – $115K/yrSenior Level8+ years expFull time

Posted 2 weeks ago

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Job Summary

Own enterprise communications with a focus on leadership priorities, crisis response, and cross-department alignment, translating strategy into actionable plans and executive-ready messaging.

Own crisis and executive communications workflows across high-visibility initiatives.
Coordinate internal and external messaging for institutional priorities and stakeholder groups.
Develop messaging frameworks, FAQs, talking points, and media relations to shape the organization’s narrative.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Partner with the Senior Director to operationalize enterprise communications strategy across institutional initiatives, leadership priorities, and organizational communications efforts.
Translate high-level communications direction into actionable messaging plans, communications initiatives, and coordinated execution strategies.
Help ensure organizational messaging remains aligned, consistent, responsive, and strategically integrated across departments and stakeholder groups.
Support execution of institutional crisis communications strategies and rapid response communications efforts.
Develop statements, FAQs, talking points, stakeholder messaging, response frameworks, and supporting communications materials.
Monitor emerging issues, reputational dynamics, and public narrative trends while helping coordinate institutional response efforts.
Assist in maintaining organizational readiness during periods of heightened visibility or complexity
Draft, edit, and coordinate communications on behalf of executive leadership.
Support executive visibility, thought leadership initiatives, speaking engagements, interviews, and stakeholder communications preparation.
Help ensure executive messaging aligns with enterprise communications strategy and institutional priorities.

Requirements

8–10 years of experience in communications, media relations, executive communications, or public relations.
Experience supporting complex organizations or high-visibility leaders strongly preferred.
Crisis communications experience preferred.
Experience in arts and culture, nonprofit, higher education, media, or mission-driven organizations preferred.
Exceptional writing and editorial skills.
Strong strategic judgment and interpersonal maturity.
Ability to manage sensitive communications with discretion and professionalism.
Strong media relations and storytelling capability.
Comfort operating in fast-paced, ambiguous, and high-pressure environments.

Preferred

Experience supporting complex organizations or high-visibility leaders strongly preferred.
Crisis communications experience preferred.
Experience in arts and culture, nonprofit, higher education, media, or mission-driven organizations preferred.

Boston Symphony Orchestra

The Boston Symphony Orchestra gave its inaugural concert in 1881, realizing the dream of its founder, the Civil War veteran/businessman/philanthropist Henry Lee Higginson, who envisioned a great and permanent orchestra in his hometown of Boston. Today the BSO and Boston Pops reach millions of listeners through not only their concert performances in Boston and at Tanglewood, but also via digital programs on BSO NOW, radio, television, educational programs, recordings, and tours.

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

497 employees (141 in marketing)

www.bso.org