Public Relations Specialist

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes public relations and media relations initiatives aligned with organizational priorities and communication strategies established by Integrated Marketing leadership.
• Partners with the Integrated Marketing Director and key stakeholders to translate organizational priorities into communication plans, messaging recommendations, media opportunities, and storytelling approaches.
• Provides subject matter expertise and recommendations regarding public relations opportunities, media engagement, audience considerations, messaging strategies, and communication tactics.
• Collaborates with business partners, product owners, marketing strategists, clinical leaders, and subject matter experts to identify opportunities to amplify organizational initiatives, programs, products, and thought leadership.
• Maintains a strong understanding of AACN’s mission, strategic priorities, governance structure, advocacy initiatives, healthcare environment, and industry trends to inform effective communication recommendations and execution.
• Evaluates and manages assigned media relations activities, including identifying opportunities, determining appropriate outreach and engagement approaches, responding to media inquiries, and developing relationships with journalists, media outlets, and external partners.
• Develops and oversees communication materials, including press releases, media advisories, key messages, executive talking points, briefing documents, FAQs, and other public relations resources, ensuring they reflect appropriate messaging, audience considerations, and organizational priorities.
• Builds and maintains relationships with media contacts and external partners to support AACN’s visibility, reputation, and thought leadership objectives.
• Monitors media coverage, industry trends, public conversations, and emerging issues to identify opportunities, assess communication needs, and provide recommendations to support organizational decision-making.
• Analyzes public relations outcomes, including media coverage, audience engagement, visibility, and other performance indicators, to assess effectiveness, identify opportunities and risks, and recommend adjustments to communication approaches.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, English, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in public relations, media relations, corporate communications, or a related field, with demonstrated ability to independently manage complex communications initiatives and deliver high-quality results with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing public relations and communications strategies that support organizational priorities, brand awareness, stakeholder engagement, and business objectives, with the ability to independently assess communication needs and recommend appropriate approaches.
• Experience managing media relationships and evaluating media opportunities, including developing executive communications, messaging, talking points, briefing materials, and other communications aligned with organizational priorities.
• Experience managing crisis communications, advocacy communications, or issues management by assessing communication needs and risks, recommending messaging and communication approaches, and managing initiatives within established organizational direction.
• Experience exercising independent judgment in managing complex communications initiatives, prioritizing competing demands, advising cross-functional stakeholders, and evaluating communication effectiveness through media monitoring, audience insights, engagement metrics, and other measurement tools.
• Experience using media monitoring, social listening, analytics, and audience insights to evaluate communication effectiveness, identify opportunities, and provide recommendations to improve engagement.
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills with the ability to independently manage multiple communication initiatives, coordinate deadlines, and ensure timely execution.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills with the ability to effectively partner with executives, volunteer leaders, media contacts, business partners, and cross-functional teams to support communication objectives.

Benefits

• we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at AACN even more rewarding. Benefits include generous paid time off, low-cost health plans for medical and mental health services, dental, and vision, company-paid life and short-term disability insurance, a variety of other benefits, and a retirement savings program with employer matching and additional company contribution.