Responsibilities

• Lead proactive and reactive media engagement for USP, coordinating with the foundation’s central Communications division on media inquiries and developing pitches that advance USP’s strategic priorities across trade, political, best-in-class, and local media outlets.
• Build and sustain relationships with reporters, editors, and influential voices covering education, workforce, and technology — cultivating a media network that expands USP’s reach and credibility over time.
• Develop and implement earned media strategies for USP announcements, research releases, and field moments, translating sophisticated programmatic content into compelling narratives for diverse public audiences.
• Lead USP President voice activities, including identifying and staffing conference appearances and learning trips, developing public remarks, creating written content such as blog posts, op-eds, and social media content, and leading the editorial process for USP leadership’s public-facing communications.
• Provide voice support for the USP Chief of Staff and U.S. Leadership Team, including content development for LinkedIn channels, briefing materials, and preparation for media and public appearances.
• Provide media training and strategic communications counsel to USP colleagues preparing for interviews, public speaking engagements, or other external visibility opportunities.
• Lead media analysis work for USP, establishing earned media goals and benchmarks, tracking coverage trends, and synthesizing insights to advise communications strategy and report progress to leadership.
• Maintain and grow USP’s network of champions — working with colleagues to identify practitioners, researchers, and advocates whose voices amplify USP’s priorities — tracking engagements and identifying opportunities to deploy them strategically across media channels and public venues.
• Own the USP grantee communications inbox, monitor for potential reputational risks, and take action or escalate as appropriate in coordination with team leadership and the central Communications division.
• Own the USP daily clips process, including curation, synthesis, and distribution of relevant media coverage to USP leadership and colleagues, applying a clear and influential communication lens to make the information actionable.

Requirements

• An advanced degree or equivalent proven experience.
• Significant experience in public relations, earned media, or strategic communications, with a track record of successfully placing stories and leading media relationships across a range of publication types, including trade outlets, political media, and premier national outlets.
• Significant experience developing and leading executive-level communications, including preparing public remarks, briefing materials, and staffing principals for media interviews and public appearances.
• Extensive knowledge of the U.S. education landscape, including salient policy issues, influential media storylines, and key audiences such as district and state leaders, higher education institutional leaders, and federal policymakers.
• Significant experience designing and implementing earned media strategies for complex organizations, including running proactive pitches, reactive media inquiries, and reputational risk communications.
• Experience leading communications agencies and vendors, including contract management and oversight of deliverables.
• Deep knowledge of media analysis methods and tools, including establishing benchmarks, tracking coverage trends, and translating insights into actionable communications strategy.
• Experience working in a matrixed environment and coordinating cross-functionally with internal and external partners to align on messaging, strategy, and priorities.

Benefits

• comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities.