Senior Editorial Communications Manager
NPR
New York, NYThis is a Full Time Job
OVERVIEW
Intro to Position
Application Instructions
In addition to a resume, please submit a cover letter including 3–5 examples of editorial influence work you've led – placements, creator partnerships, cross-promotion deals, event moments, or narrative-defense work.
Responsibilities
• Amplification Strategy: Lead the strategy for amplifying NPR's journalism and talent, driving influence and recognition for the work and the people who make it.
• Media Relations: Promote major investigations, exclusive interviews, and podcast launches through deep relationships with bookers, media-desk reporters, and consumer press.
• Creator Economy Engagement: Build influence by engaging podcasters, newsletter writers, and Substack creators to drive audience growth through cross-promotion and organic mentions.
• Talent Positioning: Oversee Talent Relations to position NPR's journalists as leading voices across external media and new platforms, ensuring alignment with editorial publicity.
• Emerging Channel Pilots: Identify and pilot new ways to extend reach when traditional press isn't the right tool, including AI visibility and emerging distribution platforms.
• Strategic Events: Partner with leadership to direct NPR's event presence as a channel for creator relationships, talent visibility, and cross-promotion deals.
• Newsroom Partnership: Build connections with newsroom leadership to support editorial moments that define the brand and provide narrative defense for coverage decisions.
• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of publicists and talent professionals, setting a modern KPI framework that values influence over simple placement counts.
The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.
Minimum Qualifications
• 7 years in communications, PR, media relations, or audience strategy.
• 3 years of experience inside a news, media, or content organization.
• 3 years of experience managing communications professionals.
• Proven track record of amplifying editorial work across multiple channels (press, creators, platforms, and events).
• Direct experience operating within a 24/7 news cycle.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including weekends, as editorial events require.
Preferred Qualifications
• Existing relationships within the podcast and audio creator community
• Experience promoting TV or video journalism
• Direct experience handling editorially sensitive coverage and high-profile newsroom dynamics
• Background in the audio industry, press or creator-economy media
Required Skills /Competencies
• Strategic Influence Mapping: Ability to identify non-traditional nodes of influence (newsletters, creators) that drive the audience.
• Narrative Defense: Capability to partner with executives on high-stakes coverage decisions and brand reputation.
• Cross-Platform Literacy: Deep understanding of how journalism performs on AI discovery tools and distribution platforms.
• High-Stakes Relationship Management: Experience holding relationships with top-tier bookers and industry leaders.
• Modern KPI Development: Ability to move beyond ''clip counting'' to measure true editorial influence and impact.
Education Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Work Location & Requirements
• Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington, D.C. or New York City location at least 3 days a week. The employee must also reside in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, or New York City Metro Areas.
Job Type
• This is a full-time, exempt position.
Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.
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Salary/Benefits
$135,000 - $165,000 /year USD
Benefits
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Paid time off (PTO)
• 401(k)
Perks
• Access to health and wellness
• Financial well-being
Additional Information
NPR is a thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization that produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. Our audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility, which are also core principles for our employees. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, including journalism, digital media, IT, and development, and our work touches the lives of millions worldwide. As we evolve our communications function during a pivotal time in public media, we focus on breakthrough journalism that resonates with modern audiences across a wide range of channels, including traditional press, creator and podcast networks, distribution platforms, industry conversations, events, and AI-driven discovery. We are committed to building a collaborative workplace where diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is key to our success, with integrity and adherence to ethical standards as fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.
