Job Description

Director of Public Relations

As Director of Public Relations, you will shape how Reach Out and Read tells its story to the nation. Serving 4.8 million children and families through 41,000 clinicians and 11.2 million well-child visits each year, Reach Out and Read has an extraordinary opportunity to expand its visibility and influence as it builds on three decades of leadership in pediatric health, early childhood development, and early literacy.

This newly created role leads the organization's editorial and earned media work: You will be the External Affairs team's primary editor and a senior writer for the brand, and you will manage the day-to-day relationship with Reach Out and Read's public relations firm to build an ambitious earned media strategy. You'll work closely with leadership, Affiliates, and clinicians to find strong stories and expand thought leadership nationally, owning written brand voice and earned media, alongside the Director of Design and Marketing, who leads paid media and visual brand expression. The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and editor, a seasoned media strategist, and a collaborative partner who can translate complex ideas into clear, memorable messaging. This role reports to the Chief External Affairs Officer.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Editorial Leadership and Brand Messaging (40%):

• Serve as primary editor for all External Affairs content: social, print, digital, web, email, fundraising, policy, and executive communications — upholding voice, tone, clarity, and consistency organization-wide.
• Write and shape brand messaging, message frameworks, talking points, and thought-leadership content for high-priority initiatives, translating complex early childhood, health, and policy topics into clear, accessible language.
• Partner with subject-matter experts, leaders, and Affiliates to strengthen messaging while preserving a consistent voice; maintain the brand stylebook and a library of templates and editorial guidance.
• Coach writers and contributors across the organization, and strengthen editorial workflows, review processes, and quality control.
• Serve as an editorial adviser during crisis or high-risk situations, helping develop messaging frameworks and statements with the Chief External Affairs Officer.

Earned Media and Thought Leadership (35%):

• Lead the day-to-day relationship with Reach Out and Read's public relations firm, setting priorities and direction for an integrated earned media strategy that builds national visibility and thought leadership.
• Drive press releases, op-eds, story ideas, and media pitches, identifying timely angles that connect Reach Out and Read's work to the broader news cycle.
• Partner with Affiliates, clinicians, and leaders to generate state and local coverage, adapting national narratives and preparing spokespeople for interviews.
• Develop talking points and briefing materials, and guide rapid-response communications in high-stakes or time-sensitive situations.
• Set goals for and evaluate earned media performance to inform future strategy.

Social Media and Integrated Content Strategy (15%):

• Partner on social media strategy, reviewing and approving content and major campaigns for editorial quality and audience engagement.
• Ensure earned, paid, social, and owned content reinforce one another to extend the reach of high-value stories.
• Use performance data and platform trends to refine strategy, and equip Affiliates with adaptable content and tools for local markets.

Organizational Partnership and Team Leadership (10%):

• Serve as a senior communications adviser to colleagues and leaders across the organization and Affiliate network.
• Partner with marketing, brand, and creative leads to align editorial and reputation strategy with broader brand campaigns.
• Help prioritize the External Affairs team's editorial and media portfolio, and manage communications vendors as assigned.

This position also includes other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Commitment to increasing equity in opportunity and outcomes for children and to recognizing factors known to significantly impact differential outcomes for children, including race, ethnicity, language, and socio-economic status.
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in public relations or communications, including leading significant media and editorial work. Nonprofit or other mission-driven experience is strongly preferred; experience at a national organization is a plus, as is a background in early childhood, health, or education.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a portfolio demonstrating the ability to shape high-level messaging in a distinctive voice for varied audiences.
• Deep experience engaging reporters and managing a PR firm or agency relationship — setting strategy, directing deliverables, and assessing performance.
• Strong news judgment and sound editorial governance, with the ability to translate complex research, policy, or programmatic information into accessible messaging.
• Strong project leadership skills, able to manage multiple high-priority projects and deadlines in a fast-paced, fully remote environment.
• A collaborative style that builds trust with senior leaders, Affiliates, clinicians, and external partners, along with strong storytelling instincts and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Position Specifications:

This is a full-time, exempt position. The Director of Public Relations may work from a home-based office anywhere in the country, but occasional travel will be required.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $96,000-102,000 and commensurate with experience. Reach Out and Read offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with match, paid time off, and more.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications through our online portal. The interview process will include a preliminary phone interview in October 2026, followed by a hiring manager interview. Advancing candidates will have a virtual final interview with other members of the Reach Out and Read team in November. The anticipated start date for this role is Winter 2026/27.

Commitment to Diversity:

Reach Out and Read is committed to building an organization that embraces diversity, pursues equity, and fosters an environment of inclusion. Reach Out and Read sits at the intersection of health and education, uniquely positioned to play a critical role in addressing systemic disparities and inequities in the public health framework. Reach Out and Read strives to be an antiracist organization, using its influence to fight against social injustice by supporting a culture of learning, empowerment, equity, and a deep appreciation for the unique experiences that we each bring to our communities. And, we believe that changing the world begins with holding ourselves and our workplace to that same standard.

About Reach Out and Read:

Founded in 1989, Reach Out and Read is a national nonprofit organization working to ensure all families have the opportunity to create meaningful everyday moments through shared reading aloud and building relationships. By leveraging pediatric care to champion the positive effects of reading daily and distributing books, Reach Out and Read gives young children a foundation for success and reaches 4.2 million children across the country – half of whom identify as BIPOC and a quarter of whom come from low-income families.

Reach Out and Read's tens of thousands of trained pediatric providers use books as a diagnostic tool during regular checkups, and teach parents how to engage their child with a book to promote positive parent-child interactions during the rapid brain growth between birth and age five. The daily practice of reading aloud with a parent supports children's literacy and math skill development, their social-emotional development, and prepares them for future success in school. Working together with our sites and providers, we leverage our three decades of expertise, build on our literacy foundations, and engage our shared networks as a catalyst for change, focusing on equitably strengthening and deepening our impact on the children, families, and communities we serve.

The Impact:

• Reach Out and Read program sites are located in 6,800 clinics, safety net hospitals, medical systems, and other health care settings in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Reach Out and Read serves 4.8 million children and their families annually.
• More than 9 million new, developmentally appropriate books are given to children annually.
• 41,000 medical providers currently participate in Reach Out and Read
• Our peer-reviewed body of evidence demonstrates that Reach Out and Read parents are two-and-a-half times more likely to read regularly to their children, and that children experiencing Reach Out and Read show enhanced language development.

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