Public Relations & Outreach Manager

We value in-person collaboration - this role is 100% on-site.

ARRL is an Equal Opportunity Employer

ARRL is seeking a Public Relations & Outreach Manager to join our Marketing Team at our headquarters in Newington, CT!

In this key role, you'll lead initiatives that elevate the visibility, credibility, and impact of ARRL and Amateur Radio. This role combines strategic communications, media relations, and grassroots outreach to grow public awareness and inspire new interest in amateur radio. The ideal candidate is a creative storyteller who can translate technical concepts into accessible language, build strong relationships with media and volunteers, and deliver compelling campaigns across print, digital, and social platforms.

This position develops and executes national-level PR and outreach strategies, manages content for ARRL’s news and social channels, supports advocacy communications, and provides tools and training for a network of Public Information volunteers. Success in this role requires initiative, diplomacy, and a collaborative spirit aligned with ARRL’s mission to advance and promote amateur radio.

Summary:

The Public Relations & Outreach Manager is responsible for increasing the awareness and value of the Amateur Radio Service to the public at large, for promoting the value of ARRL and the contributions of its member volunteers, and for developing outreach opportunities that support awareness and growth of amateur radio. The ideal candidate will be a storyteller who is adept at writing content and developing campaigns, who can work with outside contributors and internal colleagues to curate interesting stories and messages, and who has the attention to detail and deliverables to ensure nothing is missed and deadlines are met. The ability to interpret technical concepts into plain language is essential. A thorough knowledge of communication strategies in a non-profit environment, the know-how to train and motivate grassroots volunteers, and ability to develop and sustain long-term relationships with external media is required.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Implement a public relations strategy that builds a positive public image for amateur radio and ARRL. Create and schedule effective PR and media campaigns for traditional media (print, broadcast, online) and social media. Devise several ways to measure impact and effectiveness.
• Implement an outreach strategy that meets the needs of both ARRL and its member volunteers to attract new entrants to amateur radio. Produce messaging and materials for general recruitment, and for engaging like-minded communities and groups with overlapping interests.
• Develop, plan, and execute at least one comprehensive annual outreach campaign that promotes amateur radio to the public and key stakeholder audiences. Define objectives, coordinate messaging across departments, and measure outcomes to demonstrate impact and growth. Serve as the primary staff liaison for volunteers conducting outreach and recruitment for amateur radio.
• Produce the weekly ARRL Letter and regular website news posts (ARRL News). Oversee the efforts of the ARRL News Editor. Monitor national and international media to collect stories and to maximize exposure for positive messaging that raises the awareness and visibility of ARRL and amateur radio, both internally and externally. Curate media hits and media mentions to assess positioning, to evaluate the success of campaigns, and to further ARRL’s legislative and advocacy goals.
• Develop and empower member-volunteers to extend the effectiveness and reach of ARRL’s PR and outreach messaging and materials in the field. Create tools and training to support and develop ARRL Public Information volunteers including a monthly newsletter, annual calendar, online resources and course, and webinars. Serve as the primary, visible staff liaison for PR volunteers.
• Conduct media outreach promoting key ARRL messaging and promoting its programs and services. Follow up on press inquiries. Develop and maintain strong relationships with key news media outlets and reporters, relevant agencies and non-government organizations (Federal, state, and local), editorial writers and columnists, social media influencers, and broadcast producers. Position ARRL to react in breaking news stories, rapid response moments, and crisis management. Write statements on behalf of senior leaders.
• Support ARRL’s advocacy and legislative initiatives by coordinating public relations and communications strategies that reinforce ARRL’s positions in Washington and with legislators. Collaborate with ARRL’s advocacy leads to amplify messaging around key policy issues affecting amateur radio.
• Develop and administer social media content that is aimed at engaging users and creating an interactive relationship between our audience and ARRL. Ensure content produced for social media sharing and engagement is collaborative across all ARRL business units and program areas, and measure effectiveness using social data analytics and trends.
• Collaborate and participate in video projects.
• Coordinate planning for and participate in trade shows, exhibits, and other events when national-level support or sponsorship is committed.
• Establish, in conjunction with the department manager and executive officers, an annual plan and expense forecast along with managing these goals.

Expectations

• Contributes to creating positive energy and fostering a team atmosphere, showing excitement and pride in the team’s work, and being accountable for results.
• Understands public relations and is adept at developing and completing related work that advances the organization's goals.
• Creates, edits, and produces content including written, audio, video, and social media: press releases, backgrounders, fact sheets, announcements, posts, interviews, PSAs, videos, and other PR and outreach materials to attract interest from the media and public. Creates quality content that is formatted to ARRL's style and branding guides, and free from grammar and factual errors. Exhibits the ability to interpret technical concepts into plain language.
• Demonstrates a clear, concise, and thoughtful verbal communication skills. Effective in public speaking and as an ARRL spokesperson.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with member-volunteers, the media community, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to train and motivate grassroots volunteers.
• Demonstrates the attributes of a self-starter and exercises good judgement.
• Meets deadlines with efficiency and flexibility.

Knowledge and Skills

Experience:

• Four to five years’ experience in public relations, preferably in a non-profit setting; traditional and new media (online, digital, social).
• Experience with engaging volunteers.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, or Journalism.

Interpersonal Skills: A significant level of trust and diplomacy is required. Work involves extensive personal contact with others and involves motivating or influencing others. Outside contacts are important and fostering sound relationships with other entities is required.

Other Skills:

• Amateur Radio license strongly preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Amateur Radio Service, wireless communications, and related technology.
• Knowledge of the news media and media operations.
• Ability to multitask and work independently.
• Interviewing skills and experience- video/audio
• Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheets, website CMS systems, virtual meetings, and collaboration applications (ex: Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Teams, WordPress).

Work Environment: Fast-paced deadline driven office and occasional event-based travel when appropriate.

Physical Requirement: Must have the ability to lift up to 20 pounds and travel independently.

Pay: $78,000.00 - $88,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person