Communications Manager, Media

The newly created Communications Manager, Media position is a role for a media strategist, relationship builder, and brand steward who can contribute to the design and fulfillment of Kitchen Table Advisors’ external-facing communications strategy. As a member of the Resource Generation team, they will build and oversee a media and public relations strategy that uplifts the stories of clients, generates social and financial capital, and ensures a consistent and aligned organizational brand. In addition to cultivating relationships with journalists and editors, they will foster community partnerships that support collaborative storytelling opportunities for our clients and staff. This position will round out Kitchen Table Advisors’ three-member Communications department, reporting to the Director, Resource Generation while working alongside the Communications Manager, Brand and the Communications Specialist.

This is an exciting opportunity for a media-focused storyteller who can support upholding KTA’s brand while growing community connections that elevate the stories and businesses of our client farmers and ranchers.

Responsibilities 

The primary responsibilities of this role include:

Public Relations & Media (40%)

• Informed by KTA’s external-facing communications strategy, design and implement a public relations and media strategy that includes an annual plan with a proactive media outreach calendar;
• Develop and maintain communications systems, workflows, and processes that ensure brand alignment as well as awareness of and engagement with the media strategy across the organization;
• Cultivate positive working relationships with media partners that center amplification of client stories and KTA’s work;
• Support both the KTA team and clients as they engage with media by leading training and providing direct assistance;
• Maintain a plan to communicate effectively with the KTA community, internal and external, during crises;
• Lead KTA’s communications response during crises, guiding and supporting staff through engaging with external stakeholders and media, as needed;
• Ensure clear, consistent communications with the Program team to support pursuing media opportunities that center clients;
• Track and measure the impact of the public relations plan, leveraging data and metrics to regularly assess and refine strategy.

Communications Strategy & Brand Stewardship (35%)

• Collaborate with the Director, Resource Generation and Communications Manager, Brand to shape and fulfill KTA’s external-facing communications strategy;
• Support connecting KTA’s brand to resonant audiences by identifying and prioritizing important audience segments and their associated needs;
• Working with the Communications Manager, Brand, develop and maintain internal and external-facing brand tools and resources (e.g. internal brand toolkit), as needed;
• Ensure consistency and alignment of how the KTA brand is represented externally;
• Lead the development of a community partner strategy around collaborative communications, identifying criteria for engaging partners and creating tools to support consistent shared messaging and representation of the KTA brand;
• Manage relevant consultant work, including oversight of budget, and liaise with volunteers, as needed;
• Attend relevant training opportunities that help extend KTA’s storytelling themes around racial justice, ecological resilience, etc.;
• Work to increase accessibility of communications tools to be inclusive of diverse needs.

Resource Generation & Program Support (10%)

• Provide input on development strategy and support with community gatherings to ensure consistency with KTA’s brand and communications strategy (e.g. messaging, brand guidelines, featured client selection);
• Provide input on internal communications to clients (prospective, current, alumni) to ensure consistency with KTA’s brand (e.g. messaging, brand guidelines, impact stories).

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience in communications, journalism, or public relations/marketing, preferably surrounding sustainable agriculture, local food systems, economic development, social justice;
• Experience developing and implementing a public relations/media plan and cultivating relationships with journalists/editors;
• Experience building external-facing communications strategy;
• Passion for sustainable food and farms and/or economic development for historically under-resourced communities;
• Strong networks and relationships with sustainable farms, food businesses, nonprofit partners, media, etc. in Northern and/or Central California;
• Experience building trusted relationships with communities who have historically been excluded from resources and recognition within our food system — namely BIPOC, women, low-income, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+ communities;
• Strong writing/editing and verbal communication skills;
• Excellent project management skills, including a keen eye for all the details;
• Thrives in dynamic startup environments and must be able to be adaptive;
• Demonstrates proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, Google Suite, Airtable, Salesforce/CRM, and Adobe;
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred. Native Spanish speaker highly preferred;
• Connection to agriculture: family background or business, work experience, etc., highly preferred.

Travel and Schedule Considerations

• Due to the nature of the work, candidates must possess a valid driver’s license for periodic travel throughout Northern California to meet with clients, business advisors, and partners. KTA will support in facilitating travel arrangements if access to a car is unavailable;
• There will be occasional work responsibilities that occur during the evenings and/or weekends.

To Apply

Please submit the following to info@kitchentableadvisors.org with the subject line “Communications-Manager-Media-Application”. All qualified candidates will be contacted via email. This position is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a first review date of 5/16/2023:
A cover letter describing your interest in this position and our work
Resumé