Communications Manager

Aspire Living & Learning • Burlington, CT

2d • Remote

About The Position

At Aspire Living and Learning, we don’t just talk about making an impact. We live it. For more than 40 years, we have supported neurodiverse children and adults across New England and Maryland as they discover their passions, unlock their potential, and live more independently in their communities. Our person-centered services span education, behavioral health, residential support, and community-based services, guided by dignity, choice, and real-world outcomes. As an organization, Aspire’s voice matters. The Communications Manager helps ensure our story is clear, credible, and consistently told to the communities we serve and the audiences we partner with. This role supports families, schools, funders, policymakers, journalists, and prospective employees, and it strengthens internal alignment through leadership messaging that builds trust, shared understanding, and momentum. If you are a strong storyteller who can translate complex work into human centered narratives, partner effectively across teams, and take pride in shaping how Aspire shows up in the world, we would love to hear from you. This remote role reports to the Director of Marketing and supports executive leadership, media relations, and Aspire’s external visibility. We offer remote work only to candidates located within our service area: New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in communications, public relations, or a related field.
• Strong writing skills across formats, including press releases, talking points, op-eds, and leadership communications.
• Proven ability to translate complex or technical subject matter into clear, accessible narratives for diverse audiences.
• Experience (or strong familiarity) with nonprofit, healthcare, human services, or behavioral health communications preferred.
• Familiarity with multi-state media markets and regional press relationships is a plus.
• Comfortable working independently, juggling multiple priorities, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative mindset and strong communication skills across cross-functional teams.
• Satisfactory background checks.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with multi-state media markets and regional press relationships is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Translate complex operational and clinical work into compelling, human-centered narratives that resonate with external audiences such as families, schools, funders, policymakers, and prospective employees.
• Develop messaging frameworks, talking points, and narrative guides that keep Aspire’s story consistent across departments and channels.
• Proactively identify positioning gaps and help shape external narratives before they’re defined for us.
• Manage media relations, including drafting press releases, pitching stories, and responding to inquiries.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists and outlets across Aspire’s footprint, with emphasis on Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maryland.
• Support thought leadership by helping identify opportunities and preparing Aspire spokespeople for interviews, panels, and speaking engagements.
• Draft op eds, bylines, and award submissions that elevate Aspire’s reputation in human services, behavioral health, and education.
• Monitor emerging industry conversations and help insert Aspire’s perspective with clarity and confidence.
• Partner with the marketing team to amplify Aspire’s external visibility through digital and content channels.
• Draft and refine leadership messaging, all staff updates, and executive talking points aligned with Aspire’s voice and values.
• Support change communication in partnership with senior leadership and People & Culture to maintain trust and transparency during periods of transition.
• Serve as a communications resource for cross-functional initiatives that require timely, consistent messaging.
• Participate in training and assigned skill-building opportunities as delegated by management.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Saving Account (HSA) options
• Lifestyle Spending Accounts with JOON
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Professional Growth Opportunities
• Employer-Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Telehealth Services

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed