Public Relations Manager

Wounded Warrior Project • Jacksonville, FL

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Public Relations Manager manages a team of public relations professionals and leads public relations strategies to ensure and maintain a positive public opinion among key WWP audiences. This role will report to the Public Relations Associate Director, working closely with the Communications and Marketing teams, business partners, and external partners to communicate WWP’s impact. The Public Relations Manager will excel in coaching and cultivating a high-performing team, while driving compelling storytelling, earned media, and other strategic communications that position WWP's position as the nation's leading veterans service organization.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to protect and advance organizational reputation through strategic communications, issues management, and crisis communications in a rapidly evolving environment.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with news organizations, reporters, and media personalities and lead media pitching that delivers confirmed results.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage public relations agencies, contractors, and other vendors that provide public relations services.
• Expert-level written, verbal, and editing skills, with expertise in managing organizational messaging and developing press releases, statements, and other communications in accordance with communication principles, including Associated Press (AP) style.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of data analytics, performance metrics, and trends analysis.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills. Proven capability to develop and maintain professional relationships and interact effectively with diverse individuals to build effective working relationships. Demonstrated emotional intelligence.
• Ability to handle highly sensitive matters with confidentiality, diplomacy, and professionalism. Exceptional judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to establish credibility, be decisive, influence others, and influence change.
• Strong presentation skills. Confident communicator with proven ability to present information effectively.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize, troubleshoot, and manage multiple projects efficiently and accurately in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage AI tools to improve efficiency and strategic decision-making while maintaining quality, accuracy, and ethical standards.
• Proficient using Microsoft Office and Office 365, including desktop and cloud-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Teams, Copilot, and more. Experience using project management tools such as Monday.com or similar.
• Proficient at using and evaluating the performance of press release distribution and media monitoring services, such as PR Newswire, Cision, Muck Rack, Meltwater, and Critical Mention.
• High energy level. Self-starter; willing to take initiative.
• Unequivocal commitment to the highest standards of personal and business ethics and conduct.
• Mission-driven, guided by core values, and a pleasure to work with.
• Five years of communications, public relations, or marketing experience.
• Three years of staff management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communication, journalism, or relevant related field. Equivalent combination of applicable education, training, certification, and experience may be considered in lieu of degree.

Nice To Haves

• Seven years of communications or public relations experience.
• Five years of staff management experience.
• Five years of experience working with a nonprofit organization.
• Two years of experience developing multimedia assets.
• Two years of experience working with search engine optimization.

Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor, and develop public relations and thought leadership teammates, fostering a supportive environment that encourages proactive problem-solving and drives individual and team performance toward organizational goals.
• Manage the external communication of WWP programs, priority initiatives, strategic partnerships, and more through the development and implementation of integrated communication plans that leverage earned, shared, owned, paid, and other emerging public relations strategies.
• Lead and ensure the team collaborates with internal teams including, but not limited to, content marketing and social media, marketing, internal communications, and fundraising and program business partners.
• Develop and execute public relations strategies to advance WWP’s thought leadership through earned media, content development, industry influence opportunities, and other tactics.
• Monitor and proactively manage organizational reputation, identifying emerging risks, stakeholder concerns, and opportunities to strengthen trust and credibility.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to internal stakeholders, providing counsel on messaging, reputation, stakeholder engagement, and communications implications of business decisions.
• Support the development and ongoing updates of organizational key messages based on evolving strategies and stakeholder feedback.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to prioritize the public relations team’s proactive pitching of news and feature stories highlighting organizational priorities, programs and services, community integrations, strategic partnerships, and warrior and supporter stories.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with national, regional, and local media representatives, as well as freelance and nontraditional journalists and media personalities.
• Manage requests for information, interviews, and endorsements about WWP, its executives, experts, and warriors. Ensure subject matter experts are trained and prepared for interviews.
• Work closely with other marketing and communications leaders to develop content strategies that engage key audiences about WWP‘s mission.
• Monitor and measure the effectiveness of earned media and other communications. Prepare reports with performance metrics for leadership to improve effectiveness of messaging and communications plans.
• Source and manage vendors, including but not limited to public relations agencies, newswire services, media monitoring and analytics, and paid media.
• Participate in process improvement activities and on project teams, as appropriate.
• Participate in strategic planning activities and contribute to the development and management of the department budget.
• Attend and actively participate in required training and/or meetings, including but not limited to New Teammate Orientation, WWP Cares, ASIST Suicide Prevention training, Leadership training, culture/team based training, or departmental huddles.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A flexible hybrid work schedule (three days in the office, two days’ work from home)
• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage for both teammates AND family members
• Competitive pay and performance incentives
• A fun, mission-focused, and collaborative team environment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager