PR and Communications Manager

Position: PR and Communications Manager

Location: Hybrid within 31 miles of Tustin, CA. OK with Remote if outside of the range.

Pay: up to 100K DOE

Description

New American Funding (NAF) is hiring a PR & Communications Manager to develop and implement public relations strategies and enhance the company’s reputation and brand visibility. The role will play a crucial part in managing media inquiries, crafting high-quality PR materials, and coordinating logistics with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure consistent and effective messaging is disseminated to the media and to the public. The PR & Communications Manager will also oversee the company’s awards program, ensuring the submission and approval process runs smoothly, maintaining the status of past, current, and upcoming awards, and handling the licensing of these awards. While the role will have a strong emphasis in external communications, there will be an occasional demand for this role to also fulfill internal communications needs.

• Manage media inquiries and press interviews, which include drafting email responses, scheduling interviews, and routing materials for approval.
• Partner closely with PR agency to proactively pitch ideas for educational stories, company news, and op-eds to media outlets, enhancing NAF’s positive image and leadership expertise.
• Develop talking points, media statements, news releases, email commentaries, and other external communications materials.
• Serve as a media relations subject matter expert, providing PR counsel to leadership on positive media stories and sensitive inquiries.
• Collaborate with the [Internal] Senior Communications Manager to ensure consistent messaging for internal and external audiences during unexpected crises or business continuity issues; coordinate with various business units to communicate emergency response plans effectively.
• Develop and execute crisis communications plans to mitigate negative publicity and protect the company’s brand.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of external communications, using metrics and feedback to continuously improve messaging that resonates with the public.
• Manage the company’s awards program, which is designed to recognize top producers, acknowledge “best of” accolades, and enhance NAF’s reputation as an employer of choice.
• Identify award opportunities, draft nomination messaging, submit for awards, and manage all related logistics and operational processes, including approvals, deadlines, and follow-up.
• Track award submissions and maintain thorough records of past, current, and upcoming awards, ensuring compliance with licensing and award terms.
• Assist the executive leadership team in securing speaking opportunities at conferences and industry trade shows.
• Maintain up-to-date bios for the executive leadership team.
• Provide additional, ad-hoc communications support – both internally and externally -- as needed.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, or equivalent from an accredited 4-year university.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in PR and media relations, along with a similar duration in project management.
• Excellent organizational skills, and a meticulous eye for detail, are required.
• Demonstrated experience writing and editing copy in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and meet tight deadlines, often with little advanced notice.
• Knowledge of crisis communications, reputation risk, and issues management is highly beneficial.
• Experience in the financial services, mortgage lending, or residential real estate industry is a plus.
• Proficiency in using various communications tools for distributing press materials, such as Cision, PR Newswire, and BusinessWire.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Outlook, and project management tools is required.

Other Duties: This job profile is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job duties and responsibilities, as one may perform additional related duties as assigned in order to meet the needs of the organization.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to lift up to ten pounds. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. VISION: See in the normal visual range with or without correction. HEARING: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

[EOE/M/F/D/V. Drug-free workplace.]

Work Authorization: Must be able to verify identity and employment eligibility to work in the U.S.

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