Communications Manager, Client Services

Client Services Communications Manager

ReThink Media seeks a Communications Manager to support their Client Services team. In this role, you will join a small, dedicated team of communications professionals, researchers, and trainers to work on the most pressing issues of our time. Rather than focusing on a single issue or organization, joining the ReThink team means putting your communications skills to work for multiple fantastic organizations, coalitions, and campaigns.

ReThink Media strengthens progressive movements through communications. We work with coalitions, campaigns, and values-aligned organizations to strengthen their communications power. Our work spans strategy and analysis, media and messaging support, skills-building for advocates, discounted access to essential communications tools paired with hands-on guidance, shared learning through data and collaboration, and direct connections between experts and top reporters covering their issues.

The Client Services team bolsters movements by working one-on-one with individual nonprofits, helping them build their communications capacity while being that capacity. In some instances, we are acting as a part-time comms staff for an org that has none; in others, we are supplementing the existing staff to boost a project or lend specialist talent. When organizations have more capacity and can wield communications tools more effectively, they are better coalition partners and campaign leaders. We help them get there.

Description

The Communications Manager reports to the Chief Operating Officer, and will work in close coordination with members of the Client Services team and other staff to build and implement communication strategies, generate news coverage, and fine-tune messaging on behalf of client organizations. The Communications Manager will also bring their skills and experience to bear on coalition projects, working closely with the Collaborative Campaigns team.

Principal Duties

• Act as primary point-of-contact and account owner for several client organizations. This includes meeting and communicating with clients regularly, project management for each account, filing brief monthly reports, and coordinating the execution of the work between yourself and, potentially, other team members.
• Assist organizations in strategic communications planning and media work, including but not limited to: co-developing communications plans and goals; co-developing digital media strategies and tactics; developing and implementing strategies for editorial outreach; assisting with pitching and placement of spokespeople and content; coaching spokespeople and communications staff at client organizations.
• Assist in the development of communications tools and materials, including messaging and talking points, tailored press lists, sample social media content, and, where appropriate, story pitches, press releases, and opinion pieces.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key journalists; assist client organizations in building their own networks of media contacts.
• Assist with media monitoring, using a variety of tools to engage ReThink’s clients in responding to emerging media opportunities.
• Work with the Research & Analysis team to leverage media analysis, public opinion analysis, and message research for more effective communications; help clients make their communications data-driven.
• Represent ReThink in client meetings, as assigned, to provide media and communications expertise in those discussions.
• Assist in planning and carrying out events, journalist meet-and-greets, briefings, press conferences, etc., as needed.
• Work with the Collaborative Campaigns team, as needed, to do one or more of the duties described above in a coalition/campaign setting.
• Occasionally support clients and partners with tailored workshops to build internal communications skills.

Essential Skills and Qualifications

We are open to candidates with unusual or non-traditional combinations of experience and communications expertise.

• 4-6 years of relevant work experience in strategic communications and/or media engagement.
• Expertise in at least one, preferably two or three, and a strong understanding of the following areas:
  • Communications strategy and tactical advising (e.g., comms planning, tailored messaging, crafting press releases, digital toolkits, media briefings)
  • Integrating research into a communications strategy (e.g., public opinion analysis, data and polling, community listening sessions for audience development)
  • Earned media support (e.g., local and national pitching, building reporter relations, media planning, knowledge of how to engage digital-only new platforms like NowThis)
  • Rapid response support and planning (e.g., planning and training for crisis preparedness, supporting organizational response in a crisis)
  • Owned media support (e.g., drafting blogs, op-eds, and LTEs)
  • Digital communications, including digital asset creation (social graphics, short-form video), email marketing, paid and organic social strategy (influencer marketing and ads), web and social tracking, media monitoring.
• Ability to identify opportunities, creatively and strategically frame ideas, develop stories, and synthesize complex policy issues in a way that appeals to reporters, editors, producers, and a wide variety of audiences.
• Ability to serve as a trusted strategic advisor to nonprofit leaders and communications staff, including the capacity to offer constructive pushback when a client's proposed approach may not achieve their goals.
• Track record of working effectively across diverse organizational cultures and levels of communications expertise. Experience building relationships with people whose perspectives, backgrounds, languages, or expertise differ from your own, and translating between different organizational contexts to ensure alignment.
• Strong writing and editing skills.

Desired but not required

• Basic understanding of and/or facility with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Hubspot, Insightly); media contact and monitoring databases (e.g., MuckRack, Cision); familiarity with the Google Suite; familiarity with Zoom webinars.
• Experience with basic graphic design principles and tools (e.g., Canva).
• Experience with leveraging AI large language models (e.g., Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT) for communications use cases.
• Foundational data literacy: ability to track and analyze key performance metrics across social media platforms, website analytics (GA4), and media/press coverage.

Location, Benefits, and Salary

This is a remote, full-time position. ReThink aims to recruit the best people for every position and currently has an all-remote staffing model. At the same time, some locations are more immediately relevant to the strategic objectives of our work. Applicants are welcome from across the country, but will be considered in conjunction with their strategic proximity to key partner locations or constituencies. We have a preference for candidates based in and around the Washington, DC area.

The position will require occasional travel (2–4 trips per year) to staff and planning meetings, and to presentations, convenings, and events. In all cases, ReThink requires employees to live within 90 minutes of a major airport to facilitate occasional travel. The salary range listed below pertains to employees in Washington, DC and might be adjusted for candidates in locations with much lower costs of living.

ReThink Media is committed to pay equity and transparency in our salary, raise, and benefits structure. We regularly conduct market comparisons. Staff receive an annual 360º performance review and ReThink is strongly committed to internal and external professional development. We aim to attract, develop, and retain diverse, talented, and growth-minded staff.

This is an intermediate-level position that comes with a generous benefits, vacation, sabbatical, and retirement package (details provided to candidates invited to interview). Salary is commensurate with experience; the starting annual salary range for this position is $72,500–90,300.

Application instructions

Priority consideration will be given to those who apply by September 27, 2026. This position is open until filled. We are assessing candidates on a rolling basis.

To apply, please follow the application link and upload your resume as a PDF attachment with your name in the title of the attachment (e.g. Your Name-Resume.pdf). In lieu of a cover letter, please briefly answer (in 200 words or less) the short questions provided.

ReThink Media is an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive organization. People of marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds and identities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ReThink Media is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best available person in every job. ReThink Media policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race (including traits associated with race such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression (including sex stereotyping), age, religion or religious creed (including religious observances, practices, dress, head scarves, beards, and grooming standards associated with one’s religious beliefs or practices), physical, intellectual or mental disability, medical condition, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, AIDS/HIV status, marital or domestic partnership status, military service, veteran or military status, military caregiver status, status as a victim of domestic violence, assault or stalking, criminal history (including arrests and records of conviction), political affiliation or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws (collectively referred to as “protected characteristic”). It also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of the protected characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. All such unlawful discrimination will not be tolerated. ReThink Media is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in organizational operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and coworkers.

Diversity Statement

ReThink is committed to a just and equitable society wherein all people are treated equally, opportunity is justly distributed, and all voices are heard. We affirm and seek diversity in gender, race, color, ethnicity & national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), class, religion, ability, life experiences, and background as both a positive contribution to our organizational environment and a critical asset for informing and enabling our work. With this in mind, we are committed to maintaining a work environment that recognizes, understands, respects, and encourages the unique contributions of each member and we approach every hiring decision with a commitment to workplace diversity.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

In our commitment to efficiency and thoroughness, ReThink Media may use artificial intelligence tools to assist with initial application review, organization, and preliminary screening. Every hiring decision is made by human members of our team. Humans remain “in the loop” throughout our entire recruitment process, and we maintain strict controls to ensure that AI models do not train on or retain applicant data.

This is an intermediate-level position that comes with a generous benefits, vacation, sabbatical, and retirement package (details provided to candidates invited to interview).