Assistant Director of Communications

Project Bread connects people and communities in Massachusetts to reliable sources of food while advocating for policies that make food more accessible—so that no one goes hungry. To assist us in meeting our mission, Project Bread – The Walk for Hunger is seeking an Assistant Director of Communications to join our team.

At Project Bread, we have a deep commitment to creating positive social change and recognize that hunger and racism are inextricably linked. We work in a fast-paced environment that values learning, innovation, and diverse perspectives. Knowing its centrality to our work, Project Bread is committed to equity and inclusion. We aspire to build a diverse team, including groups that are traditionally underrepresented among our sector leadership. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Supervisor: Director of Communications

Starting Salary Range: $80,00-$85,000

The Role: The Assistant Director of Communication plays a critical role in advancing Project Bread’s thought leadership and visibility within Massachusetts across a variety of subjects including policy and advocacy, federal nutrition programs, programmatic promotion, and direct services. You will inform and execute the public relations strategy and support organizational goals through press, events, and other external channels. This position is highly visible within the organization, collaborating closely with the senior leadership team, cross-functional colleagues, and the Council of Experts to support public relations activities and act as media spokespeople. The successful candidate for this role will be energized by the dynamic nature of media relations and ability to shape Project Bread’s response to timely media conversations.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Oversee public relations strategy for the organization, working closely across teams and with Project Bread leadership, to amplify major campaigns including The Walk for Hunger, policy and advocacy work, fundraising, Summer Eats, and other organizational priorities.
• Manage proactive and reactive media opportunities, helping to shape Project Bread’s response to and role in timely media requests.
• Inform the organization’s positioning and messaging frameworks to secure media placements.
• Develop press materials that align with Project Bread’s core messaging, including press releases, media talking points, event remarks, award submissions, and more, and support cross-promotion across Project Bread’s channels to amplify coverage.
• Serve as a media spokesperson and Project Bread ambassador when needed and train Project Bread team members and partners in serving as spokespeople.
• Manage Project Bread’s external public relations agency and media partners, including regular meetings, budget and contract management, and project coordination.
• Collaborate and build relationships with external vendors, press and media contacts, community organizations, people with lived experience and internal teams to ensure media placements represent diverse voices and accurately reflect the state of hunger in MA and the solutions that exist to address it.
• Set PR goals and budget, analyze and track press coverage, and adjust strategies to ensure goals are met.

Organizational Responsibilities:

• Support the annual Walk for Hunger, including working as event staff the weekend of the Walk (first weekend in May), and attending pre-Walk events as assigned.
• Participate in organization-wide events and meetings.
• Act to promote, sustain, and grow Project Bread’s positive, productive, and inclusive working environment.

Qualifications:

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We know people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. Project Bread recognizes this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate most of the qualifications and experiences listed below.

Priority Competencies:

• Strategic Communications & Media Relations: Demonstrated ability to develop and execute public relations strategies across multiple channels. Skilled in both proactive and reactive media relations, with a track record of securing meaningful press placements and shaping organizational narratives.
• Relationship Building & Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to foster long-term relationships with media contacts, community partners, and internal colleagues across levels and departments. Committed to centering diverse voices and people with lived experience in media strategy and coverage.
• Independent Judgment & Initiative: Self-directed and resourceful; able to assess the organizational landscape, set priorities, and move work forward. Brings vision and confidence to the role, identifying where and how to plug in communications work across a broad range of organizational functions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Managing Up: Skilled at working across teams and supporting senior leaders with messaging development and communications counsel. Able to delegate effectively, coordinate with cross-functional colleagues, and keep multiple stakeholders aligned.

Additional Qualifications and Experience:

• 5-7 years of experience in nonprofit communications or public relations; experience with issues related to hunger or food insecurity preferred
• Commitment to Project Bread’s mission to connect people and communities in Massachusetts to reliable sources of food while advocating for policies that make food more accessible
• Experience working with or managing external vendors, such as PR agencies or media consultants
• Strong writing and editing skills across formats, including press releases, op-eds, talking points, and event remarks
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects through to completion
• Experience supporting executive or senior leadership with messaging, talking points, and communications strategy
• Event management experience, particularly press events, preferred
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and time-sensitive media requests

Working Location:

All employees work a hybrid of remote and in-office model. The Assistant Director of Communications is expected to work in the East Boston office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and other days as needed. The Assistant Director is also required to attend occasional organization events including press conferences, media days, and other events.

Benefits:

Benefits include health and dental, flexible spending accounts, retirement plan with match after one year, fully paid PFML leave, life and long-term disability, contributions to professional development, commuting costs, and wellness expenses, and flexible paid time off.

Priority consideration will be given to candidates that apply by June 17.

Project Bread is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, height, weight, or marital status in employment or the provision of services. Please contact us at jobs@projectbread.org if you would like to request special accommodations during the interview process.

Benefits include health and dental, flexible spending accounts, retirement plan with match after one year, fully paid PFML leave, life and long-term disability, contributions to professional development, commuting costs, and wellness expenses, and flexible paid time off.