Senior Manager, External Communications

The Senior Manager of External Communications at Understood is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies that align with our goals. This includes building relationships with media and stakeholders, securing thought leadership opportunities, and creating compelling narratives that showcase Understood.org’s offerings. You will also manage external relationships and reputation management strategies.

Candidates need a minimum of 5 years of experience in external communications, public relations, or journalism. Strong writing and communication skills are essential, alongside a proven record of managing thought leadership opportunities. Familiarity with PR measurement platforms and an ability to work collaboratively are also crucial for this role at Understood.

Understood is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging individuals from all backgrounds to apply for the Senior Manager of External Communications role. Our mission includes maximizing our organizational diversity and ensuring everyone can contribute, promoting a culture that values various perspectives and experiences.

The base salary range for the Senior Manager, External Communications role at Understood is between $110,000 and $120,000, depending on experience and qualifications. This competitive salary is complemented by a comprehensive benefits package to support employee wellness.

Experience in managing external communications, PR agencies, and executing reputation management strategies is highly beneficial for the Senior Manager position at Understood. Additionally, expertise in crafting social media strategies, particularly for platforms like LinkedIn, enhances a candidate’s suitability for this role.

When answering this question, provide specific examples of strategies you’ve developed or implemented in previous roles. Highlight how you aligned communications with organizational objectives and mention the outcomes or impact your efforts had on raising awareness or engagement.

Discuss your process for understanding audience segments and how you adapt language, tone, and content based on audience needs and preferences. Share examples of narratives you’ve customized for various stakeholders in your previous roles.

Talk about approaches you've taken, such as building relationships with media or leveraging existing networks. Provide instances where these strategies resulted in successful media engagements or speaking opportunities.

Explain your experience with monitoring public perception and detail techniques you’ve used to address any potential issues proactively. Offering a specific case where you successfully managed a reputation challenge can demonstrate your capability in this area.

List platforms you are proficient in, such as Cision or Meltwater, and discuss how you leverage these tools to analyze the effectiveness of campaigns and communications strategies. Be sure to highlight any metrics you've improved through your reporting.

Share how you engage with various departments to gather insights or contributions, and provide examples of cross-team projects in which you played a key role that led to successful campaigns.

Provide examples of materials you’ve created, such as press releases, fact sheets, or social media content, and describe how these tools supported specific communication strategies or goals.

Discuss your process for coaching leaders, including message development, practice sessions, and logistical preparations. Illustrating your method can highlight your comprehensive approach to engagement.

Describe a specific campaign, outlining objectives, strategies employed, and the final results. Emphasize your role in the campaign and what you learned from its success.

Talk about standard operating procedures or guidelines you’ve implemented to maintain a unified voice in all communications. It is helpful to reference any previous experiences where you successfully ensured message alignment.