Communications Manager

Communications Manager (Remote)

At Aspire Living and Learning, we don't just talk about making an impact. We live it. For more than 40 years, we have supported neurodiverse children and adults across New England and Maryland as they discover their passions, unlock their potential, and live more independently in their communities. Our person-centered services evolve with each person's needs, spanning education, behavioral health, residential support, and community-based services, guided by dignity, choice, and real-world outcomes.

As an organization, Aspire's voice matters. The Communications Manager helps ensure our story is clear, credible, and consistently told to the communities we serve and the audiences we partner with. This role supports families, schools, funders, policymakers, journalists, and prospective employees, and it strengthens internal alignment through leadership messaging that builds trust, shared understanding, and momentum.

If you are a strong storyteller who can translate complex work into human centered narratives, partner effectively across teams, and take pride in shaping how Aspire shows up in the world, we would love to hear from you.

This remote role reports to the Director of Marketing and supports executive leadership, media relations, and Aspire's external visibility. We offer remote work only to candidates located within our service area: New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

What You'll Do

• Translate complex operational and clinical work into compelling, human-centered narratives that resonate with external audiences such as families, schools, funders, policymakers, and prospective employees.
• Develop messaging frameworks, talking points, and narrative guides that keep Aspire's story consistent across departments and channels.
• Proactively identify positioning gaps and help shape external narratives before they're defined for us.
• Manage media relations, including drafting press releases, pitching stories, and responding to inquiries.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists and outlets across Aspire's footprint, with emphasis on Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maryland.
• Support thought leadership by helping identify opportunities and preparing Aspire spokespeople for interviews, panels, and speaking engagements.
• Draft op eds, bylines, and award submissions that elevate Aspire's reputation in human services, behavioral health, and education.
• Monitor emerging industry conversations and help insert Aspire's perspective with clarity and confidence.
• Partner with the marketing team to amplify Aspire's external visibility through digital and content channels.
• Draft and refine leadership messaging, all staff updates, and executive talking points aligned with Aspire's voice and values.
• Support change communication in partnership with senior leadership and People & Culture to maintain trust and transparency during periods of transition.
• Serve as a communications resource for cross-functional initiatives that require timely, consistent messaging.
• Participate in training and assigned skill-building opportunities as delegated by management.

Our Ideal Candidate

• 3-5 years of experience in communications, public relations, or a related field.
• Strong writing skills across formats, including press releases, talking points, op-eds, and leadership communications.
• Proven ability to translate complex or technical subject matter into clear, accessible narratives for diverse audiences.
• Experience (or strong familiarity) with nonprofit, healthcare, human services, or behavioral health communications preferred.
• Familiarity with multi-state media markets and regional press relationships is a plus.
• Comfortable working independently, juggling multiple priorities, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative mindset and strong communication skills across cross-functional teams.
• Satisfactory background checks.

Working Conditions

• Remote role with professional, office-based work.
• May involve occasional travel and infrequent day and/or overnight trips.
• Some evening or weekend work may be needed to meet deadlines.
• Potential exposure to confidential employee information.

Compensation

• Pay range: $80,000-$85,000 (DOE)

Employees at Aspire enjoy working with a collaborative and dedicated team that values a culture of belonging and care. We take pride in offering a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, including:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance - Choose from multiple medical plans, with vision coverage included at no extra cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Saving Account (HSA) options - Use pre-tax dollars for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Lifestyle Spending Accounts with JOON - Monthly funds for wellness, fitness, commuting, childcare, pet care, and more.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match - A 100% match on contributions up to 2% of your salary.
• Generous Paid Time Off - Paid sick, personal, and vacation days, plus holidays.
• Professional Growth Opportunities - Access to training, leadership and management courses, mentorship, and career advancement.
• Employer-Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Telehealth Services and more!

Aspire Living & Learning believes it must play an active role in creating a community of employees that is diverse, inclusive and equitable. Our work benefits greatly from the contributions of people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, LGBTQ people, and individuals with disabilities. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.