Head of Communications & PR

Amira accelerates reading outcomes by delivering the science of reading and neuroscience to every student. Validated by independent efficacy research from universities and state education agencies, Amira's impact on student reading growth is proven nationwide. More than 2,500 school districts and state agencies trust Amira to deliver measurable reading results with over 5 million students around the world becoming stronger readers with Amira. Unlike any other edtech tool, Amira continuously pinpoints each student’s reading skills and helps teachers build lessons aligned to their district’s curriculum, drawing directly from the high-quality instructional materials they already use. Teachers can finally differentiate instruction with evidence and ease, and every student gets the one‑on‑one practice they need, whether they’re racing ahead or working to catch up. Join our mission‑driven team of reading scientists, AI engineers, educators, and business builders, and help to make every child become a proficient reader. The Role: The Head of Communications & PR owns how Amira's story is told - to educators, district and state leaders, policymakers, media, investors and within the company. You will make Amira the most trusted voice in reading growth, grounded in science, evidence and innovative technologies. This is a senior, hands‑on leadership role. You will set and own Amira's communications strategy, run day‑to‑day media relations, build the research voice of the company, and protect our reputation in a sector where student data, AI and public dollars draw close scrutiny. You will report to the COO and work closely with marketing, research, product, success, and sales leadership. Essential Functions: Strategy and narrative Define and own Amira's communications strategy, core narrative and messaging architecture, aligned with company goals and Amira’s brand. Translate complex research - the Science of Reading, AI, growth data, efficacy studies - into clear, credible stories for non‑technical audiences. Set annual and quarterly communications plans with measurable goals, and report results to internal stakeholders and external partners. Support policy and government affairs with communications for state agencies, legislators and coalitions. Media relations and PR Build and maintain relationships with education, technology, business and policy reporters at national, trade and regional outlets. Lead announcements: product launches, research findings, partnerships, state approvals, funding and leadership news. Pitch and place stories, op‑eds and features that position Amira as the leader in AI for reading. Manage PR agency partners, budget and press materials. Coordinate awards, speaking submissions and the newsroom. Executive and thought leadership Build the public profile of Amira through bylines, podcasts, conference keynotes and media interviews. Prepare stakeholders for interviews, panels and testimony with briefing documents and media training. Shape Amira's point of view on AI in education, literacy policy and responsible AI. Reputation and crisis communications Own crisis management, including student data privacy, AI safety and accuracy, policy controversies. Write and maintain crisis playbooks, holding statements and approval workflows with legal, security and policy teams. Monitor media and social coverage and advise leadership on emerging risks. Customer stories and community Partner with marketing and sales to amplify district success stories, growth data and educator voices. Grow Amira's Community Hub as the home where educators, coaches and leaders share practice, ask questions and celebrate reading growth. Equip Champions to tell their stories through case studies, webinars, social content, conference sessions and media interviews. Turn community insight into feedback for product, research and marketing teams, closing the loop with educators. Set goals for community growth, engagement and advocacy, and report on them regularly. Internal communications Lead internal communications, including all‑hands content, leadership messages and change communications, so every employee can tell the Amira story. Team leadership Lead a small, high‑performing communications team and agency bench as the company grows. Qualifications (Education and Experience): 10+ years in communications, PR or journalism, including 3+ years leading communications for a company, agency practice or mission‑driven organization. A track record of earning top‑tier coverage in national business, technology or education media, with relationships to show for it. Experience building thought‑leadership programs that moved a company's reputation. Hands‑on crisis management experience, ideally on sensitive topics such as data privacy, children or public funding. Exceptional writing and editing: you can draft a press release, an op‑ed, a company‑wide memo and a crisis statement in the same afternoon. The ability to make research and technical ideas accurate, simple and compelling, without overstating them. Sound judgment, discretion and comfort advising executive leadership directly. A builder's mindset: comfortable doing the work yourself while scaling a team and agency partners. Genuine belief that every child should learn to read, and curiosity about how AI can help. Preferred Experience Experience in K–12 education, edtech, literacy or education policy, including knowledge of the Science of Reading movement. Communications experience in AI or another emerging technology facing public debate. Experience building an online community, ambassador or advocacy program, ideally with teachers or other professional communities. Relationships with state education agencies, legislators or education coalitions. Experience supporting a company through fundraising, M&A or rapid growth. Spanish fluency, or experience reaching bilingual and Spanish‑speaking families and educators. Familiarity with media monitoring, measurement and social listening tools. Personal Attributes Mission-driven. You care deeply that every child becomes a fluent reader, and that conviction shows up in your work. Evidence-first. You respect research and data, and you'd rather under‑promise and prove it than overstate a claim. Educator-centered . You listen to teachers and leaders, treat them as partners, and let their voices lead the story. AI advocate. You're excited about what AI can do for learning, and thoughtful about using it responsibly and transparently. Builder at heart. You're energized by creating something new, comfortable with ambiguity, and willing to roll up your sleeves. Sense of urgency. You move with speed - acting fast on news cycles and opportunities. You can make decisions with imperfect information, and keep momentum without sacrificing accuracy. Collaborative and low‑ego . You work across research, product, sales and policy, share credit, and assume good intent. Candid and trustworthy. You give direct, honest advice, handle sensitive information with discretion, and own your mistakes. I nclusive. You value the diverse students, families and communities Amira serves, including bilingual and Spanish‑speaking learners. Why Join Amira Mission‑driven work: Support literacy development for PreK‑7 students across the country Technical innovation: Work at the frontier of AI‑enabled customer success Strategic impact: Your work directly influences revenue and shapes how we serve millions of students Growth opportunity: Build and scale automation infrastructure as the company and team grow Collaborative culture: Work with a small, focused team where your contributions are visible and valued Medical, dental, and vision benefits 401(k) with company matching Flexible time off Stock option ownership The opportunity to help children around the world reach their full potential Commitment to Diversity: Amira Learning serves a diverse group of students and educators across the United States and internationally. We believe every student should have access to a high‑quality education and that it takes a diverse group of people with a wide range of experiences to develop and deliver a product that meets that goal. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The posted salary range reflects the minimum and maximum base salary the company reasonably expects to pay for this role. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is based on location, job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, military service, or any other status protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr