Communications Associate

TED; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

TED's Audacious Project seeks a Communications Associate to elevate brand storytelling, handling media outreach, content creation, and social media while collaborating with the Director of Brand & Communications and nonprofit partners.

You will surface compelling grantee stories, craft donor communications, manage editorial calendars, and contribute to campaigns in a fast-paced, mission-driven team that values creative storytelling and collaborative impact.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of communications experience, with exposure to philanthropy or social impact.
• Exceptional writing and editing across formats—from social copy to long-form narratives.
• Experience with media relations, including developing pitch angles and managing press outreach.
• Strong collaboration skills and enjoyment of cross-team work with external partners.
• Highly organized and proactive, able to manage fast-paced, multi-stream work.
• Creative thinker who brings fresh ideas and follow-through.
• Deep curiosity about the issues Audacious grantees are solving—from climate to health to social justice.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute proactive media outreach; draft pitches and talking points.
• Identify timely stories across the portfolio and content calendar.
• Draft media materials: press releases, backgrounders, talking points.
• Support media outreach, engagement, and press outcomes.
• Ideate, write, and edit grantee stories, blog posts, newsletters, web copy, donor updates.
• Develop accessible narratives translating global issues for core audiences.
• Collaborate with Director of Brand & Comms on storytelling approaches and donor connections.
• Maintain editorial calendars and content workflows.
• Support social media planning and content creation.

Skills

Writing

Media relations

Collaboration

Project management

Creative thinking

Curiosity

Tools

Analytics tools

Job description

Company Description

ABOUT TED

About The Audacious Project

The Audacious Project is a collaborative funding initiative catalyzing social impact on a grand scale. Every year, we select and nurture a group of big, bold solutions to the world's most urgent challenges — and with the support of an inspiring community of donors, come together to get them launched. Housed at TED, the nonprofit with a long track record of surfacing ideas worth spreading, Audacious has helped catalyze nearly $9B in support of 70 bold projects spanning health, climate and community-led innovation.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a creative, driven Communications Associate with experience in philanthropy and social impact, to join the Audacious team in uplifting the brand and telling the stories that matter most. This is a full-time role for someone who is energized by the intersection of big ideas, philanthropic impact and powerful storytelling.

You will work with the Director of Brand & Communications and across the Audacious team to surface and shape compelling narratives about the work that Audacious grantees are leading, extend awareness and visibility for Audacious as a collaborative and develop creative ideas to share our work and learnings across the sector. From
media pitching to social content, grantee storytelling to newsletter writing, this role will be a key part of how Audacious shows up in the world.

This is a role for someone who is eager to be at the forefront of the growing collaborative philanthropy space, a creative thinking and storyteller who loves working as part of a team, who loves writing, ideation and content creation and who brings genuine enthusiasm for working alongside nonprofits and philanthropic organizations to strengthen how they communicate their work. And you will have a front‑row seat — and an active hand — in shaping how the world understands what bold, collaborative philanthropy can do and what stories are told.

Job Description

Media Relations & Pitching

• Support the development and execution of proactive media outreach, including drafting pitches, thought leadership support, building and maintaining media lists and coordinating reporter relationships
• Work across the Audacious team to identify timely, pitchworthy stories across the portfolio and content calendar
• Help draft media materials including press releases, backgrounders and talking points for internal and external partners
• Support on media outreach and engagement, media reporting and press outcomes

Content Creation & Writing

• Ideate, write and edit a range of content — including grantee stories, blog posts, impact updates, newsletter updates, web copy and donor communications
• Develop strong, accessible narratives that translate complex global issues into stories that resonate with core audiences
• Work closely with the Director of Brand and Comms to develop new ways to develop storytelling and connect with donors, grantees and partners
• Maintain and evolve editorial calendars and content workflows

Social Media Support

• Work with the social media lead to support social media planning, content creation and community management across Audacious channels

Storytelling & Communications Support

• Partner with grantees to understand their work and surface compelling stories that illustrate progress and impact
• Develop content and tools that showcase the breadth and depth of Audacious and the impact of its grantee community more powerfully and consistently

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Serve as an embedded comms partner for Audacious teams to identify communications opportunities and support broader organizational needs, track milestones and news
• Contribute to overall communications planning, ensuring a cohesive, consistent brand voice across all channels and audiences
• Support the Director of Brand & Communications on special projects, content creation, campaigns and initiatives as they arise

Qualifications

Required

• 3–5 years of communications experience, with a strong background in or meaningful exposure to philanthropy, collaboratives, nonprofit or social impact organizations
• Exceptional writing and editing skills across formats — from punchy social copy to long‑form narrative storytelling
• Experience with media relations, including developing pitch angles, pitching journalists and managing press outreach
• Strong collaboration skills and a genuine enjoyment of working across teams and with external partners
• Highly organized and proactive, able to manage a fast pace of work, multiple workstreams, deadlines and priorities with care and attention to detail
• A creative thinker who brings fresh ideas and follow through
• Deep curiosity about and commitment to the issues Audacious grantees are working to solve — from climate to global health to social justice

Preferred

• Direct experience working with or supporting philanthropic organizations or family offices on communications and storytelling
• Familiarity with social media platforms (YouTube, IG, LI) and analytics tools
• Experience crafting communications for or in partnership with grantee or partner organizations, with an eye towards about voice and narrative
• Comfort navigating a small, fast‑moving, mission‑driven team

Additional Information

Who You Are

You don't wait to be told what the story is, you find it. You write clearly, think
creatively, and care deeply about your work. You're as energized by work that changes the world and want to be part of sharing those stories and wins with the world. You want your work to matter, and you're excited to bring that energy to the
Audacious community and audiences around the world.

• Lead with curiosity and approach complex, global issues with nuance and care
• A self-starter with strong follows through and attention to detail
• A collaborative team player who thrives in a fast paced, driven and highly‑visible organization and team
• A communicator who knows the importance of creative storytelling and the impact of strong narratives
• Energized by the worlds of philanthropy, social change and impact — and excited to grow and develop this space

The Audacious Project is housed at TED and is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities our grantees serve.

TED Conferences LLC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.