Director, Communications

America's Test Kitchen; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Culinary Media Group seeks a Director of Communications to lead strategic media relations for America’s Test Kitchen, Food52, and future acquisitions. Based in Brooklyn with a hybrid schedule, the role oversees TV, digital, print and social media, crafting narratives that elevate brand visibility and drive engagement across audiences.

The position requires managing high-profile media opportunities, developing long-range plans, training in-house talent for on-camera appearances, and coordinating

Qualifications

• 8–10 years in communications/media relations
• Proven track record with national/local media
• Experience shaping long-range communications strategies

Responsibilities

• Formulate an overarching communications strategy for ATK and Food52 brands
• Manage media interactions across TV, digital, print
• Develop and maintain media contacts nationwide
• Craft compelling storylines aligned with business goals
• Train and supervise in-house talent for media appearances
• Collaborate with Marketing on brand positioning and campaigns
• Monitor coverage and analyze industry trends

Skills

Media relations

Strategic comms

Crisis management

Executive communications

Team leadership

Job description

The Culinary Media Group is seeking a Director, Communications to oversee the company’s communications and media relations strategies for America’s Test Kitchen (ATK), Food52 and any subsequent acquisitions. This supervisory role based in Brooklyn, NY reports to the Chief Executive Officer and will have a significant role in helping to shape the future of the company.

The Director, Communications, will be responsible for formulating a long-range communications plan to capitalize on ATK’s and Food52’s unique positions as pioneering brands in food and lifestyle media, and a leading producer of premium food content across TV, streaming, digital and social media, podcasts, magazines, cookbooks, and more. This newly defined role requires long-range vision to build on the companies’ storied legacies, and short-term focus to capitalize on myriad opportunities to enhance and to help define the brands with consumers on a daily basis. It is a multifaceted role with wide responsibilities that vary from securing appearances on TV news/talk shows, to developing plans to successfully launch new cookbooks, to monitoring trends in food/cooking media, to training emerging in-house talent for on-camera appearances, to working with influencers in the food space, to promoting digital products and subscriptions, and more. A lot more. It is a truly unique position that will provide a strong communications executive the opportunity to reimagine ATK’s and Food52’s relationship with the media, and to work for a creative, successful company where savory aromas from the test kitchens waft through the offices.

Primary Responsibilities

• Formulate a communications strategy that simultaneously achieves the macro-level goal of raising the visibility and brand perception of ATK and Food52 with new and existing audiences, while also achieving micro-level goals (e.g. promote TV shows, sell new books, increase subscriptions)
• Manage all interactions and requests with the media across TV, digital and print platforms, including consumer-facing and trade press
• Develop and maintain a network of media contacts across national, local and trade press, and communicate with contacts regularly and proactively
• Craft storylines and identify themes that support the company’s business goals
• Strengthen media profiles for top and emerging on-screen talent, and secure appearances that align with strategic goals for each talent
• Write and edit press releases, briefing documents, and select messaging for internal company communications
• Serve as the primary communications spokesperson
• Identify opportunities for members of the management, business and content teams to tell the ATK and Food52 stories in target media outlets
• Monitor press coverage and compile recurring clip packages documenting ATK and Food52 competitor placements, stories and references in the media
• Conduct regular competitive landscape analysis to monitor marketplace trends and industry best practices, and to determine opportunities for differentiation for ATK and Food52
• Collaborate closely with the Marketing teams on positioning the companies brands, and how best to communicate their promise to varied audiences
• Explore different ways to communicate ATK’s and Food52’s value to audiences, including events such as lectures, cooking demos, interviews with food influencers, and the like
• Interact with ATK and Food52 employees regularly to understand their work and to keep a finger on the pulse of the companies to help formulate pitches and storylines
• Develop fluency with ATK’s and Food52’s content in order to take the lead in collaborating with talent on media appearance segments, scripts and elements
• Enhance ATK’s and Food52’s role as a thought leader and source of trusted information for media
• Position ATK and Food52 for industry recognition, including submitting nominations for the annual top food and media organization awards

Skills & Experience

• At least 8-10 years of experience in communications and media/public relations
• Experience as a manager and the owner of a communications strategy
• Proven success building and fostering relationships with the media
• Prior experience working in cooking/food communications role preferred, but not required
• Expertise in media public relations specifically for television, magazines, books, and digital media
• Track record of securing high-impact placements that position companies/brands favorably
• Strong understanding of social media and how to leverage platforms to enhance communications efforts
• Ability to manage multiple projects/requests simultaneously
• Unparalleled verbal and written skills, and proficiency presenting ideas in a clear and concise manner
• Strong analytical skills and understanding of how to measure the value of media placements

Schedule

Hybrid schedule of 3-4 days per week in our office in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with regular trips to our Boston office.

Salary Range:

$120,000 - $130,000

The range provided is based on what we reasonably expect to pay for this job as of the time of posting. The actual salary offered will be determined based on multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, geographical location, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

About Culinary Media Group

Culinary Media Group is the leading authority in food media, comprising four iconic brands: America’s Test Kitchen, Food52, Cook’s Country, and Cook’s Illustrated. Together, we bring the full funnel of food media to life. Our mission is to make every day more delicious and meaningful through thoughtful content, curated products, and vibrant community experiences.