Senior Associate, Strategic Communications (Non-Profit)

Manhattan Strategies; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

401(k) contribution

Paid family leave

Healthcare, vision and dental

Unlimited PTO

Hybrid work environment

Office snacks and beverages

Team lunches and celebrations

Job summary

Manhattan Strategies in New York, NY seeks a Senior Associate for Strategic Communications to take ownership of workstreams for a complex nonprofit with US and international affiliates. The role involves crafting press materials, managing media relations, and coordinating public relations campaigns across cross-functional teams.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in strategic communications, agency or consultancy experience, excellent writing, and proven project management.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in strategic communications, public relations, integrated communications, or a related field.
• Agency or consultancy experience strongly preferred; nonprofit or mission-driven experience is a plus.
• Excellent writing and editorial skills with the ability to adapt voice across clients, executives, and audiences.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day client needs across diverse projects and workstreams.
• Develop and execute strategic communications campaigns across owned and earned media.
• Own projects from kickoff through delivery, managing timelines and stakeholders.
• Draft and oversee client-ready communications materials including press releases and blogs.
• Collaborate with strategy, creative, digital, web and video teams to align with broader strategy.
• Mentor junior team members and provide guidance on ownership of work.

Skills

Client Engagement

Communications Strategy

Project Management

Content Development

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Research & Analysis

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or a related field

Job description

Manhattan Strategies is seeking a Senior Associate for Strategic Communications to join our team. We’re looking for a highly motivated communications strategist who will take ownership of workstreams for a complex, multi-entity nonprofit organization with affiliate operations across the U.S. and internationally. The ideal candidate can independently run projects across a multidisciplinary team, manage day-to-day client needs, and produce strong, client-ready work.

THE FIRM

Manhattan Strategies is an award-winning design-forward consulting firm specializing in crafting powerful visual narratives for leading and emerging brands. Manhattan Strategies was founded on a simple hypothesis: if you communicate visually, you maximize your power to compel action. We combine an attentive communications agency with a boldly ambitious design studio, and the combination is what makes us different.

We've been recognized by ADWEEK among the fastest-growing agencies and by Inc Magazine as one of the fastest-growing companies in America. We've won dozens of awards across design, branding, web development and video production. The team is sharp, collaborative and genuinely passionate about making things that look and work great.

THE ROLE

This is a full-time hybrid role based in New York, NY, with flexibility for some remote work. The Senior Associate, Strategic Communications will play a key role in developing and executing communication strategies that amplify brand messages. Responsibilities include crafting press releases, managing media relations, coordinating public relations campaigns, and creating strategies to effectively convey organizational goals. The selected candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive messaging and impactful outreach efforts.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Client Engagement: Manage day-to-day client needs across a diverse set of projects and workstreams, building strong relationships with senior level executives, anticipating needs, and providing thoughtful counsel in partnership with internal senior account leadership.
• Communications Strategy: Develop and execute strategic communications campaigns and initiatives across owned and earned media, including messaging, social media, web, storytelling, media relations, and press outreach.
• Project Ownership: Own projects and workstreams from kickoff through delivery, managing timelines, priorities, stakeholders, internal teams, client feedback, and quality control.
• Content Development: Draft and oversee development of high-quality, client-ready communications materials, including messaging, presentations, press releases, blog posts, social content, email campaigns, briefs, and other strategic materials.
• Strategic Support: Serve as a strong second owner across priority client work, particularly during major launches, events, campaigns, presentations, and other high-volume moments, helping drive both strategy and execution while keeping workstreams moving.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with strategy, creative, digital, web, and video teams, translating client needs into clear briefs and ensuring work remains aligned with the broader strategy.
• Research & Analysis: Quickly get up to speed on client organizations, industries, audiences, and relevant trends, using research and insights to strengthen communications strategies and recommendations.
• Mentor Junior Team Members: Provide guidance, feedback, and support to junior team members, helping them take greater ownership of their work and develop their skills.

WHO YOU ARE

This opportunity is ideal for you if you:

• Take ownership of your work, follow through on commitments, and care deeply about producing high-quality work.
• Absorb new information quickly and welcome direct feedback.
• Enjoy working closely with others and believe collaboration leads to better work.
• Can take a complex client need and turn it into a clear strategy, an actionable plan, and compelling content.
• Are a strong writer who can develop thoughtful, client-ready work across different formats and audiences.
• Are comfortable owning projects from kickoff through delivery, keeping clients, senior account leadership, and internal teams aligned along the way.
• Anticipate needs and bring solutions and ideas to the table without waiting to be asked.
• Build trusted client relationships and have strong instincts for what great client service looks like, especially with senior leadership.
• Can move easily between strategic thinking and hands-on execution, from shaping an approach to briefing a creative team or leading a client call.

YOUR EXPERIENCE

• 3-5 years of experience in strategic communications, public relations, integrated communications, or a related field.
• Agency or consultancy experience strongly preferred; nonprofit or mission-driven experience is a plus.
• Experience independently managing client-facing projects and significant workstreams.
• Excellent writing and editorial skills, with the ability to adapt voice and messaging across different clients, executives, and audiences.
• Strong project management skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong judgment, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to client service and problem-solving.
• Ability to take complex or unfamiliar information and quickly translate it into clear strategy, messaging, briefs and polished communications.
• Experience collaborating across digital, social, web, creative, and/or video projects preferred.
• Comfortable giving and receiving feedback and working closely with multidisciplinary teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or a related field preferred.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Total Compensation Range: $75,000–$87,000 per year

*Compensation includes base salary plus bonuses; final offer within this range is based on the candidate's

experience.

• Profit share eligibility
• 401(k) company contribution
• Paid family leave
• Healthcare, vision and dental insurance
• Unlimited PTO
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit options
• Hybrid work environment
• Open, collaborative office space designed for both collaboration and focused work
• Leadership that is accessible and invested in your growth
• Ongoing learning opportunities and skills development
• An environment where diverse perspectives are not just welcomed, but valued
• Pantry stocked with an array of beverages and snacks
• Scheduled team lunches, celebrations and recognition of milestone moments and wins

Manhattan Strategies is an equal opportunity employer. We believe diverse teams make better work.