Senior Manager, Strategic Corporate Communications

001 Stride, Inc.; Virginia (IL); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement contributions

Paid time off

Job summary

Stride, Inc. is seeking a Communications Senior Manager to drive media, brand, and executive communications across three pods in a fully remote environment. You will lead hands-on media execution, shape strategy, and guide executives to communicate with impact.

You will manage crises, build data-driven programs, and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities and risk management.

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of corporate communications experience spanning national media strategy, internal communications, brand and reputation, executive communications, and crisis communications.
• Experience with AI-driven search and earned media shaping brand visibility and reputation.
• Experience in K-12, higher education, or another mission-driven consumer sector strongly preferred.
• Experience at a publicly traded company is a plus.
• Demonstrated success designing and leading large-scale media programs with measurable outcomes such as share of voice and reputation metrics.
• Experience managing external agencies and cross-functional or matrixed teams.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Cross-Pod Strategy and Roadmap Leadership and Own and drive the Corporate Communications roadmap, working across the Media, Channels, and Enablement pods to keep priority projects moving.
• Partner with pod leads on annual planning, campaign calendars, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Media and Brand Strategy: Shape national media and brand strategy that elevates Stride and our brands across education, consumer, and trade media.
• Guide how the team builds reputation across earned media, owned channels, and emerging surfaces like AI and generative search.
• Prepare executives and subject matter experts to be credible, confident spokespeople.
• Crisis and Issues Communications: Lead planning, response, and recovery in partnership with the Senior Director; serve as senior decision-maker during crisis when unavailable.
• Team and Agency Leadership: Set direction for pod members, ensure deadlines and quality, and develop the team's capability; manage external PR agencies and consultants.

Skills

National media strategy

Internal communications

Crisis communications

Executive communications

Media relations

Agency management

Leadership without authority

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Stride, Inc. is seeking a Communications Senior Manager to drive media, brand, and executive communications across three pods in a fully remote environment. You will lead hands-on media execution, shape strategy, and guide executives to communicate with impact.

You will manage crises, build data-driven programs, and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities and risk management.