Summary of the Communications Manager, Kronika job at Pen American Center

PEN America, a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of literature and human rights, seeks an experienced and strategic communications manager to support Kronika’s English-language communications and public outreach. This is a full-time position based in PEN America’s New York City headquarters and reports to the Managing Director, PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center. This temporary position has a fixed term ending on June 30, 2027.

Kronika, a joint project of PEN America and Bard College, sits at the intersection of archives, digital preservation, research, and advocacy, working to prevent the loss of endangered journalism and cultural memory in the digital age. The communications manager will play a central role in helping to shape Kronika’s English-language public voice and institutional positioning across media, cultural, academic, and public-interest sectors, with a particular focus on New York City as a hub for visibility, partnerships, and community-building. The role is responsible for developing communications strategies and messaging; cultivating relationships with journalists, writers, editors, researchers, technologists, funders, and cultural institutions; coordinating collaborative public programs and editorial initiatives; securing national and international media coverage; and building a strong local and international professional community around Kronika’s work.

The ideal candidate will be a strong writer, skilled relationship-builder, and creative strategist with good editorial judgement and experience working across media, publishing, nonprofit, or public-interest sectors. They will be comfortable operating in international and interdisciplinary environments and excited by the challenge of building visibility, partnerships, and engagement around archival and public-interest work.

All positions are subject to a six-month trial period and assessment. In alignment with PEN America’s current policy, all applicants should be available to report to the office at least three days per week. This policy is subject to change.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support Kronika’s English-language communications and public outreach strategy across editorial, digital, media, and public-facing channels
• Maintain and help shape Kronika’s English-language institutional voice, messaging, and public positioning across communications platforms and external materials
• Develop and manage partnerships with U.S.-based and international media organizations, NGOs, technologists, human rights organizations, universities, archives, and cultural institutions to amplify Kronika’s work and extend its reach, including convenings and public programs
• Actively cultivate relationships with journalists, editors, producers, writers, and public-facing partners in support of Kronika’s visibility and institutional positioning
• Secure and coordinate national and international media coverage for Kronika’s initiatives, archives, and public programming
• Represent Kronika at conferences, panels, festivals, convenings, and professional platforms in the United States and internationally
• Contribute to Kronika’s international communications and institutional positioning, including the development of materials for external audiences, partners, collaborators, and funders
• Support the production and coordination of Kronika’s English-language newsletters and editorial communications, including the organization’s Substack in partnership
• Draft, edit, and coordinate communications materials including press releases, newsletters, briefing documents, website copy, institutional statements, and promotional materials
• Coordinate relevant communications activities with PEN America and Bard communications procedures and institutional requirements
• Collaborate across departments to ensure coherence between archival, technical, research, communications, and public programming work

All PEN America staff are considered to be stakeholders in the development of our shared organization. As such, staff play a role in varied activities within the workplace as part of their job responsibilities. These may include committees or task forces to work on office issues, diversity and inclusion, strategy projects, training or other initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of five years of relevant experience in communications, journalism, media relations, publishing, public affairs, cultural programming, nonprofit advocacy, or related fields
• Experience in English-language communications, editorial strategy, or public engagement initiatives for mission-driven organizations
• Strong experience building and managing partnerships with media organizations, NGOs, universities, cultural institutions, archives, or human rights organizations
• Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling and accessible public narratives
• Experience managing newsletters, editorial platforms, Substack publications, or other audience-facing editorial products preferred
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate across teams and partners
• Experience working across digital communications platforms including websites, newsletters, and social media channels
• Knowledge of issues relating to archives, journalism, censorship, freedom of expression, independent media, digital preservation, or cultural memory preferred
• Track record of initiative, creativity, sound judgement, and independent problem-solving
• Must be able to provide valid proof of U.S. work authorization
• Commitment to PEN America’s mission, centered on the celebration and defense of free expression for all. Willingness to defend the right to engage in speech that may be offensive and discomfiting and that reflects a wide range of political opinions and ideologies. PEN America promotes open and respectful dialogue across difference, and we work to allow a diversity of perspectives to flourish.
• Commitment to PEN America’s advocacy and support for writers, artists and their allies around the world, without regard to the ideology or actions of their country's government

Salary and Benefits: PEN America offers competitive compensation and full benefits. The salary range for this position is $75-85k, commensurate with experience. Candidates whose expectations are outside this range are welcome to apply, as PEN America is open to considering talented individuals at varying stages of their careers. PEN America's benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision health insurance, paid time off, 10 paid holidays, pre-tax commuter benefits and a 403b retirement plan. 

TO APPLY:

Please submit a complete application (including a cover letter and resume) via BambooHR. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

PEN America is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and is committed to having a workforce that reflects the population that it serves at all levels within the organization.

No phone calls, please.  

ABOUT PEN AMERICA:

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.