Head of Communications & PR

Responsibilities

The Head of Communications & PR will define and execute the company's communications strategy, narrative, and media relations to position Amira as a leader in AI-driven reading growth. This role involves managing crisis communications, building thought leadership, and overseeing internal and external messaging across various stakeholder groups.

Requirements

Candidates must have 10+ years of experience in communications, PR, or journalism, including at least 3 years in a leadership capacity. A proven track record of securing top-tier media coverage and managing sensitive crisis situations is essential for this role.

Skills

• Communications strategy
• Public relations
• Media relations
• Crisis management
• Thought leadership
• Internal communications
• Strategic messaging
• Content development
• Stakeholder management
• Team leadership
• Policy communications
• Data privacy
• AI safety
• Community building
• Writing and editing
• Public speaking

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k) with company matching
• Flexible time off
• Stock option ownership

About this role

Job Title: Head of Communications & PR
Location: Remote
Employment Type: Full-Time
About Us:
Amira accelerates reading outcomes by delivering the science of reading and neuroscience to every student. Validated by independent efficacy research from universities and state education agencies, Amira's impact on student reading growth is proven nationwide. More than 2,500 school districts and state agencies trust Amira to deliver measurable reading results with over 5 million students around the world becoming stronger readers with Amira.
Unlike any other edtech tool, Amira continuously pinpoints each student’s reading skills and helps teachers build lessons aligned to their district’s curriculum, drawing directly from the high-quality instructional materials they already use. Teachers can finally differentiate instruction with evidence and ease, and every student gets the one-on-one practice they need, whether they’re racing ahead or working to catch up.
Join our mission-driven team of reading scientists, AI engineers, educators, and business builders, and help to make every child become a proficient reader.
The Role:
The Head of Communications & PR owns how Amira's story is told - to educators, district and state leaders, policymakers, media, investors and within the company. You will make Amira the most trusted voice in reading growth, grounded in science, evidence and innovative technologies.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role. You will set and own Amira's communications strategy, run day-to-day media relations, build the research voice of the company, and protect our reputation in a sector where student data, AI and public dollars draw close scrutiny. You will report to the COO and work closely with marketing, research, product, success, and sales leadership.
Essential Functions:
Strategy and narrative
Define and own Amira's communications strategy, core narrative and messaging architecture, aligned with company goals and Amira’s brand.
Translate complex research - the Science of Reading, AI, growth data, efficacy studies - into clear, credible stories for non-technical audiences.
Set annual and quarterly communications plans with measurable goals, and report results to internal stakeholders and external partners.
Support policy and government affairs with communications for state agencies, legislators and coalitions.
Media relations and PR
Build and maintain relationships with education, technology, business and policy reporters at national, trade and regional outlets.
Lead announcements: product launches, research findings, partnerships, state approvals, funding and leadership news.
Pitch and place stories, op-eds and features that position Amira as the leader in AI for reading.
Manage PR agency partners, budget and press materials.
Coordinate awards, speaking submissions and the newsroom.
Executive and thought leadership
Build the public profile of Amira through bylines, podcasts, conference keynotes and media interviews.
Prepare stakeholders for interviews, panels and testimony with briefing documents and media training.
Shape Amira's point of view on AI in education, literacy policy and responsible AI.
Reputation and crisis communications
Own crisis management, including student data privacy, AI safety and accuracy, policy controversies.
Write and maintain crisis playbooks, holding statements and approval workflows with legal, security and policy teams.
Monitor media and social coverage and advise leadership on emerging risks.
Customer stories and community
Partner with marketing and sales to amplify district success stories, growth data and educator voices.
Grow Amira's Community Hub as the home where educators, coaches and leaders share practice, ask questions and celebrate reading growth.
Equip Champions to tell their stories through case studies, webinars, social content, conference sessions and media interviews.
Turn community insight into feedback for product, research and marketing teams, closing the loop with educators.
Set goals for community growth, engagement and advocacy, and report on them regularly.
Internal communications
Lead internal communications, including all-hands content, leadership messages and change communications, so every employee can tell the Amira story.
Team leadership
Lead a small, high-performing communications team and agency bench as the company grows.
Qualifications (Education and Experience):
10+ years in communications, PR or journalism, including 3+ years leading communications for a company, agency practice or mission-driven organization.
A track record of earning top-tier coverage in national business, technology or education media, with relationships to show for it.
Experience building thought-leadership programs that moved a company's reputation.
Hands-on crisis management experience, ideally on sensitive topics such as data privacy, children or public funding.
Exceptional writing and editing: you can draft a press release, an op-ed, a company-wide memo and a crisis statement in the same afternoon.
The ability to make research and technical ideas accurate, simple and compelling, without overstating them.
Sound judgment, discretion and comfort advising executive leadership directly.
A builder's mindset: comfortable doing the work yourself while scaling a team and agency partners.
Genuine belief that every child should learn to read, and curiosity about how AI can help.
Preferred Experience
Experience in K–12 education, edtech, literacy or education policy, including knowledge of the Science of Reading movement.
Communications experience in AI or another emerging technology facing public debate.
Experience building an online community, ambassador or advocacy program, ideally with teachers or other professional communities.
Relationships with state education agencies, legislators or education coalitions.
Experience supporting a company through fundraising, M&A or rapid growth.
Spanish fluency, or experience reaching bilingual and Span...

About Amira Learning

E-learning · 51-200 employees · headquartered in San Francisco, CA · founded 2018