Communications Manager

About the Role

Thorn is seeking a highly motivated Communications Manager to support and extend our thought leadership, media relations, and external communications —helping translate strategy into execution and ensuring Thorn's voice shows up clearly in the conversations that matter.

Reporting to the Director of Communications and Thought Leadership, this role serves as the connective tissue between what's happening in the external landscape and how Thorn responds. The Director sets overall strategy, narrative direction, and organizational points of view; this role helps operationalize that work day-to-day across PR, thought leadership amplification, and owned channels.

This is a role for someone who thrives in gray areas—who can hold multiple perspectives, understand the stakes, and find a clear path forward. You'll need to be deeply tuned into external trends, news cycles, and discourse in the child safety, technology, and AI space, and help translate that into timely, thoughtful communications that reflect Thorn's positions and values.

We’re looking for a nimble, strong communicator with excellent judgment, sharp writing skills, and the ability to move fluidly between PR, thought leadership support, and broader communications and content production needs in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

What You’ll Do:

• Thought leadership/PR:
  • Under direction from the Director of Communications, support execution of Thorn's thought leadership and earned media efforts by identifying timely storytelling opportunities, shaping narratives, and translating complex work into compelling external communications.
  • Monitor the external landscape—news cycles, policy developments, emerging discourse—and surface opportunities and risks for Thorn's communications.
  • Help shape and maintain organizational points of view as the landscape evolves, working closely with the Director of Communications and cross-functional partners in policy, product, and legal.
  • Write and produce media materials—including pitches, briefing documents, press releases, talking points, and backgrounders—with guidance from the Director of Communications.
  • Lead first pass on rapid-response communications as needed—monitoring developments, drafting first-pass language, and helping coordinate internal alignment on timely external moments.
  • Maintain and grow media lists and journalist relationships in key issue areas, including child safety, technology, and AI.
  • Secure and prepare spokespeople for interviews, panels, and public engagements.
  • Amplify thought leadership moments—media coverage, speaking engagements, research launches, bylined content—across owned channels, particularly social media.

• Social media editorial planning and engagement
  • Lead social media editorial planning, translating communications priorities and external moments into timely, on-brand content in partnership with the Senior Content Marketing Manager.
  • Ensure social channels reinforce Thorn’s thought leadership, media presence, and organizational positions in moments that matter.
  • Monitor social media discourse and lead community engagement—drafting and posting responses to select comments or messages that align with Thorn's voice and thought leadership.
  • Identify opportunities to newsjack or respond to external developments in ways that reinforce Thorn's positions.
  • Collaborate with marketing partners to ensure PR wins, thought leadership, and key moments are reflected consistently across social and other owned channels

• Communications content and writing
  • Write and produce blog posts, internal updates, newsletters, and other content that supports organizational and marketing/communications priorities.
  • Primary copywriter for quick-turn, sensitive and nuanced deliverables.
  • Ensure all communications reflect Thorn's established points of view, messaging, and brand voice.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience supporting thought leadership, executive communications, and subject matter experts in a communications or PR context.
• Demonstrated sound judgment and discretion in fast-moving, high-stakes environments, including navigating sensitive issues, public scrutiny, and complex stakeholder dynamics.
• Skilled storyteller who can translate complex narratives for multiple audiences
• Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and stakeholders (legal, policy, product, leadership) and find a clear path forward.
• Comfort working as a connector across teams, balancing multiple priorities while keeping communications cohesive.
• 5+ years of experience in public relations or communications, ideally within the nonprofit, technology, or social impact sector.
• Proficiency in using media monitoring and PR tools.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Passion for Thorn’s mission and commitment to child safety.
• Impeccable storytelling, written and oral communication skills.
• Experience with project management tools, such as Asana or similar.
• Highly organized, resourceful, and calm under pressure—able to manage competing priorities and pivot quickly in fast-paced environments.
• Ability to communicate complex subjects in a simple, accessible, compelling manner.
• Demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, and a collaborative mindset; known as a strong partner across teams
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or equivalent experience.

Nice to Have

• Experience communicating about online safety, tech policy, or emerging technologies like AI
• Familiarity with nonprofit or mission-driven communications, particularly in social impact storytelling

Compensation and Benefits

A reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role is $92,000-$126,500/year. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to location; skill sets; experience and training; licensure, and certifications.

Our remote-first work model is structured around working from home most of the time. But, there will be times that employees are expected to travel. For example, Thorn may host company-wide gatherings, and smaller teams may hold in-person meetings and team-building events, or require attendance at specific conferences.

At Thorn, we know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and offer employees a broad range of benefits. Learn more about what working at Thorn can mean for you.