Corporate Communications Manager

Thumbtack is a local services marketplace that connects customers who need to get things done with local, skilled professionals who can help. From plumbers and painters to DJs and personal trainers, Thumbtack helps millions of customers find the right professional for their project in over 1,000 categories.

This critical role in the Corporate Communications team will establish Thumbtack’s position as the destination for getting things done, connecting consumers across the United States with skilled professionals. The Communications Manager will help build the Thumbtack brand with relevant business and tech media as a first priority -- through pitching, strategic messaging platforms, events and programs at a national and local level. The successful candidate will have strong experience in media relations, story development and driving targeted coverage, developing events to support key platforms and working collaboratively with both executives and media across a range of outlets.

**High Level Responsibilities:** * Strategically and thoughtfully drive and optimize Thumbtack’s media relations strategies and place stories across multiple business and tech media outlets/audiences * Partner with and develop PR agency and contractor relationships * Develop close relationships with journalists and influencers for high impact content distribution and continuous feedback on our key messages, product and infinitives. **Specific tasks:** * Deliver consistent messaging and positioning of Thumbtack with target press audiences to drive brand awareness, understanding and adoption * Develop messaging platforms and stories that demonstrate our leadership in the online professional services space * Execute a range of proactive and reactive campaigns and coordinate across the Thumbtack communications and content marketing teams * Amplify the profile of key executives through relevant speaking opportunities and events * Manage performance and optimize our strategies by leveraging metrics that help size the impact of our public relations efforts - utilize available media monitoring and traffic analysis tools (incl. AirPR Analyst, Google Analytics, Critical Mention, etc.) * Manage and maintain internal media database

* Creative and ambitious communications professional with 3-5 years of progressive responsibility in corporate communications * Comfortable and confident with media and pitching * Demonstrated success in developing media programs, placing coverage, measuring results and optimizing programs accordingly * Proven ability to drive key messages through inspiring and differentiating communication programs * Capable of developing strong relationships and trust with journalists leading to results across all media * Experience managing PR agencies and/or contractors to drive maximum effectiveness * Comfort working with executive leadership * Thrives by working in a fast-paced environment and relishes the opportunity to define the work * Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to leverage content to influence, persuade and inspire * Event management experience a plus * Bachelor’s degree or higher **Additional areas for input (but not ownership):** * Overall Thumbtack communications strategy (owned by Director of Consumer Communications) * Social media strategy and amplification of messaging (owned by Social team) **Key skills required:** * High capacity to get things done (GSD): thoughtful execution rooted in sound strategy * Define and deliver programs that drive awareness and relevance and reinforce brand * Demonstrated capacity to self-motivate and drive high volume of programs through self-execution as well as in partnership with cross-functional teams and contractors * Identify metrics to track and measure impact of PR efforts and optimize priorities, programs, and plans accordingly * Strong media relationships and networking skills * Established relationships with media * Demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate journalists with relevant narratives * Creative approaches to drive communication with next level of media at scale (experience with U.S. local-market PR a bonus) * Demonstrates company values * Confident, yet humble, appreciates the opportunity to learn and grow professionally * Proven success at driving cross-functional teams to quality results * Ability to manage team members with disparate skill sets * Willing to move fast and define objectives, strategies, and tasks without waiting for top-down direction but also able to optimize based on feedback from manager and team **Other important attributes:** * Strong track record of driving top tier coverage * Good understanding of agency relationships and proven ability to maximize value from retained agencies/contractors * Understands the art of the short -term compromise for the long-term gain - whether in partnering with other teams or in balancing priorities and resources within our own team