Varsity Tutors is seeking a highly driven and creative Head of Communications to develop, plan, and execute our media relations strategies and promote the Company’s overall business and brand in national and international markets. The person in this role will manage relationships with traditional and non-traditional media outlets, PR agencies, and company executives and use research and data to develop compelling media campaigns. The Head of Communications will play a pivotal role in the ongoing growth of the Company and bringing greater awareness to our product innovations and geographic expansion.

The ideal candidate is an ambitious, media-savvy B2C/B2B brand builder. You have earned the trust of your executive team and board to be their “coach” and to develop and evolve a compelling, bold and differentiated message. You communicate this messaging to and through your spokespersons, the media, and influencers. Your creativity, determination, and skill allow for an increasing share of press coverage.

You are a well-connected, entrepreneurial public relations leader who is focused on driving tangible results through high-impact consumer media. As our first internal PR hire, you will be responsible for communicating Varsity Tutors strategic direction, supporting key business priorities, and advancing our company’s reputation as a leader in knowledge-sharing in national publications alongside local market coverage. 

You are someone who can execute at 30,000 feet just as seamlessly as rolling up your sleeves at a very tactical level. You are a smart, creative expert with excellent organizational skills, exceptional multi-tasking capabilities, and have a high degree of comfort dealing with ambiguity. Most of all, you are passionate about the potential to transform the multi-billion-dollar knowledge sharing industry and make Varsity Tutors the leading brand for people who want to learn more.

You are comfortable driving the company’s media strategy and related messaging. The organization including the executive team and Board understands the power of PR and you will be leading the charge.

You know how to collaborate across all marketing and sales functions to leverage your media coverage to the hilt. You know intimately the central role PR can play in integrated campaigns, content marketing and earned lead generation. You’ve built executive team thought leadership outlets and had an industry changing impact with them.

A passionate public relations guru and communicator through and through, you constantly observe the greatest marketing campaigns of world-class brands and apply the lessons on the job.

About Nerdy

Nerdy (NYSE: NRDY), the parent company of Varsity Tutors, is a leading platform for live online learning, with a mission to transform the way people learn through technology. The Company’s purpose-built proprietary platform leverages technology, including AI, to connect learners of all ages to experts, delivering superior value on both sides of the network. Nerdy’s comprehensive learning destination provides learning experiences across 3,000+ subjects and multiple formats—including one-on-one instruction, small group classes, large format group classes, and adaptive self-study. Nerdy’s flagship business, Varsity Tutors, is one of the nation’s largest platforms for live online tutoring and classes. Its solutions are available directly to students and consumers, as well as through schools and other institutions. Learn more about Nerdy at https://www.nerdy.com/.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in public relations at an agency and/or in-house (ideally both) in a high growth consumer technology environment.
• Relationships with journalists and influencers that cover consumer technology and marketplace industry. Track record of generating quantifiable results in building brand awareness, high quality media coverage for hyper-growth entrepreneurial B2C companies
• A strong track record of success using PR and communications to elevate brand awareness, position your company as a leader, and drive inbound interest
• Experience building or managing social media, influencer or advocacy programs preferred
• A strategic mindset combined with the capability align stakeholders on priorities that deliver real results
• Superior verbal and written communication skills - must be a strong writer and copy editor who can turn complex messages into short and concise prose. Verbal communication is clear, succinct and persuasive; executive team and board
• Strong interpersonal skills with a proven ability to form productive relationships with all levels of the organization, members of the media, and PR agencies. Experience working with executives, creating bylined articles and thought leadership.
• Understands and appreciates that Nerdy is an apolitical company and that we can have the largest impact if we are united in our focus on helping people learn and not divided or distracted by advancing unrelated causes.
• Passion and ability to work well in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment and under tight deadlines
• Solid strategic and conceptualization skills, with the ability to proactively create new stories and drive company promotions in local and national markets
• Ability to be proactive and show initiative with story ideas and PR strategies that enhance the company’s reputation and recognition
• Preference for candidates with experience managing PR for a company preparing to go public and working closely with investor relations
• BA/BS in (preferably) Communications, Journalism, or Public Relations from a top university.

Responsibilities

• Deliver Varsity Tutors’ story, vision, brand and product innovation to traditional and non-traditional media to maximize national coverage and exposure
• Develop, plan, and execute effective media relations campaigns including press releases, press tours, social media content, and traditional media outlets
• Work closely with company executives as well as sales, product, marketing, and software teams to build creative PR stories in line with business objectives and trends
• Create and manage communication programs that effectively promote the company’s products and services and execute compelling stories that are in line with business objectives
• Leverage existing and establish professional relationships with media outlets to secure positive and increased coverage
• Drive the development of creative briefs for major PR initiatives in collaboration with other marketing, SEO, SEM, and content initiatives
• Own Varsity Tutors PR strategy. Identify national and local publications and other media outlets, build our press calendar, and create a monthly drumbeat of coverage for our narratives.
• Align executive leadership on a common set of communication themes for PR campaigns
• Build and expand relationships with journalists, television personalities, celebrities, social media influencers, and industry influencers.
• Create and publish press releases, contributed articles, and thought leadership articles about our product and knowledge sharing
• Understands and appreciates that Nerdy is an apolitical company and that we can have the largest impact if we are united in our focus on helping people learn and not divided or distracted by advancing unrelated causes.
• Work in tandem with content marketing to brainstorm, create, and distribute content that’s desirable to our media targets
• Manage industry award submissions and promotion
• Provide data-driven reporting on PR coverage and results to executive management team
• Secure staff speaking opportunities at industry events and other relevant forums

Varsity Tutors Leadership Principles

Relentless Focus on Customers * Comfort with Ambiguity * Ownership * Simplify * Intellectual Curiosity * Build Teams * Think Big * Insist on High Standards * Bias for Action * Build Trust * Go Deep * Have Conviction * Deliver Results * Are Right, a Lot

Benefits

• Competitive Salary plus Equity in the company
• Healthcare Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life)
• 401k Company Matching Plan
• Maternity, Paternal, and Adoption Leave
• Remote Position
• Flexible PTO
• Free Learning Membership for you and your household (1-1 tutoring hours, unlimited use of on-demand services, and access to our online classes)
• Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help transform how the world learns!
• Fun, collaborative, and team-oriented work environment with plenty of training and a feedback-rich culture

Varsity Tutors is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. (INDHP)