Communications Manager

About Niche Niche is the leader in school search. Our mission is to make researching and enrolling in schools easy, transparent, and free. With in-depth profiles on every school and college in America, 140 million reviews and ratings, and powerful search tools, we help millions of people find the right school for them. We also help thousands of schools recruit more best-fit students, by highlighting what makes them great and making it easier to visit and apply. Niche is all about finding where you belong, and that mission inspires how we operate every day. We want Niche to be a place where people truly enjoy working and can thrive professionally. About The Role From where to live to where to learn, Niche helps millions of students and families make some of life’s biggest decisions, while modernizing how schools build their future classes. Communications is one of the most important ways we build credibility and trust, shape the narrative around our data and brand, and reach the B2B and B2C audiences who need us most. As our Communications Manager, you’ll lead day-to-day PR and media relations for Niche: pitching our economist’s research, translating rankings and platform data into stories reporters want to tell, and securing speaking and awards opportunities. Reporting to the Director of Communications and Content, you’ll execute against a broader comms strategy and work cross-functionally with Data, Social Media, Marketing, and Content teams to support campaigns What You Will Do Media Relations: Drive Niche’s earned media execution across trade, consumer, and business press, as well as the newsletters, Substacks, podcasts, and other platforms where our B2B and B2C audiences pay attention Manage inbound media requests with speed and sound judgment, protecting Niche’s reputation, seeing around corners, and keeping messaging on brand Own the go-to-market strategy and execution of our three annual rankings releases, with clear direction and strong collaboration Content & Materials: Write and edit a range of external materials (press releases, media pitches, talking points, FAQs, etc.) with sharp attention to detail Help prepare executives for interviews and speaking opportunities: talk tracks, Q&A prep, briefing docs, etc. Partner with the Content and Social Media teams to integrate communications wins into broader campaigns and to amplify across channels Data Storytelling: Translate data and research, from our economist work to Niche’s proprietary data, into compelling, defensible story angles for earned and owned media Proactively track and report performance via media monitoring and AI tools, using insights to inform decision-making and recommendations AI Use & LLM Visibility: Use AI tools to accelerate research, inspire concepts, interpret data, create assets, and more — paired with strong judgment, fact-checking, and brand standards Test and build Projects, Skills, and automations to streamline workflows, scale productivity, and improve communication Awards & Speaking Build and manage a pipeline of awards submissions and speaking opportunities that grow Niche’s credibility and executive visibility Identify the conferences worth pursuing and own the submission process throughout What We Are Looking For 4–6 years of PR/communications experience, ideally in-house at a fast-moving tech company A proven media relations operator: you know how to build and maintain relationships Track record of data storytelling and translating research into earned media and thought leadership Sharp writer and editor across formats Familiar with how earned, owned, and shared media work together, and how to extend a good story across channels Experienced and comfortable using AI tools such as Claude to accelerate things like research, messaging, and reporting Awareness of how PR and earned media influences LLM-powered search and brand discoverability Extremely organized, accountable, and able to manage up to keep projects moving Experience across B2B and B2C preferred; bonus if for a marketplace/platform Compensation Our national target base salary range is $82,400 - $103,000, plus participation in our Annual Bonus and Stock Option Program. Base compensation will be commensurate with experience and skills. At Niche, our Total Rewards Philosophy is centered around creating a workplace environment that attracts, motivates, and retains top talent by providing a comprehensive and competitive rewards package. This philosophy is built on the principles of performance-based compensation, best-in-class benefits and work-life balance, and employee well-being. Interview Process Candidate experience is a top priority for our talent and hiring teams. We believe in providing a transparent, authentic and comprehensive interview process where you have the opportunity to learn about us while we get to know you and your experience. The interview process is outlined here: Phone Screen with Talent Acquisition Partner