Communications Specialist

Company Description Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Inc. organizes the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, an annual cross country motorcycle ride led by former NASCAR driver and racing commentator Kyle Petty. The KPCRAA raises awareness and funds for Victory Junction, a camp founded by the Petty family for children with serious medical conditions, free of charge to their families. It is one of the most successful and popular charity events in NASCAR. Job Overview The Communications Specialist will oversee all of Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Inc.’s (KPCR) internal and external communications. This includes management of KPCR’s social media channels and website. The Communications Specialist will be responsible for developing and executing public relations (PR) plans and materials to support business needs to promote KPCR. The ideal candidate will be a skilled communicator with several years of experience in writing, media relations and communications campaigns. They will have the flexibility to communicate on KPCR’s mission and philanthropy efforts both on national and local scales. Duties & Responsibilities · Draft and distribute communication materials including news releases, talking points, press kits and other external-facing content to effectively communicate key company narratives and achievements. · Act as primary media liaison for managing and responding to press inquiries in a timely manner. Handle interviews, requests for information and more. · Build and maintain media lists for various PR and media relations initiatives. · Pitch stories to relevant media outlets across national, local and trade markets. · Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with media outlets and journalists to secure positive coverage. · Provide onsite media relations support and management during campaign events. · Create reports to demonstrate the effectiveness and results of PR campaigns. · Serve as primary PR contact for sponsors and partners, providing promised deliverables in a timely manner such as cross-promoting social media content, visuals, press talking points, etc. · Initiate and manage relationships with tourist and visitor bureaus, mayoral offices, service clubs, veteran organizations, hotels, restaurants, etc. in targeted markets to collaborate on promoting company events in local communities. · Manage social media accounts for KPCR and Kyle Petty (Facebook, Instagram and X). · Create and schedule engaging social media content that sparks conversations, encourages comments and prompts reactions from audience. · Ensure all content is accurate and consistent with brand voice and style guidelines. · Engage with social media followers through comments, shares, likes, messages and mentions. · Collaborate with external partners and sponsors on cross-promotional PR and social media content to generate buzz and drive engagement. · Leverage social media to amplify PR campaigns and events, driving awareness, participation and engagement. · Monitor the performance of social media and report on key metrics. · Manage budget for social media campaigns and advertising. · Stay informed on emerging social media trends, best practices and platform updates. · Utilize Canva to create custom and branded imagery for social media and PR use, including social media graphics, infographics, flyers, newsletters, invitations, advertisements, event signage, fact sheets, etc. · Manage external vendors (such as graphic designers and digital agency) as directed to deliver goals. · Oversee team of photographers and videographers during events to ensure the capture of required content. · Create and send email newsletters for both internal and external stakeholders (i.e., event participants, sponsors, etc.). · Manage and update KPCR and Kyle Petty’s websites. · Prepare internal communications documents, as needed. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Strong written and verbal communication skills Experience with social and emerging media Photography and video editing experience would be ideal Creative copywriting, knowledge of AP Style, basic spelling/grammar and the ability to review others' writing Strong experience in media relations and ability to establish effective working relationships with a variety of media contacts Ability to work independently, planning and organizing own workload while managing multiple priorities and tight deadlines Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite to edit and create basic collateral materials Preferred Skills: Knowledge of Canva to edit and create branded graphic assets for print and digital use Knowledge of Mailchimp to create and send email newsletters Knowledge of Cision to monitor media coverage and build media lists Knowledge of Wix to manage and update websites Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism or related field Knowledge acquired through 3-5 years of experience in communications, social media, marketing, public relations or similar field Benefits SEP-IRA Health insurance Hybrid work flexibility Generous PTO policy Working in a unique, fun environment - not a 'cookie cutter' job Seeing the country each year on site inspection trips and our annual Charity Ride Across America Working in the NASCAR/motorcycle industry Great volunteer opportunities Helping to change the lives of the amazing campers at Victory Junction For more information, visit www.kylepettycharityride.com/jobs