America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) is seeking a VP, Communications to oversee the company’s communications and media relations strategies in support of ATK’s overall business goals. This supervisory role based in Boston, MA reports to the Chief Operating Officer and will have a significant role in helping to shape the future of the company.

Summary

The VP, Communications, will be responsible for formulating a long-range communications plan to capitalize on ATK’s unique position as one of the pioneering brands in food media, and a leading producer of premium food content across television, magazines, cookbooks, and digital and social media. This newly defined role requires long-range vision to build on the company’s storied legacy, and short-term focus to capitalize on myriad opportunities to enhance and to help define the brand with consumers on a daily basis. It is a multifaceted role with wide responsibilities that vary from securing appearances on TV news/talk shows, to developing plans to successfully launch new cookbooks, to monitoring trends in food/cooking media, to training emerging in-house talent for on-camera appearances, to working with influencers in the food space, to promoting ATK’s digital products and the corresponding All-Access subscription, and more. A lot more. It is a truly unique position that will provide a strong communications executive the opportunity to reimagine ATK’s relationship with the media, and to work for a creative, successful media company where savory aromas from the test kitchen waft through the office.

Primary Responsibilities

• Formulate a communications strategy that simultaneously achieves the macro-level goal of raising the visibility and brand perception of ATK with new and existing audiences, while also achieving micro-level goals (e.g. promote TV shows, sell new books, increase subscriptions)

• Manage all interactions and requests with the media across TV, digital and print platforms, including consumer-facing and trade press

• Develop and maintain a network of media contacts across national, local and trade press, and communicate with contacts regularly and proactively

• Craft storylines and identify themes that support the company’s business goals

• Strengthen media profiles for top and emerging on-screen talent, and secure appearances that align with strategic goals for each talent

• Write and edit press releases, briefing documents, and select messaging for internal company communications

• Manage a Communications Coordinator/Manager, and Communications intern, as needed, to support the needs of the department

• Serve as the primary communications spokesperson

• Identify opportunities for members of the management, business and content teams to tell the ATK story in target media outlets

• Monitor press coverage and compile recurring clip packages documenting ATK and competitor placements, stories and references in the media

• Conduct regular competitive landscape analysis to monitor marketplace trends and industry best practices, and to determine opportunities for differentiation for ATK

• Collaborate closely with the Marketing team on positioning the company’s brand, and how best to communicate our promise to varied audiences

• Explore different ways to communicate ATK’s value to audiences, including events such as lectures, cooking demos, interviews with food influencers, and the like

• Interact with ATK employees regularly to understand their work and to keep a finger on the pulse of the company to help formulate pitches and storylines

• Develop fluency with ATK’s content in order to take the lead in collaborating with talent on media appearance segments, scripts and elements

• Enhance ATK’s role as a thought leader and source of trusted information for media

• Position ATK for industry recognition, including submitting nominations for the annual top food and media organization awards

• Coordinate publicity efforts with ATK’s external partners in television and book publishing (e.g. Amazon, American Public Television, WETA, Penguin Random House)

Skills & Experience

• At least 12 years of experience in communications and media/public relations

• Experience as a senior manager and the owner of a communications strategy

• Proven success building and fostering relationships with the media

• Prior experience working in cooking/food communications role preferred, but not required

• Expertise in media public relations specifically for television, magazines, books, and digital media

• Track record of securing high-impact placements that position companies/brands favorably

• Strong understanding of social media and how to leverage platforms to enhance communications efforts

• Superior attention to detail

• Ability to manage multiple projects/requests simultaneously

• Unparalleled verbal and written skills, and proficiency presenting ideas in a clear and concise manner

• Strong analytical skills and understanding of how to measure the value of media placements

This position is located in our Boston, MA office in the Seaport district. It is the expectation that the person in this role will work a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) in the office and 2 days per week remotely.

About America’s Test Kitchen

The mission of America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) is to empower and inspire confidence, community, and creativity in the kitchen. Founded in 1992, the company is the leading multimedia cooking resource serving millions of fans with TV shows (America’s Test Kitchen, Cook's Country, and America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation), magazines (Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country), cookbooks, a podcast (Proof), FAST channels, short-form video series, and the ATK All-Access subscription for digital content. Based in a state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot test kitchen in Boston’s Seaport District, ATK has earned the trust of home cooks and culinary experts alike thanks to its one-of-a-kind processes and best-in-class techniques. Fifty full-time (admittedly very meticulous) test cooks, editors, and product testers spend their days tweaking every variable to find the very best recipes, equipment, ingredients, and techniques. Learn more at https://www.americastestkitchen.com/.

Why America’s Test Kitchen:

We're passionate about cooking, and about creating the best place to work. We're small enough for your ideas to make a big impact, and large enough to offer you opportunities to grow professionally at any stage of your career. We want you to take risks and make mistakes — that's how innovation happens in our test kitchen, in our offices, and in life.

We at America’s Test Kitchen believe food media can be a powerful force for social change. We are passionate about building an inclusive workforce that represents many different cultures, backgrounds, abilities, identities, and perspectives.

We welcome your application.