Find Jobs

Title:  Manager, Communications – Foundation for Physical Therapy Research

FLSA Status:  Full-time, Exempt

Location:  This position is located onsite at the APTA headquarters in Alexandria, VA.

About the Foundation

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research is the only national nonprofit solely dedicated to funding physical therapy research and promising researchers through grants, scholarships, and fellowships. Through these investments, researchers go on to yield exceptional research that helps us learn more about the efficacy of physical therapy practices, pioneer breakthrough treatments, and build the evidence-base to define the value of physical therapy among payers, other health care professions, and patients.

The Foundation is an affiliate of the American Physical Therapy Association. Foundation staff are employed by APTA and receive the same employee benefits and adhere to APTA policies and procedures.

About APTA

Do you want to contribute to an organization dedicated to improving societal health? Would you like to collaborate with colleagues who are passionate about making a difference? Are you excited to work in a new state-of-the-art building designed to encourage movement, participation, and employee health?

Then you want to work for APTA!

APTA is the trusted leader for the physical therapy profession, representing more than 100,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapy students. Our approximately 150 employees support the association’s mission to build a community that advances the profession of physical therapy to improve the health of society.

Located in Alexandria, Virginia, APTA has outstanding employee benefits, including flexible work schedules, generous retirement contributions, and travel subsidies for employees who choose public and active transportation.

Summary

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research seeks a creative and experienced communication professional to join our growing organization. The Manager, Communications, will lead development of our communication strategy to increases awareness of the organization and its mission.  The ideal candidate will believe that effective communication is integrated across teams, strategic, well-planned and uses a 360 approach to deliver on Foundation objectives. 

The manager is responsible for developing and leading implementation of timely communication and member engagement strategies that inspire and motivate individuals to 1) apply for our funding and 2) support our abilities to invest in the future of physical therapy research. The ideal candidate will be a proven communication specialist with direct management experience, have a background in health, and be able to understand and translate research stories into a range of compelling narratives. 

Supervises and communication staff and reports to the Foundation CEO.

Essential Functions

• Collaborates across Scientific Programs and Development teams to establish and maintain style guides, messaging, and organizational voice/messaging protocols to promote consistency in communications, branding, and content.
• Inspirational writer with the ability to convert scientific or complex concepts into compelling, impactful, and accurate content.
• Designs and implements the Foundation’s annual strategic communications plan, incorporating clearly defined goals, defining the audience and tactics across programs and campaigns.
• Conceives and implements a social media strategy for the Foundation to build sustained impact, followers, and engagement metrics.
• Leads content development and strategy for in-person and virtual events and conferences.
• Motivates others by sharing knowledge and skills and demonstrates and reinforces a collaborative team spirit.
• Builds sustained collaborative relationships with fellow communications staff across the association to cross promote relevant information, growing member awareness and conversion for applications, events, and contributions.
• Develops key messages for various audience segments and provides coaching to staff as needed on voice, style tone, and key messages; Draft talking points, speeches for the president, CEO, and trustees.
• Tech-savvy and experienced with email segmentation, email delivery – including automation and strives to boost engagement metrics.

Staff Expectations

• Upholds and fosters team values
• Complies with all APTA policies and procedures
• Performs other duties as assigned to foster the achievement of association priorities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field and five years related experience.
• Health or science communication, direct experience understanding and writing about the U.S. healthcare system and/or working in a relevant area required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a natural storyteller.   
• Proven capability to develop and implement successful communication strategies. 
• Experience supervising, mentoring, and inspiring junior communications professionals.  
• Demonstrated use of project management principles of delegation, supervision, organization, and execution to maximize the value of projects and initiatives. Project management certification a plus.  
• Ability to set and meet deadlines and work flexibly within a fast-moving environment.
• Experience managing digital and social media platforms and performance, audience growth. 
• Proficiency in WordPress and/or equivalent web design, Google Analytics, Social Media Marketing / Management tools, and email marketing platforms.
• Familiarity with webinars a plus.

Travel Requirements

0 - 10% - local, National

How To Apply

Please send resume and cover letter, including salary requirements, when applying.

Principals only; no agencies; no phone calls, please. Candidates selected to participate in an interview will be contacted by Human Resources.

The American Physical Therapy Association is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

APTA participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information, please visit

APTA is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and invites and welcomes applicants with diversity of experience, mindset, and skills to add value to APTA and our staff community.