Communications Manager

Who we are

HopSkipDrive’s mission is to create opportunity for all through mobility. Our innovative, supplemental school transportation solutions are used by over 600 school districts, charter schools, nonprofits, government agencies, as well as busy families to safely and reliably get kids where they need to go.

Student transportation is the largest mass transit system in the U.S. The way kids get to and from school has a direct impact on our kids, families, schools and communities. While school districts spend $28 billion annually on transportation, only 30% of kids get to school on a bus. The current system can no longer meet all the transportation needs of our districts, schools and families — and its shortcomings are causing inequities in educational access that are affecting the welfare of millions of kids each day.

HopSkipDrive is taking a different approach to arranging safe, reliable school transportation that meets needs that aren’t being addressed by the current system, helping to fill gaps and supplement the student transportation options available. We create personalized transportation solutions for the one to the many, and everything in between.

We’re a company with heartOur partnerships with school districts, child welfare agencies and nonprofits ensure equitable educational access for the most vulnerable populations, including youth in foster care, children experiencing homelessness and students with disabilities. 

We understand that the difference between struggle and success can sometimes be as simple as the ability to show up, which is why we’re on a mission to use innovative technology — coupled with operational expertise and new ways of thinking — to help kids reach their full potential by providing a safe, dependable way to get them where they are going.

We’re an awesome place to workOur company culture has been well-recognized — HopSkipDrive has been named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list, as well as Best Places to Work lists from Built In LA, Comparably, Inc., and the Los Angeles Business Journal. Comparably also named us a Best Company for Professional Development, as well as to its Best CEO and Best CEOs for Women lists.

We’re growing rapidlyFounded by three moms as a solution to their own transportation challenges, we now operate across over 13 states across the country. We continue to expand at a rapid pace, making the Inc. 5000 list four times, as well as the Deloitte 500 Fast-Growing Technology list. HopSkipDrive has raised $100M in funding to date.

Who you are

You see yourself as passionate about news, as well as communications and the reputational power of earned media. You have a comfort level working directly with press and developing and reviewing media materials.

You have a strong sense of ownership around creating local market communications strategies and can be creative and inventive to come up with new ideas.

As an organized, detail-oriented person, you have worked with complex data and can warehouse and archive specific information, while organizing and keeping track of projects and deadlines. 

You understand the importance of alignment on messaging and narrative, and can hew to established internal and external talking points. 

You have an entrepreneurial, no-ego spirit, excited to grow and build within a rapidly growing technology company. You can take direction well and always meet deadlines as an executor and hands-on teammate. You’ll be a key contributor to the communications strategy and earned media philosophy of the Communications and Marketing team.

You are excited to jump in and help your teammates as an A+ player who is inspired by the mission we are pursuing and by the opportunity to define a new category in an incredibly fast-moving market. You are excited to bring your best everyday, to learn from those around you and to push hard while contributing to our powerful vision of creating opportunity through mobility.  

What you'll do

• Report to the Director of Communications, who leads earned media efforts and media relations for HopSkipDrive. Together you will connect with national and local education, news, business media across verticals like broadcast and print/online.
• Own proactive storytelling and reactive communications for local media, and support the Communications team in generating press coverage that meets business goals, reaches key audiences including school districts, government agencies, nonprofits, as well as CareDrivers, and other stakeholders. 
• Own the communications plan for local markets in order to grow brand awareness, share of voice, and more. Build surveys and collect editorial calendars from key trade partners. Set up announcements with vendors like BusinessWire. 
• Responsible as the first point of content for all inbound press inquiries, finding out the deadline and other key details.
• Serve as organizational lead for the Communications team, including: 
• Develop a warehousing and archival strategy for documents like talking points, statements and responses, as well as approved public data points
• Oversee and manage the process for updating communications materials as well as track communications projects and deadlines.
• Maintain ongoing press and media relations tracker and own reporting of earned media activities and results
• Own scheduling and logistics for external communications efforts
• Pull summaries for reporting.
• Support Director of Communications in ideating around communications plans for national narratives and media moments. 
• Own details of media tours and interviews, maintaining calendars and schedules.

** This role will be fully remote in one of the following states AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI**

What you bring

• Bachelor's degree.
• 5-6 years of experience either as part of an in-house comms team or in a PR/communications agency.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and strong prioritization and time management skillss.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment and high capacity for change. Have worked with big brands or household names.
• Highly self-motivated, with attention to detail.
• Current pulse on media trends and reporters who can instill an ongoing narrative
• Familiarity with Google Suite and Tableau preferred

What you will get

We want you to be an owner in our company and share in executing our vision, so every full-time employee has equity. In addition, we offer competitive market comp, flexible vacation, FSA, medical, dental and vision, 401(k), and an opportunity to work for a uniquely positioned, VC-backed company in a hugely attractive space with significant upside potential. HopSkipDrive is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The salary range for this role is $110,000 to $130,000. Final compensation for this role will be determined by several factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skill set and specific work location. The total compensation package for this role also includes equity stock options.