Director Communications

Profile

Director, Communications

Arlington, VA

Category:

Marketing & Communications and Non-profit

Type:

Full-time

Min. Experience:

Director

Salary:

$105,000 - $110,000

WHO WE ARE

Rooted in community for more than 40 years, Communities In Schools (CIS) strives to bring community resources inside public schools, where they are accessible, coordinated, and accountable. Founder Bill Milliken said, “It’s relationships, not programs, that change children. A great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children. Young people thrive when adults care about them on a one-to-one level, and when they also have a sense of belonging to a caring community.”

CIS programs are conducted annually throughout the United States, serving 2,900 schools; 1.61M students with over 11,000 community volunteers and 117 CIS affiliate organizations across the country. Their programs for students include providing needs assessments, support teams with corresponding plans to address academic and non-academic needs, delivery of multiple tiers of support for both students and families, progress monitoring and evaluation and assessment with parents and student support systems.

MISSION AND VALUES

Communities In Schools (CIS), is “all-in” for kids. It is our passion—it is our mission. At the National Office, CIS collaborates with local affiliate organizations to provide resources and create communities of caring adults who work hand-in-hand with educators to make sure young people have the tools they need to stay in school and achieve in life. We are the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization, and we achieve our mission by hiring bright, creative, and innovative team members who demonstrate a passion for what they do.

CIS also holds the following talent beliefs:

Every staff member is passionate and committed to the mission.

As a National Office, CIS employees have a responsibility to live our values and integrate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organization and lead by example.

In turn, CIS is committed to continuously improving decision making, incentivizing creativity, and building engagement and we do this by building a diverse workforce, fostering a climate of inclusion, and shaping business practices and policies that promote equity.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Director of Communications is responsible for supporting the development and execution of an effective communications strategy for the national organization that includes public relations, storytelling, content/messaging strategy, crisis communications and internal communications. This position will report to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications and will work cross-functionally with the Advancement and Student Supports offices.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Works with VP of Marketing & Communications to ensure all internal and external communications are operating efficiently and effectively.

Develop internal and external communications, including press releases, org. statements, reports, key messages, and other promotional content.

Develop integrated communications messaging, tools, and assets for the affiliated Network for seasonal campaigns and special projects.

Maintain organizations’ communications editorial calendar and facilitate monthly forecasting planning sessions.

Manage budget and track process towards department goals.

Lead content marketing strategy and storytelling curation/promotion.

Supports fundraising campaigns, including strategy development and tactical execution.

Works across departments with senior staff to ensure key messages and public-facing materials are timely, accurate, and technically sound.

Partner with network on targeted campaigns to help raise awareness and engagement with both the national CIS brand and their local brand.

Help cultivate and steward relationships with partner/peer organizations.

Develop, implement and support advocacy communications strategies that include earned media and digital advocacy strategies in partnership with government relations teams.

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree in relate field and a minimum of 8 years of experience or the equivalent education/work experience, including a minimum of three years supervising and managing staff.

Expert understanding of the media environment, digital, social media, and effective communications strategies

Basic understanding of the core issue areas in K-12 education

Ability to organize, manage, and direct advocacy and issue-focused media and consumer-facing campaigns and outreach programs

Experience with staffing senior executives and writing C-Suite communications materials

Advanced understanding of how to engage in social media and the digital landscape to achieve communications objective

Exceptional interpersonal and communication (written and verbal) skills, documented record of excellent customer/donor service, and demonstrated ability to build relationships.

Excellent organizational and project management skills and ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in a time sensitive environment, with diligence and accuracy.

Self-starter, entrepreneurial, outgoing, creative, enthusiastic, and able to be flexible in a dynamic environment; collaborator across organizational levels and programs.

Experience with CRM, MS Office Suite, alumni databases, marketing, analytics highly desirable.

Proven experience successfully working independently; able to organize own work and coordinate work activities of others.

Demonstrated success in media placements and executing integrated marketing campaigns

Experience working in team environment; ability to train, manage and guide team to achieve assigned goals and deliverables.

Demonstrated ability to develop, direct and coordinate multiple programs and activities.

Knowledge of and involvement in CIS alumni programming, its disciplines and relationships, and willingness to develop an in-depth understanding of CIS’ mission and values preferred.

TRAVEL

Up to 25%

ABOUT US

CIS staff continue to work in a virtual environment; however, the national office is open and available for staff to use as appropriate.

To ensure the health and safety of staff and job applicants, all interviews will be conducted by phone and/or video conference.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Work that makes a difference—the opportunity to contribute to an important mission!

Competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including:

Five weeks of Paid Time Off

Generous 403b Retirement Savings Plan contribution

9 Paid Holidays

90% of employee health care premiums paid by the organization

Summer Work Schedule and Winter Break

Employer-paid short-term and long-term income replacement programs, and much, much more!

Communities In Schools is committed to a workforce that is representative of the varied communities we are privileged to serve. We provide a work environment that does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable law. CIS prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

For more information on Communities In Schools please visit our

website

Company info

communitiesinschools.org