Job details
Salary $104,000 - $152,000 a year job type full-time number of hires for this role 1
Qualifications
Writing skills: 1 year (preferred)
Full job description
Education first is a mission-driven education policy consultancy dedicated to ensuring that all students - and particularly students in poverty and students of color - are prepared for success in college, careers and lifeWe work with organizations that are shaping the future of p-16 education across the nation, including school networks and districts, state departments of education, policy and advocacy organizations, youth empowerment organizations, talent organizations and foundations.
We help these system leaders catalyze change through our services:
Conduct research and analysis on policies and provide contextual recommendations and strategic support to translate findings into concrete, sustainable action
Develop and implement visionary, coherent strategies and strategic plans by prioritizing inclusive voices, focusing on the right problems, and providing space to explore
Plan and facilitate meaningful convenings for organizations and individuals to learn, problem solve, collaborate, and advance their work
Design actionable and equitable solutions that meet client needs, achieve program goals, and implement initiatives with clarity and quality
Support grantmakers, funders, and foundations to develop thoughtful, high-impact investment strategies that align with their goals, interests, and resources
We are a team of more than 60 former teachers, district and state education leaders, policy advisors, and grant makers who live and work virtually in more than 20 states and dcBecause of our experience, we approach the challenges our clients face with humility, realistic solutions, and a commitment to follow-throughOur culture is built on genuine care for our clients and for each otherWe celebrate original thinking, collaboration, entrepreneurialism, authenticity and funDescription
Overview of the opportunity
The director of communications will lead all external communications, foster brand alignment, and deliver high-quality, on-brand, and timely workWe are seeking a seasoned & strategic communications professional with demonstrated success in thought leadership, content development, brand strategy, project management, and relationship buildingOur ideal candidate is a self-starter with strong writing, creative, and critical thinking abilities, and a passion for storytelling across digital and print channelsYou’ll be comfortable working in a fast-paced virtual environment managing multiple projects including various internal and external stakeholders.
Primary responsibilities
Reporting to the chief strategy & equity officer, the director of communications will collaboratively work with a team and direct the work of others to promote education first’s research, learnings, and services which collectively advances the broader movement toward education equityYou will (in partnership) create integrated communications strategies, develop and maintain creative assets, and deploy assets across appropriate business development channelsThe primary responsibilities of the director of communications are:
Content creation
Lead the writing, editing and publication of original thought leadership content that is aligned to business development strategy (videos, microsites, blogs, articles, op-eds, email campaigns, etc.)
Create visionary and compelling messaging & presentations
Identify opportunities for content development by staying up-to-date on work happening across the organization and current events related to our work
Oversee and update brand guidelines (e.gEditorial, style, social, design, photography)
Establish content arcs focusing on services and content areas each quarter; aligning all external messaging
Support research projects and reports by providing writing and copy editing assistance
Develop, create, and manage email marketing campaigns (draft content, create templates, troubleshoot issues) using salesforce and pardot software
Lead the creation of cross-channel brand campaigns to improve brand loyalty and brand sentiment and broaden general brand awareness
Develop social media strategy and ensure social media presence reflects education first’s role as a thought-leader
Serve as a strategic thinker, content creator, and thought partner to staff and leadership
Content management
Project manage the development of high-quality, on-brand content that furthers the education first brand across a variety of channels and mediums, including email, social media, print, digital, photo, and video
Manage concept definition, briefing, and production of high-quality, audience-focused content across different marketing channels, and partner with external agencies and freelancers as needed
Maintain content calendar that includes blogs, op-eds, and other thought-leadership content
Manage the creation and execution of processes and resources that ensure brand strength, alignment, and efficiencies across the organization
Ensure content is consistent with education first’s voice, style, and tone
Define key performance indicators and measure, track, and report the success of communications tactics
Oversee website maintenance and updates
Content strategy
Create strong project plans with key communications strategies and objectives, and ensure alignment and efficiency across teams, external agencies, and freelancers
Set the vision for evaluating the brand, how to position the organization externally and evolving messaging to fulfill long-term strategic plans
Bring new and big ideas to the table, as well as collaboratively build on others’ concepts
Develop and effectively manage workflows with external agencies and creative freelancers; set expectations, provide access to assets, resources, and training as needed, and deliver clear, actionable feedback
Business development
Drive future business to the firm and influence the national market landscape
Identify opportunities to expand and communicate education first’s services
Partner with business development manager to strategically highlight services and focus areas in collateral and proposal language
Participate in the business development process by supporting with pitch preparation, presentation and research as required
Strengthen education first’s brand and messaging in service of deepening and expanding client relationships, amplifying project work and stories, and influencing the education field
People management
Mentor, guide and manage team members; support inclusive project teams that challenge and empower all team members to grow and reach their potential
Position requirements
Experience & qualifications
8-10 years of communications experience, including experience strategizing, producing, and executing integrated campaigns across different marketing channels, including but not limited to email, social, web, print, video, etc.
Superior writing skills and flexible writing style with an ability to synthesize information and tailor communication style to accommodate diverse audiences
Proven track record writing and publishing content such as blog posts, reports, or other publications
Strong written and verbal communication and storytelling skills; copywriting experience preferred
An astute attention to detail and understanding of tailoring creative content
Creative thinker with ability to think long-term, envision end results, and observe/notice key opportunities as they arise
Ability to think strategically while also delivering on execution and reliably moving multiple projects forward at time
Good eye for design, attentive to best practices, and strong understanding of brand consistency
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
Demonstrated ability to manage creative projects and articulate actionable feedback involving both internal and external stakeholders
Ability to manage many competing priorities and communicate effectively when priorities shift
Strong relationship management skills with a proven track record of successfully managing internal and external relationships
Demonstrated ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team
Comfort with change in a fast-moving environment
Comfort operating in ambiguity/uncertainty, and ability to pivot, change course, and remain confident and flexible amid evolving circumstances
Experience in education, policy or public affairs
Previous experience working at a nonprofit organization or foundation preferred
Demonstrated understanding of current education reform issues, players and organizations desirable
Proficiency in microsoft office
Proficiency with content creation tools (adobe creative suite, canva, etc.)
Experience managing social media for a business; proficiency a plus across instagram, facebook, tiktok, twitter, linkedin, youtube, and snapchat
Familiarity with utilizing salesforce (pardot) preferred
Master’s in public policy, public administration, business, communications, journalism, education, jd or related fields a plus but not required
Who you are
You are committed to the vision of a more equitable education system in the u.s., including a willingness to examine the role of privilege, structural barriers, and inclusion in changing the trajectories of students furthest from opportunity
You are self-motivated and results oriented
A resourceful problem solver who is able to take initiative on projects with a high degree of autonomy and to anticipate and adjust for unexpected barriers to success
Highly organized and a detail-oriented self-starter committed to quality and results
You proactively and strategically multi-task a high volume of assignments in a high volume environment
Able to lead by influence, establishing open lines of communication on project teams and incorporating the perspective of others
You provide and receive feedback with ease
Ability and desire to work independently in a virtual office environment
Flexible, resourceful and good humored in a deadline-driven, results-oriented culture and organization on the move and always striving for excellence
Location & compensation
You will primarily work from home, but you should be able to travel for firmwide engagements a few times a year (roughly 10% of the time) once it is safe to do so from a public health perspective.
Education first offers a market-based competitive salary, comprehensive and generous benefits package (including ppo health insurance, six weeks of paid time off/holidays and extended leave), work-life flexibility and professional development opportunitiesThe salary range for this position is $104,000 - $152,000 (with 20% of the offer supplemented by local market trends if that market is higher than the national market)We typically set initial starting salaries between the minimum and the 25th percentile of the pay range ($104,000 - $116,000) to ensure there is room for growth over time.
Application process
We are excited to receive applications from a broad range of applicants as we grow our team to better reflect the diversity of the communities our firm is committed to serveEnthusiastic candidates should apply online to submit their resume and a detailed cover letter describing how your qualifications match the job responsibilitiesPlease submit all completed application materials by october 10, 2021.
We plan to conduct screening interviews on a rolling basis and share performance tasks with select candidatesInterviews with top candidates will occur in novemberIdeally, we’d like our newest director communications to start in january 2022.
Education first actively engages our team with a robust race, inclusion, diversity and equity (ride) strategy to build our staff and organizational capacity to lead on issues of equity and to increase diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of the firmAs a proud equal opportunity employer, we strongly encourage applications from candidates of all races, national origins, ages, religions, creeds, veteran or disabled statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions.
Position pay range - $104,000-152,000 full-time/part-time - full-time
Please only apply here: https://recruiting.myapps.paychex.com/appone/maininforeq.asp?r_id=3969598
Job type: full-time
Pay: $104,000.00 - $152,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k)
Dental insurance
Flexible schedule
Health insurance
Paid time off
Referral program
Vision insurance
Schedule:
8 hour shift
Experience:
Writing skills: 1 year (preferred)
Work location:
Fully remote
Work location: remote
