JOB SUMMARY

The CEO Communications Director is an experienced partner to the CEO and a key voice in advancing the mission of Step Up For Students. This role is responsible for shaping and delivering clear, consistent, and inspiring messaging that reflects the CEO’s vision and supports the organization’s commitment to educational equity and opportunity. By translating complex ideas into powerful narratives, the Director ensures the CEO’s voice resonates across internal teams, stakeholders, and the broader public.
Working closely with internal and external communications teams, the Director supports executive messaging and thought leadership. This role fosters alignment and engagement across the organization and helps position Step Up For Students as a national leader. 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute a communications strategy that reflects the CEO's vision and supports organizational objectives.
• Serve as a key liaison between the CEO and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), ensuring communication needs are understood, supported, and aligned across all functions.
• Create and distribute high-impact materials to ensure consistent messaging across teams, fostering clarity, unity, and engagement organization-wide.
  
• Draft, edit, and manage executive-level content, including weekly All Hands updates, Town Halls, SLT offsite materials, Board decks, and other strategic communications.
  
• Craft compelling narratives that inspire employees and reinforce the organization’s mission, values, and long-term vision.
  
• Plan and facilitate CEO-led communications events, such as virtual Town Halls, team briefings, and live Q&A sessions that drive transparency and connection.
  
• Organize and support strategic offsite sessions for the SLT, including agenda development and follow-up communications.
  
• Gather and analyze employee feedback in collaboration with HR and Culture teams to inform leadership messaging and shape internal initiatives.
  
• Promote and embody Step Up For Students' values and culture through all CEO communications.
  
• Align messaging with employee engagement and organizational culture strategies in partnership with HR and leadership teams.
  
• Provide expert counsel and communications support during times of change, growth, or crisis, ensuring messages are clear, consistent, and empathetic.
  
• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO, offering strategic insights and feedback to strengthen communication style, tone, and overall impact.
  
• Collaborate with Marketing, HR, and other departments to ensure communication strategies reinforce and align with broader organizational goals.

 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

REQUIRED:

• Demonstrated success and a proven track record in professional/life experience in specific job functions, projects, or industries, and military service can substitute for the formal education requirements.
• 7+ years in corporate or nonprofit communications, with at least 3 years in a leadership.
• Proven experience in executive-level communication strategies.
• Outstanding writing and editing skills with attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships in a remote environment.
• Experience with crisis and change management communication.

PREFERRED:

• Familiarity with nonprofit operations and values.

 

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strategic thinking and the ability to communicate complex ideas through impactful messages and visuals.
• The ability to “tell the story” in communications.
• High emotional intelligence and professionalism in sensitive situations.
• Proficiency with virtual communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams) and intranet platforms.
• Comfortable working in a fully remote environment and fostering engagement across a dispersed team.

 

CORE VALUES

Step Up For Students believes strongly in two key core values to carry out their mission of “We empower families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children.”:

• Everyone is an asset.
• Every event is an improvement opportunity.

To maintain a positive and effective organizational culture, employees are expected to demonstrate these two core values in their everyday work.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS & EQUIPMENT USE

• Work is performed indoors in a typical office environment - not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
• Valid driver license with proof of insurance.
• Must be able to lift up to fifteen (15) pounds.

• Frequent use of office machines to include telephone, computer, and printer.