Director of Communications and Marketing

Director of Communications and Marketing

SchoolHouse Connection (SHC), a fast-paced, results-oriented national nonprofit organization working to overcome homelessness through education, is seeking a Director of Communications and Marketing to develop and guide the strategy for all SHC communications.

The Director of Communications and Marketing will be a seasoned and creative communications professional who will build a dynamic communications team to support this work, including leading the recruitment and hiring of a direct-report Communications Associate, and serving as point of contact for consultants.

This is a full-time, salaried position with generous benefits. The Director of Communications and Marketing will work remotely, as do all of SHC’s employees.

SchoolHouse Connection is committed to developing a diverse and dynamic team and encourages applications from people of color, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Communications and Marketing will report to the Executive Director, and is responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

OVERALL STRATEGY AND FUNCTION

• Developing, leading, implementing, and evaluating an integrated strategic communications and marketing plan to advance SHC’s policy advocacy, practical assistance, fundraising, and organizational goals.
• Proactively identifying the role of communications to amplify and support SHC’s advocacy and narrative change efforts, coordinating with relevant SHC team members to do so.
• Monitoring media coverage and research related to SHC’s issue areas and priorities.
• Overseeing the day-to-day activities and operations of SHC’s communications functions, including supervision of a Communications Associate and point of contact for consultants.
• Ensuring that branding elements are uniformly and consistently applied in all marketing and communications efforts.
• Defining clear metrics of success for marketing and communications efforts and overseeing use of tools, systems and processes to elevate effectiveness of marketing communications function.

EARNED MEDIA

• Supporting the SHC’s earned media impact, including by coordinating with the Executive Director to assess and manage inbound earned media requests, and proactively identify opportunities for earned media pitching.

DIGITAL MEDIA

• Developing social media goals and strategy that engages audience segments and leads to measurable action.
• Overseeing content developed by Associate for SHC-owned social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube).
• Monitoring social media metrics and engagement, and advising in optimization. 

WEBSITE 

• Leading website redesign efforts.
• Overseeing website updates and advising in the strategic leveraging of SHC’s website as a communications tool.

PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS

• Providing strategic direction for the design, development and promotion of reports, blogs, issue briefs, tip sheets, presentations, and other publications that will engage and inform targeted audiences. 
• Overseeing the design, formatting and production of publications and presentations by a Communications Associate.
• Leading development of Year-In-Review and Annual Report. 
• Developing email marketing goals and strategy.
• Reviewing e-newsletter content developed by staff, and overseeing production and dissemination of e-newsletter.
• Coordinating with staff to develop, deliver, and promote engaging webinars and in-person events.
• Overseeing development of marketing materials for exhibiting at conferences and other events.

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

• Supporting/guiding the transition to EveryAction integration in e-newsletters, email marketing and website integration.

FUNDRAISING

• Assisting the Executive Director and Development Advisor with grant reports.
• Collaborating with Development Advisor to plan and carry out fundraising efforts.

PARTNERSHIPS

• Serving as the main point of contact for communications-related partner engagement and proactively identifying opportunities for partnership (op-eds, campaigns, etc).

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS 

SHC is seeking a Director of Communications and Marketing with demonstrated success in leading strategic and creative communications and marketing.

As this is a work-from-home position, the Director must have the ability to work independently, diligently, and efficiently. This person should exemplify each of SHC’s core competencies: being a strong and clear communicator, a team player, exceptionally organized, and self-directed.

Specific required qualifications include:

• At least 6-8 years of communications and/or marketing experience, ideally in a leadership role in an advocacy organization.
• At least 2-3 of experience successfully managing others and leading teams.
• Strong project management skills with proven ability to oversee multiple projects
• simultaneously, prioritize and organize workload, and collaborate with internal/external partners.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills displaying careful attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness.
• Skilled at translating sophisticated information and concepts into simple, digestible, motivating content tailored to distinct audiences.
• Creative with capacity to execute on design and production, if needed.
• Demonstrated ability to use communications strategically and in a non-partisan fashion to push for policy change.
• Fluency across digital media platforms and experience with a variety of marketing tools and services, including email marketing and website content management systems.
• Experience identifying and tracking metrics to evaluate and improve communications and marketing strategies.
• Demonstrated commitment to SHC’s mission and SHC’s advocacy principles.
• A high level of attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness.
• A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently.
• A demonstrated ability to handle a heavy workload, and achieve results, even in the face of obstacles, while displaying high standards of excellence and integrity.
• The ability to work independently and take initiative, while ensuring alignment and thriving as a collegial member of a small but mighty team.

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

Salary: $85,000-100,000

Benefits: Work from home; flexible work schedule; generous holiday, personal, and vacation leave; health insurance reimbursement plan; 403(b) retirement plan; a small, collegial team; and many opportunities to use skills, learn, and grow professionally with room to be creative and innovative. 

HOW TO APPLY 

To apply, please submit the following materials to jobs@schoolhouseconnection.org with the subject line “Director of Communications and Marketing,” by Monday, October 10. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified.

Please send:

1. A cover letter specific to the duties and qualifications of this position;
2. A current resume highlighting experience relevant to this position;
3. At least two writing samples that demonstrate:
4. Skill at translating sophisticated information and concepts into simple, digestible, motivating content tailored to distinct audiences, and 
5. The ability to use communications strategically and in a non-partisan fashion to push for policy change; and 
6. At least two references.

ABOUT SCHOOLHOUSE CONNECTION

SHC is the nation’s leading expert on the early care and education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. We provide strategic advocacy and practical assistance in partnership with early childhood programs, schools, institutions of higher education, service providers, families, and youth. We have ushered to passage many critical policies and programs for children and youth experiencing homelessness, and provide extensive implementation assistance to ensure these policies lead to real outcomes.