Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer

TNTP The New Teacher Project; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 376,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Comprehensive benefits

Total rewards package

Job summary

TNTP The New Teacher Project is seeking a Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer to lead our external affairs function, shaping the organization’s narrative, brand, and strategic communications to advance enterprise priorities and measurable impact.

You will oversee integrated marketing, media, publications, campaigns, events, and internal communications initiatives that build national influence and galvanize support for redesigning education systems.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in senior leadership in communications or external affairs within education or public-sector-adjacent settings.
• Outstanding writing and ability to shape executive-level communications.
• Ability to translate strategy into clear narratives for diverse audiences.
• Experience as a senior organizational spokesperson with media credibility.
• Deep understanding of the K-12 education ecosystem and systems-change work.
• Proven track record leading integrated teams across marketing and communications.
• Expertise in brand stewardship and digital communications strategy.
• Crisis communications experience and executive counsel delivery.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead TNTP’s external affairs strategy and national narrative.
• Oversee marketing, media, publications, campaigns, events, and internal communications.
• Direct executive communications, speeches, publications, and crisis messaging.
• Represent TNTP as a senior external spokesperson in high-profile forums.
• Align marketing, communications, campaigns, and messaging across divisions to drive impact.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Exceptional writing

Narrative development

Executive communications

Media relations

K-12 education knowledge

Brand stewardship

Crisis communications

Cross-functional leadership

Job description

Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer

Flexible Location

WHO WE ARE

TNTP brings research, policy, and consulting together to reimagine America’s public education system. We are a fully remote, national organization of over 600 full-time TNTPers with expertise from a variety of fields, united by the vision to change outcomes for all students. Working collaboratively, we dig into educators’ toughest challenges, and we provide actionable solutions grounded in evidence. This work takes place in schools and districts across the country, and our national position allows us to spot trends, collect and analyze data, and advocate policy changes that introduce greater impact at scale. We work across sectors and partner with school systems to ensure that the 3.5 million young people who graduate high school every year have pathways to economic and social mobility. Learn more about us, what we do, and working here.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

As Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer, you will lead TNTP’s external affairs function, shaping the organization’s narrative, brand, and strategic communications to advance enterprise priorities and measurable impact. In this role you will oversee integrated marketing, media, publications, campaigns, events, and internal communications initiatives that build national influence and galvanize support for redesigning education systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and oversee TNTP’s comprehensive external affairs strategy, galvanizing national support to redesign education systems so that all students graduate with strong academic foundations and clear pathways to opportunity.
• Serve as TNTP’s chief narrative architect, owning the clarity, coherence, and consistency of how the organization defines problems, articulates solutions, and communicates impact across both external and internal communications channels.
• Direct executive communications strategy and real-time execution, including speeches, major publications, board communications, crisis messaging, and high-stakes correspondence.
• Represent TNTP as a senior external spokesperson in high-profile forums, media engagements, and national convenings aligned to the organization’s external affairs and influence strategy.
• Orchestrate alignment across divisions to ensure marketing, communications, campaigns, and organizational messaging advance enterprise priorities and drive measurable impact and growth.

Brand, Marketing, Thought Leadership, and Engagement

Ensure all positioning reflects a deep understanding of TNTP’s instructional, consulting, and systems-change work, translating complex ideas into compelling, accessible narratives without sacrificing rigor.

• Direct teams responsible for brand strategy, national storytelling, and thought leadership initiatives that elevate TNTP’s visibility, influence, and partnership opportunities nationwide.
• Oversee media strategy and partnerships that amplify organizational impact and position TNTP at the forefront of critical education conversations.
• Lead strategy and execution for high-profile events, convenings, and public engagements that position TNTP as a field leader and catalyze collective action.
• Guides development and execution of an ambitious publication and editorial agenda aligned to TNTP’s reputation for rigorous, student-centered insight and practice.
• Set strategic direction for innovative marketing solutions, multimedia content development, and cross-channel digital campaigns that expand reach and deepen audience engagement.

Internal Communications & Organizational Alignment

Own and execute an enterprise-wide internal communications strategy that strengthens organizational culture, ensures clarity of direction, and builds shared understanding of TNTP’s priorities, progress, and impact—explicitly included as a core responsibility of the role.

• Partner closely with executive leadership, People & Culture, and Chiefs across the organization to ensure internal messaging is timely, aligned, and supports effective change management and org-wide execution.

Team & Organizational Leadership

Build and lead high-performing teams across marketing, communications, campaigns, and engagement functions, fostering collaboration, strategic integration, and leadership development.

• Develop senior leaders and emerging talent as effective communicators, thought leaders, and organizational ambassadors.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in communications, external affairs, marketing, or public affairs within education, nonprofit, or public-sector-adjacent environments.
• Exceptional writing and narrative expertise, with demonstrated ability to personally shape executive-level and high-stakes communications.
• Proven ability to translate complex organizational strategies into coherent narratives that resonate across internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience serving as a senior organizational spokesperson with strong media presence and credibility.
• Deep understanding of the K–12 education ecosystem and systems-change work, with the ability to connect strategy, practice, and storytelling.
• Strong track record building and leading integrated teams that deliver measurable audience, engagement, and organizational outcomes.
• Sophisticated understanding of brand stewardship, digital strategy, and communications in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
• Demonstrated expertise in crisis communications, executive counsel, and leading through organizational change.

WHAT WE OFFER

The salary range for this position is $250,453 - $375,680. New hires can typically expect a starting salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint ($250,453-$313,067), in alignment with experience, qualifications, and our commitment to equity in compensation. TNTP also offers a compelling overall Total Rewards package, including competitive mid-market salaries, generous PTO, and comprehensive benefits, with a range of plans and programs designed to support the physical, mental, and financial wellness of employees and their dependents. We suggest learning more about our benefits! (Spoiler alert: we’re closed the last two weeks of December).

Equal Opportunity Statement

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status, or any other protected category. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation for the interview process. Email [e-mail] to request accommodation.

Position Type: Regular

TNTP is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment. TNTP does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, arrest record, conviction record, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law. This policy covers all programs, services, policies, and procedures of TNTP, including recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, and administering all personnel actions, such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs or terminations. Applicants for employment with TNTP must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. TNTP is the nation's preeminent education nonprofit that brings research, policy, and consulting together to meaningfully transform America’s public education system to meet the expectations of young people, families, communities, and the nation. We are educators, researchers, and innovators who know that a strong academic foundation is essential to improve children’s life outcomes. However, even excelling in school doesn’t outweigh the effects of poverty. We work at every level of the PK-12 system, and across sectors, to help schools and other education partners provide opportunities for every student that will prepare them for the jobs of today and the careers of tomorrow, enabling them to thrive in an increasingly dynamic world.

TNTP Blog: http://tntp.org/blog Join Us: http://tntp.org//join

#LI-REMOTE

The priority application deadline for this position is September 10, 2026. After that date, applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so it is in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.