Communications Manager

Communities in Schools of Tennessee; Tennessee; On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid parental leave

Vacation days

401(k) match

Cell phone stipend

Professional development

Job summary

Communities In Schools of Tennessee is seeking a Communications Manager to develop and execute statewide communications and marketing strategies that raise awareness and support philanthropic growth. The role reports to the Chief Development Officer and collaborates across the Advancement Team and external partners.

Responsibilities include strategic storytelling, content development, social media management, staff training, and leading a Monthly Giving program to engage donors and strengthen

Qualifications

• Associate degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, English, or digital media is required.
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Experience with content management systems, email platforms, Canva, Adobe InDesign, and basic video editing is required.
• Experience supporting fundraising, donor communications, and monthly giving programs is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strategic communications, narrative, and storytelling to share impact and engage audiences.
• Lead content development across written, visual, and multimedia channels.
• Develop messaging that communicates experiences and outcomes for students, families, and partners.
• Collaborate with the CDO and Advancement Team to move audiences toward engagement and philanthropy.
• Oversee a story bank and a digital library of brand assets.
• Manage digital communications including website, social media, email, and campaigns.

Skills

Storytelling

Communications

Editing

Content development

Social media

Video editing

Public relations

Project management

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor’s preferred

Tools

CMS

Email marketing

Canva

Adobe InDesign

Video tools

Job description

The Communications Managerwillcollaborate with theChief Development Officer (CDO)todevelop and execute the annual statewide communicationsand marketing strategy that increasesawareness of CommunitiesInSchools of Tennessee (CISTN), strengthens engagement with key audiences, elevates the organization’s narrative and storytelling, supports philanthropic growth,and advances organizational priorities.

A member of theAdvancementTeam, theCommunications Managerwillreport to the ChiefDevelopmentOfficer and workcollaboratively across theorganization, theAdvancementCommittee, externalpublic relationsfirmandother external partners.

The Communications Manager willbe responsible forensuring that CISTN’s communications are strategic, audience-centered,consistent,and aligned with the organization’s mission,values,brand,and goals.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Communications, Narrative,andStorytelling

• Build and strengthen CISTN’s organizational narrative and storytelling presence by proactivelyidentifying, developing, and sharing compelling stories thatdemonstratethe impact of the organization’s work.
• Partner with Program Managers,ProgramDirectors,and other colleagues to gatheraccurateand authentic stories and translate programmatic work and outcomes into content that connects audiences to CISTN’s mission.
• Develop messaging and content that communicates the experiences and impact of students, families, schools, staff, community partners, donors, and other stakeholders while ensuring storytelling is respectful,accurate, culturally responsive, and aligned with CISTN values.
• Collaborate with the CDO and members of theAdvancementTeam to ensure communications support relationship building and move audiences toward meaningful engagement with CISTN, including volunteering, partnership, advocacy, event participation, and philanthropic support.

Content Development and EditorialManagement

• Lead the development, editing, and distribution of written, visual, and multimedia content across CISTN’s communications channels. This includes content supporting organizational communications, fundraising and donor engagement, events, media relations, digital communications, internal communications, and other organizational priorities.
• Develop and oversee astory bankingprocess that creates consistent opportunities toidentify, collect, document, organize, andmaintainstoriesand supporting assets from across the organization.Establish clear processes, tools, and collaboration practices that make it easy for Program Managers and Directors to contribute stories and impact content on an ongoing basis.
• Create, record, edit, and produce video and other multimedia content for use across digital and social media channels.Identifyopportunities to use video and other emerging formats toeffectivelytell stories, highlight organizational impact, andengage diverse audiences.
• Ensure that communications are clear,accurate,engaging, audience-appropriate, grammatically correct, and consistent with CISTN and National CIS brand standards.
• Develop andmaintaincommunications resources, templates, and a digital library of brand assets.

Social Media and DigitalCommunications

• Manage CISTN’s digital communications presence, including the organization’s website, social media platforms, email communications, and other relevant digital channels. Develop and execute platform-appropriate content strategies that increase awareness, engagement, and connection to the organization’s mission.
• Monitor digital and social media performance and use data and insights to evaluate effectiveness,identifyopportunities, and refine communications strategies and content.

Staff Trainingand Communications Capacity Building

• Develop,maintain, anddisseminatecommunications resources, templates, toolkits, and CISTN collateral for staff.
• Orient new hires to communications resources, brand standards, storytelling expectations, and opportunities to support organizational communications.
• Provide communications and storytelling training to staff through professional development opportunities as appropriate.
• Build staff capacity to recognize and share compelling stories, program impact, student and family success, and other content that strengthensCISTN’s communications and fundraising efforts.
• Partner with staff across the organization to ensure that communications and storytelling reflect the experiences and perspectives of the students, families, schools, and communities CISTN serves.

Monthly Giving and Fundraising Engagement

• In partnership with the CDO and Advancement Team, lead the development, launch, and ongoing management of CISTN’s formal Monthly Giving Program. Develop and implement strategies toacquire, engage, steward,retain, and grow monthly donors through engaging communications, storytelling, donor journeys, and targeted campaigns.
• Ensure that monthly donors receive consistent and meaningful communications thatdemonstratethe impact of their ongoing support. Monitor program performance and usedonorand fundraising data to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.

Organizational LeadershipandCollaboration

• Participate in CommunitiesInSchools NationalCommunications callsand relevant professional development opportunitiesandshare relevant information and insights withappropriate CISTNstaff.
• Develop and implement internal communications strategies that ensure staff are informed, engaged, and connected to organizational goals and priorities through channels such as newsletters, team meetings, staff announcements, and other internal communications.
• Work in concert with the CDO to develop, track, and report on communications andengagement performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness,identifyopportunities, and inform ongoing strategy and decision-making.
• Support the implementation of CISTN’s crisis communications plan.
• Collaborate with external public relations counsel toidentifyand develop media opportunities and support media relations efforts.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure communications accurately and effectively reflect CISTN’s programs, values, impact, and organizational priorities.
• Contribute to a culture in which all staff understand their role in advancing awareness, engagement, relationships, and philanthropic support for CISTN.
• Collaboratewith the Operations team to ensure internal and external communications are created, published, andmaintainedin accordance withaccessibility standards and best practices.

Currently, the Communications Manager is based in Nashville. The CDO and the Communications Manager will work together todeterminethe work arrangements for both in-person and remote work, considering the season of work and organizational needs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The statementscontainedhereindescribe the scope of responsibility and essential functions of this position but should notbe considered to bean all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties asassignedincluding work in otherareasto cover absences or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.Other duties may be assigned by the CDO.

CORE COMPETENCIES

The core competencies for theCommunications Managerinclude, but are not limited to:

• Communication:Demonstratesexceptional written and verbal communication skills and conveys information in ways that are clear, engaging, and audience centered. Uses writing and storytelling to translate complex ideas into meaningful messages that build trust, communicate impact, and strengthen connections with diverse audiences.
• Creative and AudienceAwareness:Demonstratescuriosity,creativity,and astrongunderstanding ofaudience perspectives.Adapts ideasandapproaches to effectivelyengagediverse audienceswhileremainingresponsive to evolving communications practices and organizational needs.
• Collaboration andRelationship Building:Develops collaborativerelationshipswith internal and external partners.Demonstratesunderstandingofthe relationship between communications,engagement,and philanthropy andworks across functions to strengthen relationships and advance organizational priorities.
• Execution and Organizational Effectiveness:Organizes work effectively, manages competing priorities, and follows through oncommitmentswhiledelivering work that meets a high standard of quality and achieves desired outcomes.
• Cultural Competence:Demonstratesa clear understanding of racial and other forms of discrimination, including but not limited to historical discrimination, that mayimpactstudents and families and applies that understanding to work in schools and across the organization.

Qualifications

• Associate degreein communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, English, digital media, or a related fieldrequired; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 5-7years ofprogressively responsibleexperience incommunications, marketing, journalism, public relations, or nonprofit communications.Work experience can be substituted for those without formal education, requiringfiveor moreyears of direct experience.
• Experience with content management systems,email marketing platforms,Canva, Adobe InDesign, and basic video recording and editing tools.
• Experience supporting or managing fundraising initiatives, including donor communications, stewardship campaigns, recurring giving programs, or other donorengagement strategies preferred.

Additional Information

• Employee medical, dental, vision, short-and-long-term disability insurance premiums are 100% employer-paid, with some dependent health plans includingan employercontribution.
• Paid parental leave.
• 15 paid vacation days, 10 sick days, 4 floating holidays, 10 other paid holidays, and an extended winter break.
• 401(k) match up to 2%.
• Cell phone stipend.
• Individual professional development budgetandup to $1,500/year educational expense reimbursement.

Details

• Date Posted: July 31, 2026
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Communications / Marketing / PR