Director of Communications

Catapult; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

Catapult supports NC Child in their search for a Director of Communications in Raleigh, NC. This full-time hybrid role collaborates with the nonprofit on strategy, media outreach, and audience-focused storytelling to advance public policy benefiting North Carolina children.

The position reports to the Senior Director of Development and Communications and requires leadership in content creation, editorial standards, and multi-channel campaigns, including newsletters, website content, and events.

Qualifications

• Experience in press and persuasive communications.
• Ability to translate research/policy into clear content.
• Strong copywriting, editing, and publishing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead proactive media outreach and cultivate press relationships.
• Manage media requests and coordinate materials through review processes.
• Develop crisis and rapid-response communications protocols.
• Provide counsel on messaging, executive visibility, and stakeholder engagement.
• Prepare executive remarks, presentations, and op-eds.
• Coach spokespeople for media appearances and provide training.

Skills

Email proficiency

Press relations

Copywriting

AP Style

Microsoft Office

Problem solving

Independent & collaborative

Policy communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications/marketing

Tools

Meltwater

WordPress

Adobe Creative Suite

Raiser's Edge

Airtable

SharePoint

Job description

At Catapult, we are supporting our member, NC Child, in their search for a Director of Communications. NC Child is based in Raleigh, NC, and this is a full time hybrid role with occasional travel requirements.

About NC Child

NC Child is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for public policies that improve the lives of all North Carolina children. As the state's only multi-issue child advocacy organization, our work addresses the whole child, including health and well- being, early childhood education, and family economic security. We are also a trusted source of state-level research and data for policymakers and child advocates across North Carolina.

The Opportunity

NC Child is seeking an experienced, strategic, and mission-driven Director of Communications to strengthen our voice, expand our reach, and help advance policies that improve the lives of children and families. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and Communications, this individual-contributor role develops communications strategies, leads proactive media outreach, translates research and policy into compelling content, and makes recommendations on audience priorities, message positioning, channel selection, campaign timing, and performance improvements.

What You'll Do

• Lead proactive media outreach by cultivating press relationships, identifying timely story opportunities, and pitching NC Child research, policy positions, experts, and constituent perspectives. Prepare press releases and media advisories, maintain media contacts in Meltwater, and promote NC Child's Child Health Report Card, Data Center, County Data Cards, and KIDS COUNT Data Book.
• Manage incoming media requests, recommend response language, coordinate subject-matter input, and route materials through established review and approval processes.
• Develop crisis, issues management, and rapid-response communications protocols; assess communications considerations; and recommend response strategies.
• Provide communications counsel on organizational positioning, message strategy, executive visibility, public communications, and stakeholder engagement.
• Develop executive remarks, presentations, testimony, briefing materials, talking points, op-eds, and thought-leadership content.
• Prepare NC Child leadership, board members, staff, and constituent spokespeople, including parents and youth, for media appearances, and provide media training.
• Create and manage multi-channel communications, including action alerts, biweekly newsletters, website content, blogs, social media, advertising campaigns, and signature event communications. Participate in planning, execution, and promotion of the annual State of the Child Summit.
• Set communications goals and performance measures; monitor earned media, website, email, social, audience, and campaign results; and recommend improvements.
• Steward NC Child's brand, organizational voice, visual identity, editorial standards, and messaging framework.
• Maintain an integrated editorial calendar and coordinate content development, fact-checking, appropriate review, approval, publication, and archiving workflows.
• Promote plain-language, culturally responsive, and accessible communications, including captions, alternative text, accessible documents, translation, and language access when appropriate.
• Direct NC Child's storytelling efforts, manage storytelling submission forms, and write community spotlights and profile stories. Apply ethical storytelling, informed-consent, privacy, release, and documentation practices when sharing stories or images involving children, families, and communities.
• Partner with program and development staff on policy campaigns, donor communications, fundraising materials, grant-related communications, and impact reporting. Draft the NC Child Impact Report (Annual Report) and monthly Board of Directors updates; support the Senior Marketing Manager with digital, video, and audio content; co-lead the EarlyWell Communications Action Team; and manage ExCEL NC website, social media, constituent, and event communications.
• Coordinate assigned communications budgets and vendor relationships; recommend vendor selection and scope; and monitor contracts, quality, deadlines, and expenditures.

What You Bring

• Demonstrated proficiency with email, content management systems, and digital and social media platforms.
• Experience working with the press and developing persuasive, audience- centered communications.
• Strong copywriting, editing, publishing, verbal communication, and presentation skills, including the ability to copyedit research reports, one-pagers, fact sheets, and other external materials.
• Proficiency in AP Style and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Sound judgment, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a changing political and nonprofit environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, synthesize complex information, and translate research and policy issues into clear communications.
• A strong commitment to NC Child's mission and core values.

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing relationships with North Carolina media.
• More than five years of communications experience in government, business, or a nonprofit organization.
• A bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Experience managing digital content across multiple platforms.
• Experience with search engine marketing, analytics, online advertising, or communications platforms such as Meltwater, WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, Raiser's Edge, Airtable, or SharePoint.
• Professional proficiency in Spanish or another language relevant to the communities NC Child serves.

Position Requirements

• Full-Time, 40 hours per week
• Hybrid, two days onsite and travel mostly in North Carolina when needed

Compensation & Benefits

NC Child offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• Hiring range for this position: $85,000-$103,000, depending on experience
• Health and dental insurance
• Paid sick days, PTO, paid family leave
• Sabbatical program
• Professional development opportunities

NC Child is an equal opportunity employer.