Director of Communications

National-Institute-For-Excellence-in-Teachin; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) seeks a Director of Communications to lead strategy, oversee media relations, newsletters, digital communications, and marketing, reporting to the Senior Vice President of Policy and Communications.

This role manages a communications team, shapes NIET's public profile, engages top-tier media, and ensures consistent messaging across internal and external channels while advancing the organization’s reputation.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications plan.
• Excellent verbal and written communication across print and online media.
• 12+ years of communications or marketing experience.
• Proven success in building relationships with top-tier reporters and editors.
• Knowledge of education systems, educator policy, leadership development, and the evolving national education landscape is preferred.
• Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Strong project management, goal setting, time management, and prioritization.
• Experience managing and growing a team.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office; familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance NIET’s brand identity, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities, and increase visibility across key stakeholder audiences.
• Create marketing/public relations strategy to cultivate relationships with targeted external audiences, including media and influencers.
• Create and execute internal communications plans, including messaging, materials and presentations for staff.
• Identify challenges and opportunities; work with leadership to recognize internal and external communications needs and develop solutions.
• Serve as communications liaison to NIET leadership.
• Plan content for NIET communications: blog, social media, website, resources, outreach, announcements and awards.
• Produce high-quality written and digital content: features, press releases, articles, marketing materials.
• Develop NIET print communications and manage vendor relationships.
• Identify media opportunities; prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and supporting material.
• Engage and manage media relationships to ensure coverage of NIET programs and events.
• Oversee day-to-day activities of the communications team.

Skills

Leadership in comms plan

Verbal and written communication

12+ years communications/marketing

Media relations

Education policy knowledge

Collaboration

Project management

Team management

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Cloud familiarity

Canva

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Cloud (Premiere Pro, InDesign)

Canva

Job description

The Director of Communications will to the Senior Vice President of Policy and Communications and serving as an integral member of the management team, the Director of Communications will be responsible for the development of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s (NIET) communication strategy. The Director of Communications will be responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of a broad range of public relations activities relative to the strategic direction and positioning of the organization and its leadership to advance the organization's reputation. Managing the communications team, the Director of Communications will be responsible for NIET’s communications including media relations, newsletters and publications, digital communications, and marketing.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Communications Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance NIET’s brand identity, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities, and increase the visibility of its programs across key stakeholder audiences
• Create marketing/public relations strategy that will allow NIET leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers
• Create and execute a plan to strengthen internal communications and provide support for staff including messaging, materials and presentations
• Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization, work with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities, and develop and implement solutions and strategies
• Serve as communications liaison to NIET leadership

Communications Operations

• Plan and create content for NIET communications, including NIET’s blog, social media, website, resources, partnership development outreach, key announcements and awards, and other external communications
• Produce high-quality written and digital content, including features, press releases, articles, marketing materials
• Develop NIET print communications, including marketing collateral materials, and manage relationships with associated vendors
• Identify media opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting material as needed
• Actively engage, cultivate, and manage media relationships to ensure coverage of NIET programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects
• Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications team

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications plan to advance an organization's mission and goals
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a particular ability to convey a message in a succinct way in a variety of print and online communications media
• 12+ years of communications or marketing experience
• Demonstrated success in building relationships with top-tier reporters and editors, and in positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements
• Knowledge of education systems, educator policy, leadership development, and the evolving national education landscape strongly preferred
• Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills
• Project management skills, including goal setting, time management, follow-up, and prioritization
• Experience managing and growing a team
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite; familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud, including Premiere Pro and InDesign, and Canva
• Exhibit NIET’s core values

EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

This position is currently accepting applications.