Director of External Relations and Communications

SCHEV; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SCHEV seeks a Director of External Relations and Communications to lead the agency's interactions with the General Assembly, state agencies, higher education institutions, and external stakeholders. This role oversees the Communications Team and aligns outreach with policy priorities.

Reporting to SCHEV’s Executive Director, you will develop external communications strategies, advise on budget and policy recommendations, and coordinate messaging across divisions to advance SCHEV’s mission.

Qualifications

• Experience tracking Federal and State legislation with key contacts in other state agencies, the Secretariat of Education, Federal agencies, U.S. Congressional staff and industry associations.
• Ability to analyze Federal and state policy and regulatory issues, and to develop position papers with recommendations to executive management.
• Experience supporting, establishing and implementing strategic policy initiatives.
• Experience networking with senior legislative staff, elected officials, industry leaders and other stakeholders to advance policy goals.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to lead and supervise staff.
• Extensive knowledge of strategic communications planning, including the ability to develop agency-wide messaging strategies, ensure consistency of public facing materials, manage media relations, and translate complex policy and data into clear, accessible communications for diverse audiences.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to make presentations, give speeches, and present testimony and materials at the General Assembly Sessions, public meetings and/or industry conferences.
• Computer skills in operating Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the agency’s external facing communications strategy and work across agency divisions to ensure alignment with the strategy.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and Council to develop budget and policy recommendations and engagement strategies.
• Develop, advise, and implement strategies for engaging external stakeholders in support of state, Council, and agency priorities.
• Lead agency interactions with key stakeholders, including the General Assembly, the Governor’s office, and Administration officials.
• Facilitate communication, briefing, and presentation of Council and agency priorities to the General Assembly, its committees, and individual members.
• Oversee, supervise, and direct the agency’s Communications Team, including staff responsible for website management, graphic design, branding, media relations, digital content, newsletters, crisis communications, and agency-wide messaging.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility of all public facing materials, including reports, presentations, press statements, editorials, web content, and data visualization products.
• Provide strategic leadership for messaging and communications planning related to statewide initiatives, legislative proposals, Council activities, and SCHEV’s strategic plan.
• Oversee and direct all Council meetings and related activities.
• Coordinate with communications staff on proactive media engagement, internal message alignment, and timely responses to media and public inquiries.
• Collaborate with SCHEV divisions to translate policy and research into effective communications that support public awareness, institutional engagement, and statewide priorities.
• With agency staff, identify public convenings and other opportunities for external engagement on a state or national level.
• Participate in regular convenings with public and private institutions, including institutional legislative liaisons and communications directors.
• Represent the agency in stakeholder meetings when appropriate.

Skills

Legislative tracking

Policy analysis

Strategic communications

Media relations

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking

Leadership

Microsoft Office

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

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Director of External Relations and Communications

• Type: Full Time
• Salary/Pay Rate: $160,000 - $180,000, commensurate with experience
• Posted Date: 11/06/2026 12:40 PM
• Deadline to Apply: 11/20/2026

The Director for External Relations provides leadership, coordination, and strategic direction for the agency’s interactions with the General Assembly, state agencies, higher education institutions, statewide organizations, and other external stakeholders. In addition to supporting legislative and policy engagement, this position serves as the agency’s lead for external communications, overseeing SCHEV’s Communications Team and ensuring strong alignment between communications, outreach, and external relations functions.

Reporting to SCHEV’s Executive Director, the Director for External Relations will:

• Develop and execute the agency’s external facing communications strategy and work across agency divisions to ensure alignment with the strategy.
• In collaboration with the agency’s executive leadership and Council, develop budget and policy recommendations and engagement strategies in support of these recommendations.
• Develop, advise, and implement strategies for engaging external stakeholders in support of state, Council, and agency priorities.
• Lead agency interactions with key stakeholders, including the General Assembly, the Governor’s office, and Administration officials.
• Facilitate communication, briefing, and presentation of Council and agency priorities to the General Assembly, its committees, and individual members.
• Oversee, supervise, and direct the agency’s Communications Team, including staff responsible for website management, graphic design, branding, media relations, digital content, newsletters, crisis communications, and agency-wide messaging.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility of all public facing materials, including reports, presentations, press statements, editorials, web content, and data visualization products.
• Provide strategic leadership for messaging and communications planning related to statewide initiatives, legislative proposals, Council activities, and SCHEV’s strategic plan.
• Oversee and direct all Council meetings and related activities.
• Coordinate with communications staff on proactive media engagement, internal message alignment, and timely responses to media and public inquiries.
• Collaborate with SCHEV divisions to translate policy and research into effective communications that support public awareness, institutional engagement, and statewide priorities.
• With agency staff, identify public convenings and other opportunities for external engagement on a state or national level.
• Participate in regular convenings with public and private institutions, including institutional legislative liaisons and communications directors.
• Represent the agency in stakeholder meetings when appropriate.

This position plays a central leadership role in managing SCHEV’s public image, strengthening statewide stakeholder relationships, and ensuring communications and policy activities reinforce one another to advance SCHEV’s mission.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience demonstrating the ability to track Federal and State legislation and coordinate legislative and policy changes with key contacts in other state agencies, the Secretariat of Education, Federal agencies, U.S. Congressional staff and industry associations.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to analyze Federal and state policy and regulatory issues, and to develop position papers with recommendations to executive management.
• Experience supporting, establishing and implementing strategic policy initiatives.
• Experience networking with senior legislative staff, elected officials, industry leaders and other stakeholders to advance policy goals.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to lead and supervise staff.
• Extensive knowledge of strategic communications planning, including the ability to develop agency-wide messaging strategies, ensure consistency of public facing materials, manage media relations, and translate complex policy and data into clear, accessible communications for diverse audiences.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to make presentations, give speeches, and present testimony and materials at the General Assembly Sessions, public meetings and/or industry conferences.
• Computer skills in operating Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)

Additional Considerations

• Extensive experience developing and analyzing higher education policies in a state or federal policy environment strongly desired.
• Knowledge of the state’s higher education system and statewide strategic plan.
• Experience representing an institution of higher education in policy settings
• Considerable experience in a public policy role, preferably with frequent interactions with the General Assembly.
• A work history demonstrating considerable experience collaborating and partnering with members of the General Assembly and state policymakers.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.