Director of Strategic Communications

ACBSP; Overland Park (KS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

ACBSP seeks a Director of Strategic Communications to lead a comprehensive, organization-wide communications strategy. Based in Overland Park, KS, you will report to the President & CEO, build a high-performing team, and be the primary storyteller and brand steward for the association's global presence.

The role requires 7–10 years of progressive communications experience, exceptional writing, and strong digital skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive communications experience.
• Experience developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies for complex, multi-stakeholder organizations.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills across formats including executive communications, press releases, web content, social media, member publications, and scripts.
• Proven experience in digital communications—website content strategy and management, social media, email marketing, and analytics.
• Experience building and scaling communications processes, workflows, and infrastructure.
• Proven experience building or rebuilding a communications team, including recruiting and leading professionals.
• Strategic oversight of web presence with hands-on digital competency.
• Experience in media relations—pitching stories and managing press inquiries.
• Advisor to senior executives and CEOs with trusted partnership.
• Strong project management across multiple initiatives and channels.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute ACBSP's comprehensive communications strategy.
• Lead the Strategic Communications function and build infrastructure and a high-performing team.
• Serve as the primary storyteller, brand steward, and communications partner to the President & CEO.
• Oversee internal and external communications across digital, print, social, and media channels.
• Collaborate with Leadership teams across departments to align communications with organizational goals.

Skills

Strategic communications

Writing and editing

Digital communications

Team leadership

Executive partnership

Project management

Brand stewardship

Media relations

Global/diverse audiences

Crisis communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/PR/Marketing or related field

Master's degree preferred in Communications/PR/Nonprofit Management or related field

Job description

The Director of Strategic Communications is a senior strategic leadership position responsible for developing and executing ACBSP's comprehensive communications strategy — building the organization's brand, elevating its global presence, deepening member engagement, and serving as the primary communications partner to the President & CEO. This role leads ACBSP's Strategic Communications function at a pivotal moment of organizational transformation and growth.

This person will build ACBSP's communications function — developing strategy, establishing infrastructure, building a high-performing team, and creating the processes and systems needed to deliver world-class communications across all channels. This person will serve as ACBSP's primary storyteller, brand steward, and communications strategist, with responsibility for all internal and external communications across digital, print, social, and media channels.

The Director of Strategic Communications will report directly to the President & CEO. The Director will supervise the Communications and marketing team staff - with responsibility to recruit, hire, develop, and grow the team over time. The Director will work closely with Accreditation, Member Services, Global Events and Programs, Data Strategy, Finance, and senior leadership.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a closely related field
• Master's degree preferred in Communications, Public Relations, Nonprofit Management, or a related field

Required Experience

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive communications experience
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies for complex, multi-stakeholder organizations
• Exceptional writing and editing skills — with the ability to write compellingly across formats including executive communications, press releases, web content, social media, member publications, and scripts
• Proven experience in digital communications — including website content strategy and management, social media strategy, email marketing, and analytics
• Demonstrated experience assessing, developing, and implementing communications processes, workflows, and operational infrastructure — with a track record of building efficient, scalable communications functions
• Proven experience building or significantly rebuilding a communications team — including recruiting, hiring, developing, and leading communications professionals
• Strategic oversight of web presence — with hands‑on digital competency and the ability to guide web and design resources effectively
• Experience in media relations — including pitching stories, managing press inquiries, and building journalist relationships
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted communications advisor to senior executives and CEOs
• Strong project management skills — with the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, channels, and deadlines

Preferred Experience

• Experience in higher education, business education, accreditation, or a closely related professional association
• Experience working in or with nonprofit or association management environments
• Experience managing or contributing to crisis communications protocols and response
• Familiarity with AI-assisted content tools and how to use them responsibly and effectively in a communications context
• Experience writing for international or globally diverse audiences
• Experience managing or overseeing graphic design, web design, or visual brand functions
• Experience supporting board-level communications in a nonprofit or association governance context

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strategic vision — develops, owns, and executes a comprehensive communications strategy that connects organizational mission, member value, and long-term brand building
• Process architecture — the ability to assess current communications infrastructure and build efficient, documented, matrix-oriented processes and workflows that align communications across all organizational functions
• Team builder — recruits, develops, and leads a high-performing communications team from the ground up, with a clear phased growth strategy
• Exceptional writing — the ability to write with clarity, precision, warmth, and strategic intent across formats and audiences
• Executive partnership — a trusted advisor who helps the CEO and senior leadership communicate with authority and authenticity
• Builder mindset — energized by the opportunity to build a communications function, team, infrastructure, and culture
• Digital fluency — comfortable with the full spectrum of digital communications tools and platforms, including web strategy and emerging AI-assisted content tools
• Global mindset — sensitivity to ACBSP's culturally and geographically diverse global membership community
• Storytelling — the ability to find and tell compelling human stories that bring ACBSP's mission to life for global audiences
• Media savvy — understands how journalists and editors think, and knows how to position ACBSP stories for coverage
• Brand stewardship — a meticulous guardian of organizational voice, visual identity, and messaging consistency
• Mission alignment — genuine passion for ACBSP's mission and the global business education community it serves

At ACBSP, we’re committed to supporting our employees both professionally and personally. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, along with retirement benefits.

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for this position is $85,000 to $95,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Work Location

This is a full-time, in-person opportunity based at ACBSP’s headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas.

If you have any questions or issues applying, please email the hiring team at [e-mail].