Director, Policy Communications

ExcelinEd; United States; Remote; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ExcelinEd is seeking a Director of Policy Communications to develop and implement a comprehensive communications program supporting policy initiatives. The role involves collaborating with policy experts, managing strategic communications, and creating compelling materials for various audiences. Applicants should possess 6+ years of experience, a relevant degree, and strong writing skills.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in communications and marketing.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills in AP style.
• Ability to manage complex work assignments and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Directs and executes communications strategies for policy initiatives.
• Collaborates with policy experts to create engaging materials.
• Designs promotional plans to elevate the organization's policy agenda.

Skills

Writing and editing

Project management

Customer service

Social media management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism

Tools

Mailchimp

WordPress

Job description

Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd)

Virtual

About ExcelinEd:

Being a part of ExcelinEd means joining a high-performing and motivated team of education advocates with a shared belief that every child deserves a quality education. Team members are committed to our core values of service, integrity, collaboration, expertise and making a difference. Our organization sets big, hairy audacious goals and works tirelessly to support states in transforming education through student-centered policies that increase student learning, expand opportunity and ready students for college plus careers.

About the Director Position:

The Director of Policy Communications develops, directs and implements a comprehensive and multi-faceted communications program to support and promote ExcelinEd’s policy agenda. This position collaborates with ExcelinEd’s policy experts to manage strategic and tactical communications and marketing plans that elevate the organization’s policy research, publications, tools and thought leadership initiatives. This role plays a critical part in shaping and delivering compelling messages that resonate with key audiences, including policymakers, donors and state and national partners.

This role reports to the VP of Communications and can be executed virtually from anywhere within the United States.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Directs, plans and executes communications strategies and tactics that support policy initiatives, ensuring alignment with the organization’s brand, voice and strategic goals.
• Serves as the lead communications advisor to the organization’s policy experts and provides direct communications support for policy initiatives.
• Collaborates with policy experts to translate complex content into clear, accessible and engaging materials for target audiences; establishes, maintains and meets project timelines and deliverables.
• Designs and implements promotional and marketing plans to elevate and publicize the organization’s policy agenda, initiatives and impact, which may include leveraging earned media, webinars, podcasts, social media and other channels.
• Reviews and copy edits policy documents for final publication, including but not limited to model policies, white papers, toolkits and case studies.
• Writes and manages policy-centered communications materials, such as blogs, e-blasts, website content, opinion editorials and other resources.
• Supports the development and production of policy-centered videos, podcasts, policy summaries and other collaterals, including the organization’s annual report.
• Supports other communications projects and priorities, as directed, including those relating to ExcelinEd’s National Summit on Education.

Qualification/Skills:

• Ability to translate complex ideas into clear, concise, compelling and accessible language.
• Results driven with the ability to multitask and successfully manage complex work assignments, meet deadlines and effectively balance the needs of multiple internal and/or external partners.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills for a variety of formats; knowledge and ability to write in AP style.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with impeccable attention to detail and deadlines.
• Experience working with graphic designers on communications products.
• Commitment to ensuring all communications reflect the organization’s voice and strategic messaging.
• Strong ability to manage and work cross-functionally and cross-regionally at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to learn quickly, work independently and deploy a growth mindset.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships.
• Experience with managing social media platforms, tools and analytics, email marketing systems and website content management systems (specific platforms include WordPress, Monday.com, Meltwater, Mailchimp).

Requirements:

• 6+ years of related experience in developing and implementing strategic communications and marketing plans.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in communications, marketing, journalism or other relevant area of study.
• Ability to travel minimally; approximately 1-2 trips/year
• General understanding of education policy a plus.

To Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

• Cover letter that includes:
  • An introductory paragraph(s) describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to ExcelinEd’s mission and how you came to those beliefs
  • Salary Requirements

Questions can be directed to Katy Gambella, Director of Outreach at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [e-mail] .

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.