Senior Director of Communications

National College Attainment Network; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 148,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave time

Health, dental & vision insurance

Employer-matched 401(k)

Professional development

Performance-based bonus

Job summary

NCAN is seeking a Senior Director of Communications to lead national messaging on postsecondary attainment and equity. You will oversee channels, media relations, and content while guiding strategy with the CXO and CEO.

You will supervise the Communications Manager and outside vendors, manage budgets, and occasionally travel for events and training. The role requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, 10–12 years in communications, and 3–5 years of leadership experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 10 to 12 years of progressively responsible communications-related professional experience, preferably in journalism, media relations, government affairs, membership associations, higher education institutions, or education policy.
• At least 3 to 5 years of staff supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of national higher education policy related to postsecondary access and degree completion and financial aid for students underrepresented in higher education.
• Earned media and thought leadership strategy planning, goal-setting, tracking, and internal reporting.

Responsibilities

• Supervise NCAN’s communications channels and content (website, newsletters, social media) to achieve effective message framing, high editorial quality, strong audience growth, diverse representation in subject matter and sources, and resourceful use of technology platforms.
• Collaborate with CEO and CXO to identify key messages and promote new reports, products, campaigns, and events.
• Maintain brand guidelines and support their consistent use.
• Design and execute affirmative media relations and thought leadership strategy to advance policies and practices favorable to postsecondary access and completion and to increase belief in the value of college among the media, thought leaders, and funders.
• Cultivate relationships with reporters and editors, proactively pitch op-eds and potential media stories, provide issue background, and handle inbound media and speaking requests.
• Occasionally speak on the record to reporters as one of several NCAN spokespeople.
• Engage an advisory group of NCAN member communication leaders to inform media strategy, find opportunities to collaborate, and handle priority media referrals.
• Draft messaging about NCAN’s perspectives, strategies, policy priorities, and recommended effective practices, including op-eds, guest columns, talking points, presentations, and social media posts, for delivery or publication by various NCAN staff, board, or member organizations.
• Track and analyze the effectiveness of communications, media, and thought leadership efforts, providing regular updates and recommendations for improvement.
• Manage the Communications Manager and occasional outside vendors.
• Manage communication budgets and allocate resources efficiently.
• Travel occasionally as required for events, training, or projects.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Writing

Strategic communications

Media relations

Digital communications

Social media

LinkedIn

Project management

Editing & storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

Google Analytics

SEO & website basics

Job description

Senior Director of Communications, National College Attainment Network

REPORTS TO: Chief External Relations Officer (CXO)

TEAM: External Relations – CORE

ABOUT NCAN

The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) is a small, collaborative team of experienced professionals fully committed to achieving equity for students historically underrepresented in higher education: students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation-to-college students, and/or students of color. Our fast-paced work environment supports a work-life balance that allows team members to use their talents to the fullest.

As a national membership network, we are continually informed and inspired by the efforts of organizations and systems across the country committed to breaking down barriers for students and supporting them to obtain college degrees and successful careers.

THE OPPORTUNITY

NCAN’s Senior Director, Communications focuses on raising awareness about the value of higher education for students furthest from opportunity as well as strategies to achieve increased postsecondary attainment.

Reporting to the Chief External Relations Officer, the Senior Director, Communications provides day-to-day oversight of NCAN’s communications channels, leads media strategy, shapes NCAN’s external messaging, and finds opportunities to bring NCAN’s recommended policies and practices to new audiences. The Senior Director, Communications, supervises the Communications Manager and manages occasional outside vendors.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Communications Channels & Brand

• Supervise NCAN’s communications channels and content (website, newsletters, social media) to achieve effective message framing, high editorial quality, strong audience growth, diverse representation in subject matter and sources, and resourceful use of technology platforms.
• Collaborate with strategy area leads, the CEO, and CXO to identify key messages and promote new reports, products, campaigns, and events.
• Maintain brand guidelines and support their consistent use.

Media Relations & Thought Leadership

• Design and execute affirmative media relations and thought leadership strategy to advance policies and practices favorable to postsecondary access and completion and to increase belief in the value of college among the media, thought leaders, and funders.
• Cultivate relationships with reporters and editors, proactively pitch op-eds and potential media stories, provide issue background, and handle inbound media and speaking requests.
• Occasionally speak on the record to reporters as one of several NCAN spokespeople.
• Engage an advisory group of NCAN member communication leaders to inform media strategy, find opportunities to collaborate, and handle priority media referrals.

Messaging & Content Development

• Draft messaging about NCAN’s perspectives, strategies, policy priorities, and recommended effective practices, including op-eds, guest columns, talking points, presentations, and social media posts, for delivery or publication by various NCAN staff, board, or member organizations.
• Track and analyze the effectiveness of communications, media, and thought leadership efforts, providing regular updates and recommendations for improvement.

Team Leadership & Operations

• Manage the Communications Manager and occasional outside vendors.
• Manage communication budgets and allocate resources efficiently.
• Travel occasionally as required for events, training, or projects.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 10 to 12 years of progressively responsible communications-related professional experience, preferably in journalism, media relations, government affairs, membership associations, higher education institutions, or education policy.
• At least 3 to 5 years of staff supervisory experience.
• Substantial knowledge about national higher education policy related to postsecondary access and degree completion and financial aid for students underrepresented in higher education.
• Earned media and thought leadership strategy planning, goal-setting, tracking, and internal reporting.
• Proactive media pitching and relationships with education policy and political media.
• Strong understanding of digital communications and social media strategies and platforms.
• Working knowledge of website basics, search engine optimization approaches, and Google Analytics to monitor website traffic and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Clear, confident, and persuasive writing about complex topics, including via social media posts, talking points, and op-eds.
• Nuanced judgment in message framing and placement.
• Problem-solving and an ability to manage multiple tasks with overlapping time frames and short deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and social media (primarily LinkedIn).
• Commitment to educational equity and experience working with diverse communities.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

In the First Six Months

• Understand NCAN’s key messages and the communications needs of each strategy area.
• Know the top 10 most important journalists reporting on NCAN priorities.
• Draft, solicit, and/or place two op-eds or proactive media stories reflecting NCAN’s key messages.
• Ensure an upward trajectory in NCAN’s monthly website visitors and social media followers.
• Establish strong rapport with and support of NCAN’s Communications Manager and intern.

In the First 12 Months

• Integrate NCAN’s new brand promise and message platform (completion expected by March 2027) into all communications.
• Understand the key communication needs of NCAN members and how NCAN can best leverage members in our communications.
• Design and begin execution of a proactive media and thought leadership strategy.
• Achieve growth in media mentions from regional, national, and trade press.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary: $164,785

NCAN is committed to pay equity and compensation transparency. We recently completed a comprehensive compensation benchmarking study, and salaries are set based on role scope and market data rather than negotiation or salary history. To ensure all employees in comparable roles are paid equitably, the salary for this position is final and not subject to negotiation.

• generous leave time
• health, dental & vision insurance
• employer-matched 401(k)
• professional development
• performance-based bonus (budget dependent)

EQUITY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Diversity, equity, and inclusion among our team are critical to our success and mission. We encourage applications from all interested candidates, including people of color, people from low-income backgrounds, and first-generation college graduates.

NCAN is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment areas: recruitment, employment assignment, transfer, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and employer-sponsored education, social, and recreational programs. It is our policy that all employment decisions are made for sound business reasons and without regard to an individual’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

For questions, please email [e-mail]