Join Us : Director of Communications & Advancement

Director of Communications & Advancement

By Ed Allies

Founded in 2016, EdAllies is a Minnesota-based education advocacy nonprofit that partners with schools, families, and communities to ensure that every young Minnesotan has access to a rigorous and engaging education. We advance policies that put underserved students first, remove barriers facing successful schools and programs, and foster an inclusive conversation about what’s possible for students.

POSITION

EdAllies is seeking a Director of Communications & Advancement to lead our public communications strategy across functions. They will lead development and implementation of outreach, media, and digital engagement plans to advance our brand and advocacy campaigns. Using traditional, social, and emerging media, the Director of Communications & Advancement engages a broad audience of stakeholders, including policymakers, parents, students, educators, advocates, and funders. They are responsible for both creative leadership and execution of communications strategies and tactics, in a role that requires outstanding writing, relationship-building, and project-management skills. The Director of Communications & Advancement is comfortable executing day-to-day communications functions, and managing staff, interns, and contractors to support the work within a small, nimble team.

This position is based out of EdAllies’ Minneapolis office. EdAllies offers a hybrid work setting, with employees working 1-2 days in-person and flexibility to work remotely at other times. The position reports to the Managing Director of Strategy and Operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Elevating the stories and voices of students, parents, educators, and other stakeholders through creative and engaging written and visual storytelling:
    • Oversee EdVoices program, providing storytelling training and editorial support to community contributors;
    • Advance real-time video communications strategy, either in-house or through contract support.
  • Developing strategy and identifying new ideas for effectively using traditional, social, and new media to advance EdAllies’ policy advocacy goals;
  • Serving as a thought partner to the policy team to develop and implement communications strategies and inform messaging to advance specific policy goals;
  • Partnering with Executive Director & Managing Director to support development work, helping draft clear and compelling grant language and quarterly individual appeals to sustain EdAllies’ programs;
  • Writing and editing emails, action alerts, press releases, blogs, fundraising materials, reports, etc.;
  • Fostering and leveraging relationships with media to ensure EdAllies is a trusted source;
  • Managing Programs & Outreach Manager to build strong relationships with partners and individual advocates, and building links back to communications efforts to advance shared priorities;
  • Maintaining a strategic social media presence;
  • Building and maintaining an understanding of the education policy advocacy landscape to ensure informed, targeted communications strategy; and,
  • Being a strong steward of the EdAllies brand, serving as the team’s branding leader and maintaining the organization’s positive, consistent external face.
QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates should possess a strong commitment to EdAllies’ mission, and to education equity more broadly. The ideal candidate has:

  • Outstanding writing skills, including the ability to convey accurate, persuasive messages to multiple audiences, and from multiple perspectives;
  • Strong editing skills, and confidence and tact in providing both technical edits and high-level feedback for colleagues, partners, consultants, and guest contributors;
  • Strong collaboration and management skills, with ability to advance projects, provide feedback, and engage others, including direct reports, to deliver strong program and project outcomes;
  • Relationship-building skills and the ability to authentically engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds;
  • Experience effectively partnering with media to raise public awareness on key issues;
  • A visionary and creative approach to communications strategy and campaign development;
  • Experience in managing vendors and consultants to produce projects on-time and on-budget;
  • Familiarity with tracking digital and media metrics and leveraging them to inform strategy;
  • Knowledge of communications, marketing, and media tools (such as WordPress, Mailchimp, Canva, Phone2Action, Salesforce, Adobe Creative, etc.);
  • Ability to oversee video content—either in-house or on a contract basis;
  • Comfort engaging in development work, with hands-on experience a plus;
  • Working knowledge of education and/or public policy, and a passion for systems change;
  • A sense of humor, strong work ethic, and willingness to be nimble to meet goals;
  • A commitment to integrity (doing what’s right, even when it is uncomfortable), candor, and collaboration;
  • Relevant education or training in communications, marketing, or a related field; and,
  • 5-7 years of communications experience preferred.
COMPENSATION

The position pays an annual salary of $70,000-$85,000, based on qualifications and experience, with potential for advancement within the role.

EdAllies provides a competitive benefits package which includes medical, dental, disability, life, and vision insurance premiums paid in full for employees and significantly subsidized for families; 401(k) matched up to 5% with immediate vesting; 21 days of annual PTO; 9 paid holidays plus a paid winter break and 2 floating days; flexible bereavement leave; parental leave with 8 weeks fully paid; school activities and student service release time; and more.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should send the following to aroethke@edalliesmn.org, Managing Director of Strategy and Operations, with “Director of Communications & Advancement” in the subject line:

  • a cover letter;
  • your résumé; and
  • your favorite communications product—written, visual, etc.—from your career, along with a short note explaining your role on that product and why you like it so much.

Deadline: The position will remain open until filled, but we’ll give priority to applications we receive by October 25. Initial interviews will begin in late October.

EdAllies is an equal opportunity employer, with a commitment to a diverse, inclusive workplace. From hiring to internal practice, we work to promote a culture that is welcoming and free of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, pregnancy, disability, work-related injury, covered veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other factor that the law protects from employment discrimination.