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 State Communications develops, directs and implements a comprehensive, multifaceted communications program to support ExcelinEd’s state initiatives, which includes developing communications strategies and tactics to support state policymakers and advocacy partners in advancing, adopting and implementing student-centered policies that transform education.
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 that support state-based advocacy activities, ensuring alignment with the organization’s brand, voice and strategic goals.
- Serves as the lead communications advisor to the organization’s advocacy directors, providing direct tactical support and creating and implementing state-specific communications plans.
- Collaborates with the organization’s advocacy directors to translate complex legislative language into clear, relevant, digestible and accessible information for target audiences.
- Collaborates with the organization’s leaders and media relations manager to leverage earned media opportunities for advancing state-specific priorities.
- Develops, reviews and copy edits advocacy documents for final publication, including but not limited to press releases, statements and state action summaries.
- Writes and manages advocacy-centered communications materials, such as blogs, e-blasts, website content, one-pagers, remarks, social and digital media content, opinion editorials, letters to the editor and other resources.
- Supports the development and production of state specific videos, podcasts, state summaries and other collaterals, including the organization’s annual reports.
- 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 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 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 political communications and public relations.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in communications, marketing, journalism or other relevant area of study.
- Ability to travel minimally; approximately 1-2 trips/year
- Understanding of state policymaking processes and political environments preferred.
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
- Résumé
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.
Questions can be directed to Katy Gambella, Director of Outreach at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [email protected].
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.
