Position Description

Job Title:

Director of Communications

Employment Status:

☒ Full-Time ☐ Part-Time ☐ Temporary ☐ Intern

FLSA

Classification:

☒ Exempt ☐ Non Exempt

Reports to:

Vice President, National Partnerships and Community Mobilization

ABOUT NBCDI

For over 50 years, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has been at the forefront of engaging leaders, policymakers, practitioners, and parents around critical and timely issues that directly impact Black children and families. We are a trusted partner in delivering culturally relevant resources and insights that respond to the unique strengths and needs of Black children. Our purpose is to mobilize communities and ignite movements, boldly advocating for equity and a just future for black children and families. We achieve our purpose through an extensive network of affiliates, members and stakeholders who engage in their local communities on behalf of the national organization.

JOB SUMMARY

Working closely with the Vice President, National Partnerships and Community Mobilization and Communications and Events, the Director of Communications will be responsible for leading the organization’s strategic communications efforts and helping to elevate the powerful voice of NBCDI and the moving stories of Black children and families, NBCDI members, staff, advocacy campaigns, and our National Network. The Director will also play a critical role in collaborating on the organization’s storytelling and narrative development, as well as overseeing media relations work. The Director of Communications will also be a strategic thought partner in helping shape the communications strategy for the organization.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Narrative, Storytelling, Marketing & Brand Awareness

• Works to develop communications strategies that challenge damaging practices and policies and shift the national conversation on key issues related to NBCDI’s Eight Essential Outcomes -- leveraging partners, research, and other capacities to create change.
• Continually leading to evolve the NBCDI story and capacity for powerful, strategic storytelling, while taking into consideration the growth of the organization and changing political and social realities.
• Demonstrated experience in leading policy and research-related projects that will help tell the story of NBCDI’s Eight Essential Outcomes and work.
• Leads and supports on developing external as well as internal communications including (newsletters, membership updates, National Network information, National conference and events, partnership, and donor-specific emails)
• Codify and institutionalize the “NBCDI voice,” ensuring consistent messaging and language across all materials and channels. 

Media Engagement

• Ensure NBCDI campaigns win in the news cycle, creating the right attention for the issues.
• Media monitoring
• Manage NBCDI’s online presence, including website, e-newsletters and LinkedIn presence, leveraging communications strategy to amplify NBCDI’s work across platforms. 
• Proactively shape the public’s understanding of NBCDI, racial justice in ECE, Black ECE leadership, issues connected with NBCDI’s Eight Essential Outcomes and other core concepts through the media cycle.
• Develop partnerships with individuals and media institutions to drive NBCDI’s presence and brand toward new audiences, platforms, and opportunities.
• Lead on crisis communications, in consultation with the VP of Community Mobilization.
• Develops, oversees, and manages media relations and strategic communications budget.
• Works closely with VP of Community Mobilization to develop and implement a communications strategy that leverages the talent and skills of the leadership and staff across NBCDI.
• Helps to shape a vision for growing NBCDI’s strategic communications and media relations work.
• Work to develop a comprehensive strategic digital communications strategy.

People Management and Thought Leadership

• Guide development of content to support the CEO’s office and other senior staff efforts to amplify NBCDI’s thought leadership.
• Engage directly with the CEO’s office and other senior staff on strategic and crisis communication plans as needed.
• Build relationships and ambassador opportunities for influencers and leaders in the early childhood and civil rights industry.
• Build relationships and partner with staff across the organization to develop communication strategies supporting NBCDI’s broader communication goals.
• Leads relationships with communications firms/consultants.

Communications Coordination

• NBCDI Social Media Hygiene (including direct messages and audience engagement)
• NBCDI Mass email system management
• NBCDI website design management
• Management of staff communications requests system and follow-up

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & CREDENTIALS

• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, or a related field. 
• At least 7 years proven experience in developing and implementing communications strategies that advance social sector missions.  
• Demonstrated skills and experience in building the capacity of a small program team to communicate clearly and consistently about mission and impact.   
• Experience conceptualizing, directing messaging and overseeing the production of compelling materials such as, but not limited to, outreach materials, annual reports, infographics, social media content, website content, etc.   
• Demonstrated ability to translate the work of an organization into exciting and useful messages and disseminate to the most appropriate audiences (e.g., funders, partners, general public) through the most effective distribution channels. 
• Exceptional written communication skills with adaptable style for different audiences (e.g., newsletters, social media, speechwriting) and a keen eye for proofreading and editing. 
• Superb verbal and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to listen, engage, and persuade internal and external stakeholders at all levels from diverse backgrounds. 
• Very comfortable with technology, including Microsoft Office, database, print/web publishing (WordPress preferred), and social media channels, especially LinkedIn. 
• Demonstrated experience in selecting and managing outside vendors to produce high‐quality projects within time and budget constraints. 
• Demonstrated experience in strategic media relations. 
• Clear passion to drive change on crucial challenges and opportunities affecting the communities that philanthropy serves, comfortable and experienced working with diverse communities. 
• Appetite for working in a fast‐paced, mission‐focused, environment of cross‐functional teams with shared leadership where everybody is both a leader and a do‐er. 
• Experience telling stories related to the well-being of young children and their families preferred. Experience communicating about the role of philanthropic organizations is a plus. 

COMPETENCIES  

Problem solver with a strong sense of ownership.

Strong strategic initiative

Ability to travel up to 30%

Strict attention to detail is required

Excellent communication, presentation, assessment, problem solving and time management skills.

Results-oriented and able to effectively balance big-picture thinking with tactical execution and attention to detail.

Ability to translate, via written and verbal communication, complex issues into understandable formats for a wide range of stakeholders.

Ability to collaborate and hold self and others accountable especially as it relates to time sensitive issues.

A commitment to the mission, vision, and values of the organization.

Exceptional communication skills with commitment to quality of written and verbal materials. 

Salary Range: Compensation for this role is between $80,000-$95,000 annually based on experience and is a part of a comprehensive benefits package.