Position
The PIE Network seeks a Senior Director of Communications to work closely with its Executive Director and network member groups to devise and support communications strategies to advance education reform. The Senior Director will:
- Work regularly with network members to understand their annual goals and identify and/or develop resources, data, and tools to support those efforts.
- Devise an efficient strategy for promoting the work of network members to highlight success and elevate best communications practices throughout the network.
- Deploy and maximize a sophisticated messaging strategy using a full range of communications vehicles including social media, websites, newsletters, and other channels to build and reinforce reform momentum across the country.
Primary Responsibilities
- Maintain regular communications with network members to understand annual campaign goals and devise strategy for maximizing network resources to support those goals.
- Develop and manage an ongoing media outreach strategy to promote members and their goals.
- Work across member groups to identify leading resources within and beyond the network that support member goals.
- Gather available opinion research and, where not available, manage contract for message testing as needed to support common reform themes and campaigns.
- Devise network’s social media strategy, managing interns and other support staff to maintain a strong network presence online.
- Devise brand and communications strategy for the network, its events, and its members, ensuring alignment of communications with the PIE Network’s overall mission, vision, goals and strategic plan.
- Identify and support public speaking and writing opportunities for the executive director, board members, network members, and other team members as needed to reinforce strategic goals.
- Monitor the effectiveness of communications efforts by tracking network and member metrics as needed to improve impact and support fundraising efforts.
- Manage supporting staff and vendors as needed.
Qualities and Qualifications
- Commitment to the PIE Network’s mission and goals for improving public schools.
- Minimum of 7-10 years of experience that includes experience with state or federal policy making processes and a proven track record of developing and executing political communications strategies.
- Strong networker able to build relationships virtually as well as through personal connections, to anticipate member needs, facilitate member connections, and in general help maintain cross-
network collaboration. - Self-starter who stays well informed on issues/trends in education reform, network member accomplishments and leading and emerging communications tools and strategies.
- Brings a can-do attitude and what-ever-it-takes willingness to support members and colleagues.
- Highly self-motivated and creative, with the ability to lead directly and indirectly (i.e., by admiring success) or to work in an “advise and assist” capacity as situations require.
- Excellent project management skills: ability to develop strategic goals, set metrics for measuring success, and adjust as needed in the fluid, fast-paced, work managing political change.
- Proven ability to manage director reports, interns, and vendor resources to maximize output.
- Strong computer skills and experience with digital and social media. Comfortable with hands- on management of website Content Management Systems, Twitter, and blogging as needed.
- Outstanding persuasive writer and speaker; may be asked to support written proposals for fundraising opportunities as well as other writing projects.
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, Political Science or similarly related field; master’s degree preferred.
- Knowledge of public education issues and/or experience in advocacy strongly preferred but not required if candidate brings other politically relevant experiences.
Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, including generous paid time off and flexible, results-oriented working environment. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to the attention of Suzanne Tacheny Kubach, Executive Director. Suzanne@pie-network.org. We are eager to fill this post; interviews will begin as soon as we have a few strong candidates.
The PIE Network is an equal opportunity employer.
