Director of Communications

TN SCORE

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Job Summary

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION 

SCORE is seeking a mission-aligned, experienced communications professional to lead all aspects of the organization’s communications strategy in an effort to improve public education outcomes in Tennessee. The Director of Communications will be responsible for developing and executing a multichannel communication, public relations, and media strategy, aimed at advancing policies and practices that will improve student success in K-12 and higher education in Tennessee. The Director of Communications will collaborate deeply both internally and externally. Reporting to the Senior Director of Advocacy, the Director of Communications will manage at least one other communications team member, manage multiple external consultants, collaborate with communications leaders across the education sector, and collaborate with the organization’s 30+ team members to establish a unified voice that brings together SCORE’s diverse voices, priorities, and initiatives.

Job Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Lead SCORE’s communication strategy, including developing and executing a multichannel communication, public relations, and media strategy focused on improving education policy and practice in Tennessee
• Manage the organization’s communications team and communications consultants, collaborate on communications activities across the SCORE team, and serve as a peer leader among communications professionals across the non-profit education sector

• Develop and guide SCORE’s organizational “voice”, bringing together and highlighting SCORE’s priorities and initiatives across the organization’s workstreams
• Develop and manage close working relationships with members of the Tennessee and national media, with a particular focus on education-focused journalists; write press releases, brief staff for interviews, and proactively identify opportunities for the organization’s subject-matter experts to be highlighted in education-focused news stories
• Develop a strategy for and manage a consistent cadence of relevant content that engages SCORE’s key audiences across the organization’s communications platforms including the SCORE blog, social media, podcasts and videos, mass email communication, and other channels
• Research and develop messaging on important education topics, from increasing the postsecondary college going rate to elevating achievement gaps in early literacy; as appropriate, manage focus groups and opinion research to understand and create effective messaging
• Manage the production, design process, and editing of major reports, policy documents, external newsletters, blogs, and other key communications and policy material; work collaboratively with the program team on the content for these publications

• Maintain a deep understanding of the local, state, and national media narrative around education issues and ensure that SCORE’s voice is advancing our priorities within that context
• Oversee strategy for SCORE’s digital channels including the organization’s website and social media accounts
• Work across the organization to identify and develop strategies addressing internal communications needs, including communications needs related to the launch of new initiatives, networks, and reports

Qualifications

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS 

• Strong alignment with SCORE’s mission and education priorities, and demonstrated commitment to SCORE’s core values (student-focus, excellence, collaboration, innovation, optimism)
• Outstanding writing, editing, and proofreading skills across a variety of communications channels including written reports, social media, and email communication
• Outstanding oral communication skills and experience speaking on the record with the media
• Experience cultivating successful relationships with traditional and new media on a local and national basis; existing relationships with journalists covering education is preferred

• Demonstrated track record of designing, developing, executing, and assessing large-scale communications campaigns
• An understanding of the world of advocacy is required; the ideal candidate can synthesize qualitative and quantitative data and perspectives quickly to formulate insights, draw conclusions, and communicate complex information to a wide range of audiences
• Knowledge of the contours of education policy, an understanding of key education stakeholders, and an awareness of important education-related audiences is preferred
• Prior management or coaching experience is strongly preferred
• The ideal candidate is able to work in a nimble and responsive way, understanding that communications needs can rapidly evolve

• Previous experience in journalism, public relations, or corporate or non-profit communications is preferred

 

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the application at this link. SCORE will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. We recommend interested applicants apply as soon as possible.

Details

• Date Posted: August 1, 2022
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Communications / Marketing / PR
• Service Area: Education
• Start Date: 09/15/2022
• Working Hours: 40 hrs/wk; M-F, 8:00am-4:30pm