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Assistant Director, Communications

Ladders
Chicago, IL
$89.4K-$105K a year
Full-time

Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) is an energized, future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.

Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more equitable early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do.

As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy and research through partnerships across the country.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication.

Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do!

The Assistant Director will lead Start Early's content development strategy and manage the organization's communications framework-creating brand and programmatic messaging, early childhood positioning statements and public-facing communications tools and resources.

The Assistant Director is responsible for developing external communication plans, implementing a national media and PR strategy, managing the PR agency, and establishing an ambassador program and speaker's bureau to advance Start Early's mission and expertise in early learning and care.

They will galvanize staff, programmatic leaders, parents, and community partners to develop compelling content that transforms our storytelling efforts, inspires engagement, and motivates policymakers, practitioner, donors and the public to join us in supporting young children and families.

Reporting to the Vice President, Communications, you will :

Content Strategy, Development & Management Internal Messaging & External Positioning

  • Start Early Content Strategy : Collaborate with marketing and communications leadership to design an organizational content strategy that aligns with the organization's goals and ensures consistency across all communication channels.
  • Content Development : Create new content, evolve existing content and curate impactful stories that align with the organizations mission and values, amplify Start Early's programs, policy and research leadership, and foster awareness and support for young children and families.
  • Resource & Repository Management : Support the development and implementation of an organizational message repository;

create and manage Start Early's core message and issues dashboard. Build a diverse suite of multimedia resources, including intranet and web content on startearly.

org, marketing collateral, social media communications, videos, and fact sheets.

Governance : Establish a maintenance process to review and refresh foundational organizational messages. Manage and promote these strategic tools to ensure consistent and optimal use across divisions.

Public Relations and Media Management

  • Earned Media Strategy : Develop and lead an annual earned media strategy that advances Start Early's mission, promotes and amplifies Start Early's leadership, policy, program, and research expertise and inspires support for families.
  • Agency Collaboration : Partner with Start Early's PR agency to execute media strategy, drive awareness and inspire action.

Pitch targeted and general outlets at the local, state and national levels. Advise and support staff with media interviews, message alignment and media briefing materials.

Relationship Building and Monitoring : Maintain relationships with media outlets, vendors, and industry professionals.

Continuously monitor the media landscape for trends. Collaborate with the VP of Communications to define KPIs; track, analyze and measure success.

Start Early Ambassador Program & Speakers Bureau

Stand up a multi-level ambassador program and expert speaker's bureau that prepares and supports Start Early staff, across the organization, to advance our mission (formally and informally) and deepen our leadership and engagement in the Early Learning & Care field.

Communications Leadership & Support Development Team & Donor-Focused

  • Strategic Partnership : Collaborate with the development team to ensure event themes and key messages align with donor appeal themes and concepts.
  • Content & Design Strategy : Develop and implement content and strategies that effectively communicate our mission and engage donors.

Qualifications :

  • Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications or a related field.
  • Seven to ten years of experience in strategic or executive communication that includes : developing and implementing comprehensive communications plans to advance organizational priorities, content creation (e.

g., internal and external-facing messages and talking points, publications and collateral), digital marketing (e.g., graphic design, back-end website management) and effective communications counsel for leadership and staff.

  • Proven public relations expertise, including earned media, thought leadership strategy, training and coaching.
  • Proven digital marketing expertise, including social media, email and website strategy development and implementation.
  • Experience providing consistent, intentional and thoughtful coaching at the leadership level.
  • The ability to work independently and thrive as a self-starter in a face-paced environment.
  • Ability to make decisions in a changing environment, productively advancing the work with ambiguous direction and anticipate future needs.
  • Understanding of Early Childhood Education a plus.
  • Demonstrated expertise in leading, creating, and accomplishing the goals of an integrated communications strategy, ability to think strategically and deliver tactically, and communicate passionately about the goals and needs of the organization.
  • Exceptional writing skills : Ability to write clear, concise, and engaging content tailored to different audiences and platforms.

Note that Start Early uses Associated Press writing style, thus, educated familiarity of AP Style preferred.

  • A proficient and compelling communicator with meticulous attention to detail.
  • Experienced at building earned media strategies rooted in robust media relationships.
  • Practiced experience identifying key themes and details from complex subject matter and developing creative, thought-provoking, action-oriented messages that connect with the intended audience.
  • Strong leadership and project management skills with a proven ability to focus on achieving project milestones, navigating competing priorities and roadblocks and meeting deadlines.
  • Ability to foster interpersonal relationships, establish trust, and collaborate across functions and with diverse audiences - internally and externally.
  • Comfortable with use of Adobe Creative Suite for social media graphics, medium-level publication design, etc.
  • Familiarity with digital content management systems (WordPress + Marketing Cloud, preferred).
  • Experience using and managing digital analytics tools (Google Analytics / GA4, preferred) and social media tools and platforms (Sprout Social + LinkedIn + Twitter / X, preferred).

We recognize that few candidates might meet every single piece of knowledge, experience, or education listed here. Research shows that women and people of color, among many other historically excluded groups, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.

Start Early is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your qualifications don't perfectly align with everything in the job description, we still encourage you to apply !

Base Annual Salary : $ 89,400 - $105,000

We believe that all employees should be paid fairly and equitably. As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range.

The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes :

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.

16 days ago
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