Senior Managing Director, Strategic Communications & Marketing
Teach For America

Job Description

TEAM: North Carolina 

REPORTS TO: Executive Director, North Carolina

LOCATION: Triangle area (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill and surrounding areas)

THE OPPORTUNITY

Over the past 30 years Teach For America has served and impacted North Carolina communities across multiple regions (Eastern NC, Piedmont-Triad, Charlotte) with over 200+ current corps members teaching in classrooms across the state and over 2,100 alumni living and working in NC. Building on that history of impact, TFA moved to a statewide operating model in Summer 2021 unifying its multiple NC regions under the leadership of its first multi-region statewide Executive Director, Dr. Monique Perry-Graves.  You can learn more about the new chapter for TFA in North Carolina by reviewing our ED's monthly column in Education NC here and by following our TFA NC LinkedIn Page here. In North Carolina we are in lockstep with our enterprise mission to double our impact in our communities by 2030 through our Executive Director's vision for North Carolina to be a preeminent destination for corps members, alumni, and staff to work, live and thrive as critical contributors to education and equity in our communities throughout the state. 
 

THE ROLE: 
The SMD, Strategic Communications + Marketing role is one of the founding members of the North Carolina Executive Cabinet and leads our new statewide Strategy and Storytelling team reporting directly to the Executive Director. The S&S team is a newly created team to support our statewide operating model and priorities. This role has been reimagined to address our current and future needs. This leader will work synergistically as a collaborative thought partner and leader with the Executive Director and will create conditions for innovation and success with the S&S team that is rooted in impact and outcomes. The candidate must also possess and demonstrate a personal commitment to education and equity and how they intersect. This individual is entrepreneurial, strategic, creative, thrives in ambiguity, and is comfortable navigating conflict, and building relationships quickly. 

More specifically, the ideal candidate for this role will be a high-impact/high-output communications strategist and adaptive leader with a growth mindset that is able to create value as a member of the NC team, while also contributing to a positive culture that centers our mission, state vision, and staff experience. The candidate for this position would have demonstrated leadership skills and a proven ability to motivate and lead staff to achieve outstanding results in a fast-paced, mission driven organization. The candidate would also have the ability to forge long term trusted relationships quickly and effectively at all levels externally and internally. They should have a track-record of success in navigating complicated strategic communications, crisis, and political issues with integrity, values, and enterprise perspective. The leader for this role will bring a thoughtful perspective to a diverse set of topics and issues, has a "big-picture" perspective and is able to connect strategy to all stakeholders through messaging and a variety of channels, including print, digital and social media. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills are necessary for this position.

This role requires a strategic, innovative systems thinker with the ability to see emerging trends and the big picture, with equal ability to successfully lead projects from development to completion with minimal oversight. While systems thinking is a key skill, this leader is also detail-oriented and excels at translating passion for our mission into written and visual communications strategies that compel diverse stakeholders. This leader has the capacity to be responsive and take swift action as we identify and address new opportunities and challenges. The candidate for this position must live in the NC Triangle area (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill or surrounding suburbs) or be willing to relocate to those areas within 45-60 days of hire (and remain in those areas as an ongoing condition of employment).

THE PERSON:

• Strategic Communications + Marketing Strategy, Counsel + Execution (55%)
• Team Management / People Leadership: 
• In concert with the ED, set vision, priorities and lead the day-to-day operations of the S&S team including contractors/vendors. Accountability for all S&S team outcomes and impact. 
• Lead 3-5 full-time & part-time staff and be a leadership liaison to our national TFA Public Affairs organization, and any local/state contractors/agencies. Current full-time staff members include Director for Statewide Communications & Manager, Communications, in addition to contract staff. 
• Support, develop, coach, and provide feedback to full-time staff to support their growth, development, and impact, ensuring quality standards and timelines are achieved for day-to-day activities.
• Manage external and internal communications programs, media relations, channel and content strategy and other needs
• Develop and refine systems and principles to ensure quality in execution, meeting of timelines, and a sound foundation for rapid response communications.  
• Strategy, Program Development and Execution (Communications):
• Lead development of strategic and proactive communications + marketing strategy, messaging platforms, and plan that aligns and supports the TFA brand, mission, and statewide vision. 
• Anticipate, identify, and advance TFA NC's reputation and impact through communications
• Design and execute integrated communications network campaigns (corps members, alumni, champions, partners, and broader community) that fuel engagement, innovation, learning, and collective leadership.
• Partner with staff, who create and distribute communications for specific audiences, to ensure all constituents are receiving concise, compelling, and brand-aligned communications that are also aligned with messaging and enterprise priorities.
• Develop innovative strategies to promote the voices of TFA NC staff, corps members, alumni, and supporters.
• Collaborate with the People and Operations team as necessary for staff and internal communications programs and campaigns. 
• Media Relations and External Communications:
• Build connections with media and key journalists from across the state through a mix of channels, from traditional to digital
• Manage and vet inbound/reactive press inquiries and outbound/proactive media outreach
• Fosters an ecosystem of supporters and spokespeople who can assist with our communications efforts
• Strategize on stories, placement, and messages for media pitches. 
• Develop and execute multi-channel paid media plan to align with strategy for NC to amplify impact and stories of corps members, alumni and leaders
• Understand the landscape and stay ahead of threats, evaluate messaging and requests through that lens
• Establish a media relations plan, with actionable strategies for high-level placements, and leverage existing media relationships (including broadcast, traditional, and online) to land prominent placements
• Leverage strong writing ability for internal / external audiences, including development of key messages/narrative, talking points, byline articles, media advisories, and press releases 
• Statewide Event, Public Affairs and External Event Integrated Campaign Management: 
• Create and oversee execution of integrated communications and marketing strategies in alignment with national brand standards to support regional and state events and initiatives across the NC enterprise (program, alumni, fundraising, development, staff etc.) in partnership with units throughout the NC team. 
• Provide counsel to teams to help develop strategies to ensure optimization of external and internal engagement and attendance at events. 
• Provide project management expertise and ownership of execution and creative direction. 
• Executive Communications: 
• Serve as primary liaison to ED to manage response to inquiries and rapid response protocols for crisis communications in consultation or collaboration with other teams such as External Affairs, People & Operations, etc.
• Assist in preparing ED and other leaders for media opportunities, including review and contribution to pre-interview prep documents, possible questions etc.  In certain instances accompany the ED for specific events or engagements. 
• Provide trusted strategic communications counsel to the Executive Director on a variety of issues with strong discretion. 
• Oversee and coordinate a team of support to maximize the efficient execution of the  Executive Director's external and internal communications including communications plans, messaging, speeches, and other materials for the ED. Provide speech writing support for ED upon request. 
• Develop a system and plans for support of ED's internal and external communications requests working closely with members of S&S team, Development team, and People and Operations.
• Create and distribute messages to multiple audiences on behalf of the Executive Director in coordination with the Director of Executive Support + Communications.
• Creative Direction, Content Development, Data & Research Communications (30%)
• Working with the S&S team, oversee TFA NC online presence, managing the regional sites and social media strategy (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and measurements for impact
• Oversee and develop a library of  collateral (one-pagers, Powerpoint decks, reports, brochures, and digital media)
• Develop and execute a impact library of data/research based communications including white papers and impact reports as directed by the ED
• Create compelling profiles of corps members, alumni and students to be compiled in a statewide story bank and utilized as needed
• Select and engage diverse contract/temporary staff in support of data + research communications and other communications projects
• Oversee development of  TFA NC Alumni Speakers Bureau in partnership with ED
• Develop list of statewide awards programs and work with S&S team to identify and submit content for nomination for NC leaders and/or alums. 
• Regional and Organizational Stewardship (15%)
• Support team-wide priorities for our North Carolina regions and organizational-wide initiatives. Examples include:
• Participating in staff committees, teams and task forces
• Corps member recruitment, matriculation, interviewing and onboarding
• Team meetings and professional development
• Regional events and programming (such as teacher development, alumni induction, and end-of-year celebrations)
• Role check-Ins, cross-team meetings, performance management conversations, etc.
• Meet compliance expectations for timesheet, expense report, and performance management documentation and submission
• Exhibit a desire to learn and develop your cultural competence and understanding of anti-racist leadership

EXPERIENCES AND COMPETENCIES

Prior Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required; Masters Degree preferred, but not required 
• 8+ years of direct leadership experience of managing teams, and/or leaders in a agency/contract, external affairs, public affairs, communications, consulting, education, marketing or related environment
• Hands-on experience managing a highly proactive communications strategy and team, with a strong reputation for integrity, creativity and delivery
• Track record of credibility and impact in building teams, leading innovation, and outcomes 
• Strong level of discretion, can be trusted to counsel Executive Director and other leaders on sensitive issues with a 360 view
• Strong emotional intelligence/self-awareness
• Adaptive leadership orientation, comfortable with leading, following, collaborating, facilitating and knowing when to do both
• Strong data orientation and appreciation of quantitative and qualitative impact
• Expertise in external, internal, executive and crisis communications
• Experience with digital communication platforms including intranet, video, internet social, and mobile communications platforms
• Strong knowledge of communications, media relations, branding, and storytelling strategies; membership in PRSA and IABC industry associations a plus
• Interest in long-term contributions to TFA NC impact and commitment to longevity in role

Skills

• Ability to thrive in a goal-oriented, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial environment, including the ability to be flexible in project execution
• Ability to serve as a cultural leader on the team, modeling TFA's Foundations and core values
• Ability to make sound decisions when there is ambiguity
• Ability to remain focused both when things are going according to plan and in the face of unanticipated challenges
• Desire to imagine and operationalize creative solutions and innovative strategies
• Desire to learn and continuously improve by taking personal responsibility for outcomes and seeking feedback
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working in or with a regulated industry with a familiarity of how regulation can impact communications strategies.
• Possesses superior organizational skills and ability to follow through. Understands importance of both details and bigger picture and how the two inform each other
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and juggle multiple priorities with quality and attention to detail
• Experience using common communications, campaign management  and graphic platforms desired (Salesforce, Canva, Digital tools,, etc.)
• Strong project management experience

WORK REQUIREMENTS: 

• Occasional evening and weekend work required
• Must be willing to travel to Teach For America offices or destinations across North Carolina on an as-needed basis (mostly planned or scheduled in advance) for staff, team or Cabinet meetings, events, media/communications support for ED, events, etc. 
• THE APPLICATION PROCESS  
• We want you to know what to expect so that you can display your strengths in our hiring process.
• Initial Screening: Our team will review your resume and cover letter. Applicants that advance from his stage will be invited to an initial screening interview via Spark Hire.
• Spark Hire Screening Short Interview
• Team Interviews with Strategy + Storytelling Team + select NC staff, NC Executive Cabinet + Work Activity
• Final Interview with Executive Director (may or may not be in-person depending on candidate pool)
• Reference Check for Finalist(s):  Prior to an offer, you may be asked for references. If asked to supply references and to expedite your process, please provide references that are available to talk in the 1-2 days after being asked for reference information. We will share details regarding specific roles or references we would like you to provide in addition to what you list if applicable. 
• Offer: One candidate will receive an offer, a comprehensive summary of benefits, and be asked to respond within 3-5 days. Teach For America researches and provides the best compensation package based on experience and role responsibilities to each candidate that receives an offer. TFA provides a best offer approach to eliminate the need to negotiate to promote internal equity in compensation. 
• First review of applications will occur by the apply date, we cannot guarantee your materials will be reviewed for consideration after the apply by date indicated on the posting. For questions regarding this opportunity not covered in this post, please reach out to NC's Managing Director for People Support and Development, Brittany Burton at bburton@teachforamerica.org. 

THE PERKS

By joining staff, you join a network of individuals committed to pursuing equity for all students and developing themselves as professionals in the process. We as an organization value the longevity of our employees and offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits plan. The salary for this position is also competitive and depends on your prior work experience. Please be advised, you will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail after you begin the application process.