For more than three decades, New Visions for Public Schools has been the driving force behind some of the most significant improvements to public education in New York City. From opening nearly 140 new small high schools in collaboration with educators and communities, to working with teachers to create free instructional materials used by tens of thousands of teachers nationwide, to building a comprehensive student planning tool now available to 1,600 public schools across New York City, our impact on our City's schools is unmatched.

We often let that impact do the talking. We're looking for a passionate, dedicated leader who can help us tell our story in clear, compelling, and visible ways, expanding awareness and visibility of our work and impact. The Director of Communications will be responsible for building and executing a plan to enhance New Visions' brand reputation, and managing all aspects of organizational communications to raise awareness of the organization both internally and externally. We're looking for a leader who is equally comfortable defining a big picture communications strategy and overseeing the nuts and bolts work needed to carry it out. We're looking for a leader experienced in operating in a fast-moving information environment, while coordinating consistent messaging across multiple organizational channels and to a diverse set of stakeholders. We're looking for a leader who will develop a consistent organizational voice, plan and oversee regular organizational communication to the general public, and help make our work visible in a wide range of media.

Reporting to the President of New Visions and working in partnership with senior leaders across the organization, the Director of Communications will figure out how to connect what the organization needs to say with how to say it most compellingly and effectively.

Core Responsibilities

Communications Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive organizational communications strategy that aligns with overall organizational mission and goals. Prioritize content strategy execution and target marketing for a variety of audiences
• Collaborate with teams across the organization to create opportunities to share publicly what New Visions is doing, learning, and accomplishing
• Serve as counselor to other senior leaders within the organization to understand and define communications and marketing needs

Brand Management

• Complete brand refresh, developing and refining New Visions' core messages to key stakeholders, and aligning organizational materials and communications
• Socialize the organization's brand with broad array of stakeholders through a combination of digital content, effective use of media, public relations, and other tools, with an eye toward brand integrity and consistency
• Ensure that brand identity, messaging and marketing and communications strategy are infused in all organizational efforts (programming, development, network support).

Operational Oversight

• Lead the creation, distribution, and maintenance of collateral and content (print and digital) including the organization's annual report, marketing materials, newsletters, publications, presentations, photography and videography, digital/social media, and website
• Produce short- and medium-form content, including blog posts, case studies, and other products that engage key audiences and bring attention to New Visions work
• Build and maintain press relationships, and serve as first point of contact and liaison for press needs
• Manage and edit press releases, media alerts, op-eds and other media materials
• Represent the organization in a range of public contexts, including public events and interactions with press

Team Leadership

• Build a growing communication team responsible for organizational marketing and communications.
• Establish team and individual goals, set budgets, manage the day to day work of the team, and monitor and support team performance. Assign and oversee completion of material and project tasks to team members
• Ensure that the appropriate systems and procedures are in place to properly and reasonably support marketing and communications
• Identify and manage external consultants and vendors as needed (marketing, social media and communications) including to lead website redesign and rebuild

Education and Experience

We are seeking an experienced professional with a track record of success. We are willing to consider individuals who have backgrounds that include communications, messaging, and marketing work even if this has not been the explicit focus of the role.

• 5+ years' professional experience in a communications or related role with progressively increased responsibilities
• Expertise in overseeing and developing websites, social media and other digital assets, in producing marketing campaigns and developing publications and other externally-facing assets, and leveraging multiple forms of media to define and elevate an organization's public profile
• Experience engaging press, both proactively to place stories and responsively
• Extensive experience writing, editing, and producing compelling print and digital content
• Experience in an organization with a social sector or public good focus preferred, but not required
• 3+ years' experience managing multiple direct reports, and working in collaboration with multiple other teams
• Demonstrated experience in recruiting, developing, supervising, and retaining a diverse and strongly performing team
• Experience engaging with organizational senior leaders and with a Board of Directors
• Experience working with multiple teams, with distinct communications needs, across an organization
• Experience managing a budget, including personnel, consultants/contracts, and other expenses

Required Skill Sets and Knowledge Base

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, as well as identify and communicate potential needs or problems
• Excellent judgment, entrepreneurial mindset, and creative thinking skills deployed in the service of developing new solutions and approaches to difficult problems, along with a track record of translating ideas into action plans and results
• Collaborative approach to work and a demonstrated capacity to work with diverse stakeholders across all levels
• Strong interpersonal skills and exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and spoken, with an ability to inform, influence, convince and persuade
• Excellent writing skills and attention to detail
• Proficiency with software applications including Microsoft and Google Drive programs
• Social media and other technology experience

Physical Requirements

• In-person presence at New Visions main office at least three days a week, as part of organizational 3-2 hybrid model
• Some travel to schools, partner organizations, and events across New York City; possibility of travel outside New York City for events and conferences
• Occasional lifting and carrying of tangible products (e.g. boxes of annual reports)

Supervisory Reports

• Art director plus at least one additional role to be hired

Disclaimer:

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

Pay Range

$141,359 minimum to $226,174 maximum

While the majority of new hires' starting salaries shall be expected to be placed in the first half of the range(s) to allow space to grow in the job, for those who already have significant relevant experience at that level of the job, placement at the higher end of the range(s) is possible.

Our offices are currently operating in a hybrid model, with staff expected to work in person several days per week. We are following New York City's lead and requiring all staff to be vaccinated. Our plans and policies may change as circumstances related to COVID-19 continue to evolve. Additional details will be shared if selected for an interview.

Our office has a vaccine policy for those working in person. Our plans and policies may change as circumstances related to COVID-19 continue to evolve. Additional details will be shared if selected for an interview.

Who We Are

At New Visions for Public Schools, we work to make great public schools common in New York City. We believe that all of New York City's students deserve public schools that make successful futures possible, especially Black, Latinx, and low-income students who have historically had inequitable access to a great public education. Since 1989, New Visions has been a driving force behind some of the most significant reforms to public education in New York City. Today, our diverse team of professionals develop and scale innovative tools and approaches that help educators address common challenges. Learn more about New Visions HERE.

We operate nine public charter schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens and, as a trusted partner of the NYC DOE, we help 1,600 public district schools plan for the success of over a million students citywide. In 2021-22, graduation rates in our Charter and Affinity networks were 96% and 92% and our support for postsecondary readiness has expanded exponentially.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

New Visions for Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of New Visions that all employees and applicants for employment will be treated in all respects on the basis of their merit and qualifications and without regards to their race, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, gender, military status, marital status, ancestry, or any other reason prohibited by law.

New Visions believes that our teams should reflect the diverse communities we serve and that our culture and internal structures should be inclusive and equitable for all employees. We also recognize that perspectives from communities that have been historically marginalized are critical to the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from individuals living in the communities that we serve or who are members of historically marginalized communities.

New Visions provides a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package in addition to the opportunity to make a significant impact on education reform and in the lives of urban youth.