Title: Director, Communications (CCSA Advocates)

Location: Sacramento or Los Angeles preferred; CA required

Overview of Responsibilities:

Work directly with the Senior Vice President, Communications and Knowledge Management to plan, organize and direct a highly visible and proactive program of communications extending to key stakeholders to support both CCSA (501c3) and CCSA Advocates (501c4) organizational missions. Develop campaigns, channels and content to mobilize a powerful charter school movement to have an impact on policy and politics. Support campaign-based and initiative-based advocacy activity. Support the Advocates’ communications program.

Representative Duties:

Support the efforts to secure stakeholder (including parent, teacher and charter school board member) contact information for communications and mobilization purposes.
Identify and assist with implementation of a variety of ladders of engagement.
Write, coordinate and manage the communications with stakeholders engaged through this program.
Co-manage data, including creation of distribution lists and appropriate tags.
Plan, develop and coordinate communications plans for statewide and local campaigns.
Conduct campaign-related political communication efforts designed to mobilize voters and volunteers regarding election-related activity.
Support polling efforts that assist with identification of issues, awareness and support levels as well as message development for statewide and local campaigns.
Use data and research to drive communications strategy; use state of the art communication tools and techniques designed to build a constituency and motivate that constituency to action. Develop and manage messaging efforts.
Develop communications strategies for a defined advocacy-related goal or political campaign and design successful approaches to execute that strategy.
Support Advocates’ candidate cultivation efforts; long- and short-term coalition building with key stakeholder groups; relationship building with key elected and appointed officials; and development of local Political Action Committees.
Create checklists and template materials that can be used in a variety of campaign settings.
Lead the communications efforts to support including charter schools in local funding initiatives and winning those elections.
Support planning and implementation for the CCSA Advocates’ communications program:
Manage and maintain Advocates website, track analytics.
Support the writing and posting of content, assessment of website effectiveness, and review of website analytics to ensure an effective and strategic online presence.
Assist with the social media strategy development and implementation to grow Advocates network of friends/followers, including online/Facebook advertising to attract new followers. Live tweet significant events, such as conferences, Advocacy Day, etc.
Assist with the development, writing and distribution of newsletters, emails, texts, and other materials.
Support the planning, development, and coordination of a media relations program including: coordinate media coverage; serve as spokesperson; arrange news events; schedule interviews; prep staff to speak with media; write media releases; track media clips; arrange editorial boards; correct misinformation; and write op eds and letters to the editor.
Publicize CCSA Advocates events such as conference fundraiser.
Write/edit articles and statements; create/update fact sheets; prepare talking points and other materials; and advise staff on communications matters related to priorities.
Support the video production plan and schedule to produce videos and vblogs as required to meet priority objectives throughout the year.
Develop and manage messaging efforts.
Track metrics/analytics for C4 website, email, social media and earned media
Provide communications support to the Political Council as appropriate.
Support the two organizations’ overall communications objectives.
Strengthen our ability to generate “just in time” or “strategic” media wins including creating messaging and materials that allow Advocates to proactively and reactively respond to issues and priorities that are school-based, regional-based or movement-wide based.
Support the communications support for the Association’s non-partisan voter registration and engagement program and provide guidance to staff and charter school leaders on appropriate communications activities associated with C3 and C4 efforts.
Write, edit and/or review articles prepared for Advocates and Associationmember and stakeholder communications as assigned.
Develop collateral material, fact sheets and website content as appropriate.
Engage the broader charter school community and empower charter schools, parents and supporters to tell their own stories in ways that build support for charter schools and the movement’s advocacy priorities.
Support overall communications efforts as back up staff for media clips and media outreach; website; video; bulk email; and social media as appropriate.
Stay abreast of campaign and communications best practices
Respond to correspondence or develop remarks for Association/Advocates and public events.
Facilitate cooperative relationships with educational, public sector, and community organizations as well as opinion leaders to project a positive image of the charter movement and the organizations.
Visit charter school sites to identify stories to share through a variety of communications means.
Support other communications efforts as appropriate.
Perform related duties as assigned by the Senior Vice President, Communications or designee.

REQUIRED:

Education: bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing or related field.

Work experience: Five-plus years experience in public relations or journalism work.

PREFERRED:

Public relations accreditation with the PRSA Universal Accreditation Board. Bilingual (Spanish).

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE FOR THIS POSITION COULD INLCUDE (but not limited to):

Campaign communications and media relations.
Director, Communications for a non-profit and/or advocacy organization.
Communications/PR role in a tandem 501c3/501c4 environment.
Issue advocacy, grassroots engagement and/or online/mobile campaign experience.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary. Public speaking techniques.
The levels of government in California as it relates to public education.
The diversity of California’s population and effective ways to communicate with various demographic groups.
The education reform landscape in general and charter schools in particular.
The interplay between communications approach and grassroots constituency/volunteer organizing and mobilizing.
Traditional and state-of-the-art communications tools and techniques for political campaign-related activity.
Advanced techniques in communications as well as web, video and social networking strategies.

ABILITY TO:

Work in a political environment in support of candidates who support charter schools regardless of other political affiliations.
Present information regarding priorities/initiatives in a proactive, complete and media-sensitive way in multiple formats (e.g., print, online, video, etc.)
Communicate with multiple stakeholder groups and familiarity with tailoring communications in a manner targeted to maximum impact with those stakeholders.
Coordinate the quick turn-around of high-quality communications materials, often two languages.
Plan and organize work. Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
Balance working as a team member with independent work with minimal supervision.
Multi-task and complete work with multiple interruptions. Meet schedules and time lines.
Analyze data, including media coverage analytics and to make data-driven recommendations and decisions.
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
Use patience, tact, and courtesy with others.
Maintain confidentiality of information.
Operate a computer and appropriate software, including online database and email marketing systems. Learn and transition to new technology quickly and easily.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send the following to Peri Lynn Turnbull (plturnbull@calcharters.org) with a subject line that reads: Director, Communications Job Opening.

Please include:

Cover letter answering the following questions:
What is it about our mission that resonates with your experience and/or interests?
What makes you an exceptional candidate for this position in particular?
Where did you learn about this opportunity?
Resume
List of Three References with phone numbers and emails (will only contact after notifying you)

This position will be open until filled.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records