Director of Communications

About Denver Families for Public Schools

Denver Families for Public Schools (Denver Families) is a nonprofit organization that exists to reposition the community as the powerbroker in public education. We work with public school families, educators, and community members to increase civic engagement and electoral participation. 

By empowering community voices, developing a pipeline of future education leaders, and engaging more Denver voters in local elections, we believe that Denver education policymakers will be more aligned with what the community wants: a Denver Public Schools system that works for all students in all corners of the city. 

Opportunity

This position offers the successful candidate an opportunity to develop and implement a robust communications strategy for Denver Families for Public Schools. The Director of Communications is expected to collaborate with all members of the Denver Families team, as well as effectively manage external communications vendors. The Director of Communications will report to Denver Families’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO). 

Roles & Responsibilities 

Strategic Communications Leadership

• Develop and implement communications strategies for Denver Families, including building a communications plan to advance organizational priorities, increasing brand awareness, and deploying strategic campaigns aligned to Denver Families’ mission and goals 
• Manage a budget and a team of vendors including but not limited to graphic design, social media strategy, writing, digital advertising, and public relations
• Partner with the CEO and Chief of Staff to develop and implement robust, deadline driven campaigns and projects
• Act as the primary Denver Families liaison for internal and external communications related to organizational identity, political voice and thought leadership, as well as our community organizing, advocacy, and leadership pipeline development work

Storytelling & Content Creation

• Develop core messaging and talking points that effectively communicate Denver Families’ mission, values, and priorities
• Lead content development and creative direction on all organizational communications (website, social media accounts, newsletter, reports, etc.)
• Plan, write, and design strategic communications across mediums that elevate the stories of families and community members and align to broader communications goals

Public Relations & Media

• Develop and execute a successful earned media strategy with local, state, and national press aligned to Denver Families’ communications strategies
• Establish Denver Families as a thought leader and advocate voice in relevant education topics
• Coach team members and community partners to work with media channels to tell their stories authentically and strategically

Qualifications

• Strong orientation towards educational and racial equity, community empowerment, and commitment to Denver Families’ mission; Spanish proficiency is a plus
• A minimum of 7 years of related work experience, ideally leading communications strategy in political campaigns, education policy, and/or advocacy organizations
• Exceptional verbal communicator, writer, and storyteller with the ability to develop clear and persuasive materials that compel diverse internal and external audiences
• Success in developing and advancing long term communications strategies as well as short-term campaigns and projects, including excelling in rapid-response communications that address significant and unexpected developments
• Experience effectively managing a variety of vendor relationships to advance communications goals
• Experience building effective communications systems and structures from the ground up, including establishing and meeting metrics of success
• Ability to take initiative and a high level of ownership within a small, entrepreneurial team

Compensation & Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $130,000, with some flexibility based on experience and qualifications. In addition to a competitive salary, Denver Families for Public Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: an unlimited paid time off policy; paid sick leave; paid holidays; 401K retirement plan with a 4 percent employer-paid match; and competitive employee health, dental, short-term disability and caregiving and family leave plans. We strive to ensure that working conditions at Denver Families are flexible, inclusive, and family-friendly. We currently have a hybrid work schedule where staff members spend two days per week in the office and are free to work remotely for the other three days. 

At Denver Families for Public Schools, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of our mission. We believe that diverse teams lead to better solutions. We understand that a greater depth in lived experiences promotes creative thinking and empowers us to address complex issues. We strive in our hiring to ensure that our candidate pool is diverse in terms of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, physical or mental ability, origin, and religion. 

How to apply:

To apply, please submit your resume and answers to the questions below via our application form (hyperlink here: https://forms.gle/bEvwd8M6d4kmC52h8). In place of a cover letter, we ask for brief responses to these two questions (no more than 150 words per response):

• What is it about our mission that resonates with your experience and/or interests?
• What past experiences have best prepared you for the Director of Communications role?