Director of Communications (Public Relations Specialist)

Colorado Education Association

Vacancy Announcement

Assignment: Director of Communications (Public Relations Specialist)

Posting Date: March 6, 2026

Closing Date: March 25, 2026 (5:00pm MST)

The Colorado Education Association is the largest union of educators in the state with nearly 40,000 K-12 teachers, higher ed faculty, and education support professionals, as well as students preparing to become teachers, and retired educators. Our mission is to work collectively to provide the best public education for every student.

The Colorado Education Association is seeking qualified applicants for a Director of Communications (Public Relations Specialist) position.

The Colorado Education Association is recruiting experienced and qualified candidates who are passionate about helping elevate educator voices to improve working and learning conditions for educators and students. The ideal candidate will be deeply committed to our mission, enjoy working to translate bold vision into effective program, and be experienced in strategic and tactical communications campaign planning. The role requires someone who is a strategic thinker, engages effectively with stakeholders, and can foster effective communication and information sharing. The Director of Communications will be responsible for uplifting member and leader voice in the media and in a variety of media formats including but not limited to print, television, radio and digital platforms.

The Colorado Education Association is an equal opportunity employer. We actively encourage people of color, women, individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, or gender non-conforming, people living with disabilities, veterans, and bilingual people to apply for open external positions at CEA. CEA is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. CEA will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.

The Director of Communications (Public Relations Specialist) is a Denver based position. CEA is currently operating in a hybrid work environment.

Essential Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Three or more years of experience working with local, state, and national media.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining press lists and fostering relationships with the press.
• Experience developing strategy, messaging, and comprehensive communications plans for local and state campaigns.
• Demonstrated experience in crisis communications.
• Experience bringing diverse stakeholders together.
• Understanding membership-based organization; willingness and ability to advocate for the membership and goals of the organization.
• Superior writing skills, including the ability to synthesize information into effective messaging and develop narratives for organizational uses.
• Excellent proofreading, grammar, and spelling skills.
• Demonstrated experience in writing quality content and capturing quality images and video for print and electronic publications.
• Knowledge of current forms of media, advertising, and branding.
• Proficiency in using website content management systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud programs (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), and media platforms such as Meltwater.
• Training and presentation skills.
• Project planning and management skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and resources.
• Ability to work in a team environment and demonstrate sound professional judgment and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with staff and leaders.
• Understanding of issues related to systemic racism and social justice and a commitment to advancing diversity and social justice.
• Willingness and ability to expand knowledge and skills in a rapidly changing environment.
• Bilingual with professional proficiency in English and Spanish.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with public and media relations for a labor union, membership-based organization, or social justice organization.
• Knowledge of national, state, and local education policies and issues.
• Experience integrating communications into organizing, legislative, and electoral strategies.
• Experience working closely with senior leadership to capture their voice, provide strategy, and prepare them for media and public speaking opportunities.
• Experience in speechwriting.
• Proficiency in graphic design, video editing, and photography.

Job Responsibilities

Communications Strategy and Planning:

• Lead all press conferences and media events.
• Provide strategic communications support to CEA leadership through media training, message discipline, and public speaking coaching.
• Oversees crisis communications, planning, and rapid response for CEA and local affiliates.
• Oversee media monitoring to track coverage, identify stories to elevate to members, and inform proactive communications and strategic response efforts.
• Manage CEA’s relationship with third party PR firms including coordinating PR support, ad buys, and placements.
• Develops and lead proactive strategies to advance CEA’s brand, mission, policy positions, and reputation.
• Develop and manage relationships with media; serve as first point of contact for media inquiries.
• Write press advisories/releases, Op-eds, LTEs; respond to inquiries from media and local affiliates with urgency.
• Collaborate with CEA leadership to write conference speeches, talk points, publication of membership letters, and conduct interview prep.
• Collaborate with Government Relations, to develop legislative and electoral communications strategies including meeting with reporters prior to legislative session, coordinating committee testimony and messaging, work with members on lobby day communications, craft relevant talking points and collateral materials for legislative priorities and develop strategies to support letters to the editor from members and leaders.
• Collaborate with the Communications team and CEA leadership to develop and implement CEA’s strategic communication plan and annual editorial calendar.
• Collaborate with the Communications team on comprehensive messaging guides and narrative frameworks, including core messaging, talking points, FAQs, and toolkits, that ensure consistent, aligned communication of CEA priorities and values across all departments, affiliates, publications, and public platforms.

Publications and Reports:

• Support and contribute to the creation of content for all CEA publications, including but not limited to the CEA Journal, emails, digital newsletters, one-pagers, reports, website content, and public facing materials ensuring consistent messaging and voice.
• Provide editorial support for major publications that include The CEA Journal, State of Education Report, and the Delegate Assembly Report, ensuring consistency and alignment with CEA’s messaging and voice.
• Manages the State of Education Report and collaborates with other departments to gather content.
• Collaborate with the Communications team on internal reports, such as Strategic Plan Reports and Board Reports.

Member Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local affiliate leaders and field staff to provide strategic communications support to strengthen local campaigns and organizing efforts.
• Partner with local affiliates to align messaging and strengthen member engagement across locals and units.
• Develop and implement strategies that equip members to serve as trained and confident public ambassadors for CEA in their communities and in the media, including building and sustaining a statewide network of trained member speakers and storytellers.
• Develop and implement plans to collect member stories for CEA priorities, values, policy positions, and CEA activities and programs
• Design and facilitate media and message training programs that build member leadership and storytelling capacity statewide.

NEA Coordination and Collaboration:

• Collaborate with NEA, state affiliates, firms, and external partners.
• Coordinate with NEA to align national priorities and messaging with CEA’s communications strategy.
• Develop concept for NEA State Affiliate Paid Media Assistance Program and execute if awarded.

Other:

• Support Graphic design, filming, video editing, and photography.
• Track and analyze communications budget expenses.
• Travel instate required with occasional out of state travel being required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a bargaining unit position with a salary range of $75,000 to $156,000 based upon prior experience. Fringe benefits include an internet stipend, auto allowance; unlimited leave; holidays; health, dental, disability, vision, and life insurance; and 401(k) plan with employer contribution of 16.5%.

Application Procedure

To complete an application, go to this link: Apply Here!

Applications must be received at CEA by 5pm (MST), March 25, 2026.

The letter of interest that you will be asked to submit should be addressed to the Hiring Manager:

Kooper Caraway

CEA Executive Director

Colorado Education Association

CEA is an equal opportunity employer. We actively encourage people of color, women, individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, or gender non-conforming people, people living with disabilities, veterans, and bilingual people to apply for open external positions at CEA.