Senior Director of Communications (Volunteer)

Senior Director of Communications (Volunteer)

PromiseVoice | Strategic Communications, Public Relations & Community Engagement

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: PromiseVoice

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week

Type: Volunteer Senior Leadership Role

Minimum Commitment: 6-month commitment required

Reports To: Chief Communications & Engagement Officer

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit organization serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, educational enrichment, workforce development, creative opportunity, advocacy, housing innovation, and community-centered support.

Every message we share shapes how the world understands our mission.

Clear, authentic, and strategic communication builds trust, inspires action, strengthens partnerships, and helps create lasting opportunities for children and families.

About PromiseVoice

PromiseVoice is MAP's communications, public relations, media relations, marketing, digital communications, social media, public engagement, and organizational storytelling division.

The division develops integrated communication strategies that strengthen MAP's public presence, amplify mission-driven stories, engage diverse audiences, and build meaningful relationships with volunteers, donors, partners, policymakers, and the communities we serve.

PromiseVoice transforms communication into connection and public awareness into lasting impact.

Role Overview

The Senior Director of Communications serves as the senior communications leader responsible for developing and executing Mentor A Promise's enterprise communications strategy.

Working closely with the Chief Communications & Engagement Officer, executive leadership, PromiseBrands, PromiseStudios, PromisePublic, and organizational partners, this role oversees internal communications, external communications, public relations, media engagement, executive communications, crisis communications, and organizational messaging.

The Senior Director ensures every communication reflects MAP's mission, values, and commitment to serving children and families with integrity, compassion, and excellence.

The ideal candidate is a strategic communications leader with expertise in public relations, executive communications, media strategy, stakeholder engagement, and nonprofit communications.

Key Responsibilities

Communications Strategy

• Develop and execute MAP's enterprise communications strategy
• Align communications initiatives with organizational priorities and strategic goals
• Create annual communications plans and engagement strategies
• Strengthen MAP's voice across all communication channels
• Ensure consistent messaging throughout the organization

Internal & External Communications

• Lead internal and external communication initiatives
• Develop organizational announcements, executive messages, newsletters, and stakeholder updates
• Strengthen communication across volunteers, staff, partners, donors, and community members
• Promote transparency and organizational alignment
• Support executive communications and leadership messaging

Public Relations & Media Relations

• Develop proactive media relations strategies
• Build relationships with journalists, media organizations, and community partners
• Oversee press releases, media statements, and interview coordination
• Support reputation management and public engagement
• Strengthen MAP's visibility through earned media opportunities

Crisis & Reputation Communications

• Develop crisis communication frameworks and response plans
• Support executive leadership during sensitive communications
• Protect and strengthen MAP's public reputation
• Ensure timely, accurate, and mission-aligned communications
• Promote organizational transparency and public trust

Communications Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Measure communications effectiveness and audience engagement
• Develop communications dashboards and performance metrics
• Evaluate communication strategies and recommend improvements
• Monitor industry trends and emerging communication practices
• Foster innovation and continuous improvement across communications

Cross-Divisional Collaboration

• Partner with PromiseBrands on brand strategy and visual identity
• Collaborate with PromiseStudios on multimedia storytelling and content production
• Support PromisePublic on advocacy communications and public awareness campaigns
• Work with PromiseStack on digital communications platforms
• Align communications strategies with organizational priorities and mission

Leadership Responsibilities

The Senior Director provides leadership and oversight for:

Strategic Communications

Responsible for:

• Communications strategy
• Organizational messaging
• Executive communications
• Communications planning

Public Relations & Media

Responsible for:

• Media relations
• Press communications
• Reputation management
• Public engagement

Internal Communications

Responsible for:

• Organizational communications
• Leadership messaging
• Stakeholder engagement
• Internal alignment

Communications Performance

Responsible for:

• Communications analytics
• Audience engagement
• Performance reporting
• Continuous improvement

Potential Reporting Structure

Director of Strategic Communications

Director of Public Relations & Media Relations

Director of Internal Communications

Director of Executive Communications

Director of Community Engagement

Communications Managers

Public Relations Specialists

Communications Coordinators

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in communications, public relations, media relations, journalism, corporate communications, nonprofit communications, or related fields
• Strong knowledge of strategic communications and reputation management
• Experience leading integrated communications initiatives
• Exceptional writing, editing, and public speaking skills
• Strong leadership, relationship-building, and strategic planning abilities
• Passion for mission-driven communications and community engagement

Why This Role Matters

Communication builds understanding.

Understanding builds trust.

Trust builds lasting impact.

The Senior Director of Communications helps ensure Mentor A Promise communicates with clarity, authenticity, and purpose, strengthening relationships that expand opportunities for children and families experiencing housing instability.

This role transforms communication into one of the organization's greatest strategic assets.

Success Measures

• Growth in public awareness and stakeholder engagement
• Strong media relationships and earned media coverage
• Effective internal and external communications
• Consistency of organizational messaging
• Improvement in communications performance and audience engagement
• Advancement of MAP's communications and public engagement objectives

Leadership Participation

The Senior Director of Communications is expected to:

• Attend one weekly Senior Leadership Meeting
• Conduct regular check-ins with direct reports
• Participate in executive planning and communications strategy sessions
• Support cross-divisional collaboration and organizational priorities

Volunteer Expectations

• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment required
• Maintain timely and professional communication
• Collaborate through MAP systems and communication platforms
• Support MAP's safeguarding standards, mission, and organizational values
• Foster a culture of integrity, innovation, compassion, empowerment, and excellence

What You'll Gain

• Senior leadership experience leading communications for a growing nonprofit organization
• Opportunity to shape enterprise communications and public engagement strategy
• Collaboration with executive leaders, media professionals, marketers, and storytellers
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Meaningful impact helping Mentor A Promise expand its voice, strengthen public trust, and create more opportunities for children and families experiencing housing instability

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and include their resume and cover letter.

Please highlight experience involving strategic communications, public relations, media relations, executive communications, journalism, nonprofit communications, or related disciplines.

Help amplify Mentor A Promise's voice, strengthen community trust, and inspire action that creates lasting opportunities for children and families.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.