Communications Director

Title: Communications Director

Location: US Based Home Office (Remote)

Reports to: Managing Director, Marketing and Communications

Status: Full Time; Exempt (IC4/B8)

Salary Range*: $120,000 - $140,000

Facing History & Ourselves is a global education non-profit organization that challenges teachers and students to use lessons of history to stand up to bigotry and hate.

We are seeking a highly collaborative Communications Director to lead the organization’s communications efforts, with a focus on overseeing executive and internal communications, public relations, and crisis communications for the organization. This seasoned leader will have an opportunity to build out the organization’s communications’ function, including selecting a team to support organizational priorities. This role will partner with team members, as well as senior executives, other staff, consultants and contractors.

Who You Are: You are a strategic communications leader driven by the opportunity to make a positive impact. You excel at long-term planning while being agile, recognizing the need to drive toward a vision while being adaptable amid an ever-changing landscape. With a track record of managing projects and facilitating shared decision-making, you work well with internal teams, leadership and external stakeholders.

Who We Are: We are a Marketing and Communications team of writers, designers, digital marketers, and analysts who are passionate about the mission of Facing History & Ourselves. We run the organization’s brand and analyze its audience of educators, donors, and other supporters across the world. We are a fast-paced highly collaborative team with a good sense of humor.

Executive Communications (40%)

• Design and deliver an executive communications strategy.
• Lead the partnership with the President and CEO and the Marketing and Communications team to craft and place thought leadership in owned media (Leadership newsletter, LinkedIn, etc.), earned media (Op-Ed placement, media interviews), donor and board communications, and events (conferences, regional events, etc).
• Coordinate with Marketing and Communications staff and consultants to support a strategy that is consistent with Facing History’s brand voice.

Public Relations (30%)

• Work with outside consultants and contractors as needed to develop and execute public relations strategies, track and analyze media mentions, and support Facing History leaders, educators, and students with media engagement.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other organizations to achieve mutual public relations goals.

Internal Communications (20%)

• Plan, create, and deliver internal messaging and communication strategies that keep employees informed, aligned, and motivated.

Crisis Communications (10%)

• In collaboration with the managing director, executive team, and external support providers, ensure the organization is prepared to communicate in the event of various types of timely, high-stakes incidents/crises.
• Coordinate internal and external communications in the event of a crisis.

Essential Skills / Qualities:

Facing History understands that restrictive job requirements may exclude historically marginalized groups from applying to jobs for which they are qualified. We take an equitable and holistic screening approach. If you feel you have demonstrated experience and expertise relevant to perform this role, please don’t hesitate to apply!

• Minimum of 7+ years relevant experience in communications, including public relations, executive communications and internal communications
• Supervisory experience required
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and tasks
• Proactive self-starter; strong attention to detail; experience working in a busy hybrid/mostly remote work environment a plus
• Excellent, versatile writer with a dynamic, flexible voice; Demonstrated expertise in different types of writing
• Solutions-focused individual who is comfortable asking questions, searching for answers, and gaining clarity when needed
• Ability to lead and drive ideation and execution based on data and organizational priorities
• Ability to coordinate and manage complex cross-functional projects with multiple competing priorities or perspectives
• Ability to manage ambiguity, risk, and changing direction of projects and strategies
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and management skills and high professional standards for work quality
• Passion for Facing History’s mission
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
• Strong analytical and systems thinking

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience interpreting results from primary and secondary research
• Experience working in the K-12 education sector
• Experience working with national or international nonprofit organizations
• Graduate degree

Benefits Summary: In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Facing History provides an excellent and competitive compensation and benefits package including medical with a fully employer-sponsored health reimbursement account (HRA), dental, vision, life & AD&D, long-term & short-term disability insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with a discretionary organizational contribution, generous paid time off, an employee assistance program, travel assistance plan, pre-tax commuter spending accounts, flexible spending accounts, voluntary Colonial Life group plans, robust wellness programs through aHealthyMe, an employee discounted marketplace through BenefitHub, weekly virtual yoga and meditation, 403(b) advisement, and a friendly work environment.

Facing History values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Facing History’s Commitment to Workplace Inclusion. At Facing History, we honor and value the uniqueness of each and every human being. Our strength as an organization that provides and distributes educational content and pedagogy to teachers across the globe is directly tied to our diversity of staff, leadership, educators, students, scholars, and volunteers. Our commitment is to treat individuals with dignity and to build and maintain a community of full participation, inclusive of the voices, needs, and contributions of all. As an organization, we are deeply aware of the legacies of injustices that persist in society and in the workplace, and we value and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their association with excellence.

Remote-first/Hybrid Work Model (US Home Based): Facing History and Ourselves operates in a remote-first/hybrid work model, allowing staff flexibility in both schedules and work locations. This particular position is home-based. Some travel is required.

*We strive to offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience in a similar position. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary range between the minimum and midpoint depending on experience and in alignment with internal parity.