Director, Communication

ABOUT ALLIANCE COLLEGE-READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is one of the largest and most successful nonprofit public charter school networks in the nation, operating 26 high-performing, middle and high schools that educate nearly 13,000 scholars who make up the heart of Los Angeles’ Latinx, Black, and recent immigrant communities. Alliance schools have been recognized as among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report , Newsweek , the U.S. Department of Education, and the California Department of Education. Since opening our first school in 2004, 95% of Alliance scholars have graduated from high school. We strive to uplift our scholars and their communities by fostering unparalleled educational opportunities that encourage scholarly thought, resilient learning, powerful communication, mind-body wellness, and community advocacy.

ROLE SUMMARY

Reporting to the Vice President of Communication and Advocacy, the Director of Communication helps to set and is responsible for leading the strategy for all internal communication (CEO messages, staff newsletters, intranet, crisis communication, etc.) and external communication (website, press statements, public interviews, etc.) to ensure messages and collateral consistently articulate Alliance's mission, and preserves and builds our reputation at all times.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management

• Lead Alliance’s strategic communication by developing processes and structures across both internal and external channels.
• Utilize data to make informed decisions around strategy, implementation, process improvements, etc.
• Design, build, and roll out systems to align work across team functions to strengthen project management and execution.

Internal Communication

• Oversee the Weekly Digest and other internal communication channels, including developing editorial calendars, proofreading and editing, and other implementation support.
• Maintain clear channels of communication with stakeholders, inclusive of Alliance’s CEO for approval of various internal communications.
• Develop new strategies and structures for increasing internal communication efforts to drive stronger engagement across platforms.
• Lead Alliance’s CEO communication, inclusive of staff, scholars, and parent/family messages, opinion pieces, speeches, etc.
• Serve as lead on Home Office stakeholder meetings to develop or execute cross-functional messaging campaigns.

External Communication

• Support in the writing of press releases, the Monthly Digest , and other external communication.
• Develop media lists and maintain relationships with reporters.
• Serve as Alliance’s communication spokesperson, being the main point of contact for media inquiries.
• Collaborate with the Alliance Foundation on various communication needs, inclusive of donors and other external stakeholders.

Data Analysis

• Analyze and leverage data across various communication platforms aimed at achieving communication KPIs.

Team Engagement

• Supervise and support the Manager, Communication and provide creative direction and development opportunities.
• As needed, manage consultants that support various communication efforts.
• Collaborate with the Vice President, Communication and Advocacy, and other Strategy & Innovation team members on projects.
• Collaborate with CEO Support, Scholar Enrollment, Talent, and other teams across Home Office.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE

Work Values

• Commitment to Alliance’s vision, mission, and core values.
• Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of the team.
• Commitment to professional development, including participating in industry conferences to inform our strategies, work, and practices.

Education and Media Experience

• School-based experience, either in the K-12 or higher education space.
• Knowledge of urban school systems, school environments, and school culture.
• Awareness of the latest trends in marketing, teaching, and learning.

Communication, Analytical, and Management Skills

• Ability to convey information in writing, verbally, and visually to a variety of audiences (e.g., large groups, staff meetings, executive briefings, public board meetings, memos, etc.).
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills and experience managing complex projects with competing priorities and multiple deadlines.
• Ability to form collaborations and partnerships within a multi-layered organization and across external stakeholder groups.

Technology Skills

• Fluency with design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Canva, and Figma), marketing tools (Google Ads, Google Analytics (GA4) and Meta Business Suite), and social media platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram).
• Experience with office and communication tools, including Google Suite, MailChimp, and Cision.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 4 years of progressive professional work experience in communication, marketing, or media relations and a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in communication, journalism, PR, media studies, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• OR
• At least 6 years of progressive professional work experience in communication, marketing, or media relations and a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g. GED).
• Spanish language proficiency preferred.

WORK LOCATION

This position is remote and will work virtually in the greater Los Angeles area, with travel to school sites once public health conditions allow. The successful candidate will be given a $400 work from home set-up allowance and receive a monthly stipend of $100.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Compensation: Alliance provides a competitive salary. Based on relevant prior work experience, our salary range for this role is $100,000 - $140,500.
• Relocation: Individuals residing outside of the Greater Los Angeles area are eligible for a relocation bonus of $5,000 for individuals and $7,500 for new staff with families/partners.
• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision plan options that are covered at 100% of monthly premiums for individual employees and at least $1,000 per month towards medical family plan premiums.
• Retirement: Alliance Home Office employees are eligible for a retirement allowance equal to 7.5% of their regular yearly earnings.
• Paid Leave: Regular full-time 12-month employees receive 8.5 weeks of vacation and paid time off. Full-time employees accrue 3 weeks of flexible paid time off per year and receive 27 other paid holidays as part of our network calendar.
• Professional Development: At Alliance, we believe in supporting staff growth and development. Home Office staff are allocated $500 per year for professional development expenses.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit an application. Please note that only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

** PLEASE NOTE: Alliance College-Ready Public Schools requires that all team members be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the safety of our students, family, and staff. Team members may apply to seek a medical exemption. Regardless of your current vaccination status, our team can advise you on how to fulfill this important requirement so that you can start the position in a timely way. **

Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they match every criterion. If you think you meet some of the qualifications, but don't necessarily check every box in the job description, we encourage you to still apply. If you have questions contact the Staffing Team at .

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools are tuition-free public charter schools that do not discriminate against any scholar, parent, community member, or staff member based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.