Communications Manager (Internal Applicants)

Position Title: Communications Manager 

Location: Remote

Reports to: Director of External Affairs 

About the Center for Black Educator Development

The Center for Black Educator Development exists to (re)build a national Black Teacher Pipeline to achieve educational and racial justice by ensuring there is equity in the recruiting, training, hiring, and retention of quality educators that reflect the cultural background and share common socio-political interests of the students they serve. Launched in June 2019, the Center for Black Educator Development is revolutionizing education by dramatically increasing the number of Black educators so that low-income Black and other disenfranchised students can reap the full benefits of a quality public education. Learn about our key strategies to build a national Black Teacher Pipeline by visiting our website at www.thecenterblacked.org.

About the Position 

Reporting to the Director of External Affairs, the Communications Manager will lead internal and external communications initiatives that promote and define CBED’s mission and values. The Communications Manager will develop and implement CBED’s communication strategy across various platforms with the goal of building and cultivating stakeholder engagement and advocacy through resonant and impactful content. The Communications Manager is expected to work cross-functionally and must be a strategic thought partner to all departments to effectively manage the day-to-day delivery of communications - including large-scale projects and some ad hoc requests. The ideal candidate for this position will be passionate about building an effective Black Teacher Pipeline and educational justice and is optimistic that we can make a difference with thoughtful and effective communications.

Responsibilities include:

• In partnership with the External Affairs Director and the External Affairs Project Manager, develop and implement strategic vision to illuminate the work of the CEO & founder, Sharif El-Mekki, along with the work of the organization at-large.
• Own the day-to-day management of all internal communications, external marketing and help develop strategies to keep CBED staff and our partners informed of our work and impact.
• Implement sustainable and project-based communications strategies. 
• Support the development and implementation of policies and procedures for communicating on behalf of CBED that promotes and supports the organization’s mission and values.
• Develop content to engage and educate audiences across various channels, including newsletters, blogs, graphics, website, and social media. 
• Develop and manage a content calendar.
• Draft proposals for special communications projects and present on/promote these projects to senior leaders and across the organization.
• Develop and execute digital strategies through campaigns and actions, including writing appeals and other calls-to-action.
• Help manage and drive online events and campaign rollouts, performing outreach and marketing and creating social sharing toolkits.
• Support with the coordination of various vendors including website vendors, marketing, and design to ensure streamlined efforts. 
• Work in collaboration with the External Affairs Director to identify and research media outlets, producers, editors, and reporters receptive to and aligned with CBED’s mission and work; and pitch television, radio, print, and online media and secure stories for placement (primary responsibilities will be in digital content development but support on media outreach may be needed). 
• Research and collect information and data for content and communications strategies 
• Develop a dashboard for gathering and reporting metrics to demonstrate growth and success. 
• Proofread and coordinate production of communication materials. 
• Other projects or duties as assigned. 

Background and experience expectations:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism or related field
• 3-5 years of relevant communications experience; digital communications experience is required
• Deep commitment to CBED’s mission, vision, and core values
• Experience with communications research, communications strategies and media relations 
• Energy and creativity levels that bring new and exciting ideas to the work
• Experience creating and curating content for multiple audiences, including younger generations. 
• Strong working knowledge of multimedia platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 
• While technical skills with graphic design and video development is not required, being willing to jump in work with templates etc. is helpful.
• Experience with political or advocacy campaigns a plus
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to effectively communicate CBED’s mission and vision
• Knowledge of basic press and media relations practices 
• Ability and desire to stay plugged into what’s happening in the mass media and popular culture
• Ability to collaborate with various departments and work with a small team
• Strong experience working independently to produce high quality work products, while managing multiple projects

What We Offer

We promote professional growth and development by providing access to: 

• A competitive salary and benefits package
• Additional employee benefits include: 
  • Healthcare: medical, dental, and vision benefits 
  • Retirement savings program 
  • Paid time off and holiday schedule 
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Flexible work environment