Director of Communications, Philadelphia Education Fund

Posted by on January 17, 2011

Director of Communications, Philadelphia Education Fund

Posted on: January 5, 2011

For 25 years, as a champion of quality public education, the Philadelphia Education Fund (the Ed Fund) has collaborated with school districts, schools, universities, businesses, non-profit organizations, community stakeholders, and other partners to improve the quality of public education in Philadelphia and the region, so that youth are prepared for college and careers. In recent years, the Ed Fund has incubated several new programs and initiatives, and seeks to grow its staff to meet its communications goals.

The Ed Fund seeks a full-time communications professional to fill the new position of Director of Communications. The Director of Communications will work within a team environment to lead the overall communications efforts of our organization while playing a primary role in the communications strategy for ArtsRising. ArtsRising is a new initiative that the Ed Fund leads in partnership with the Fleisher Art Memorial and Public Citizens for Children and Youth.

The Ed Fund seeks candidates who have a successful track record of developing and implementing strategic communications plans and who can demonstrate the ability to imbed new and emerging media into such plans. The Director of Communications will position our organization to take advantage of its unique niche as a convener of myriad partners and will integrally connect each of the Ed Fund’s programs and initiatives – from the arts to math and science – into the Ed Fund’s overall brand.

Responsibilities
• Develop, implement, and manage the Ed Fund’s strategic communications plan with a particular emphasis on managing the organizational brand, developing and maintaining relationships with the media, messaging, cultivating relationships with the offices of elected officials, and integrating new and emerging media.
• Further develop, manage and implement the ArtsRising communications strategy in collaboration with our two initiative partners, oversee relationship with our online fundraising and advocacy contractor, and maintain relationships with other similar initiatives across the country.
• Gather, frame, and disseminate information, stories, and data that share our impact on youth, schools, and the national dialogue on public education.
• Identify leading technological trends and opportunities and implement appropriate new solutions that will expand the organization’s reach through online and other digital media platforms.
• Working closely with development staff, imbed development communications into overall strategic communications plan to more persuasively make the case for supporting the Ed Fund and its programs and initiatives.
• Serve as writer, editor and project manager for varied and integrated communications materials that brand the Ed Fund and engage the public and policy makers in our programs and initiatives. These would include electronic and print newsletters, organizational website, online communications, brochures, fact sheets and presentations.
• Oversee relationships with writers, designers, printers, and other vendors.
• Additional communications-related tasks as deemed necessary.

Qualifications
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of seven years of successful communications experience in increasingly responsible positions. Experience in non-profit education and/or arts communications preferred.
• Excellent communications skills, both oral and written including experience in developing and implementing strategic communications plans, development of written communications, and development of presentations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and facility with new communications media platforms.
• Ability to represent the Ed Fund and its programs and initiatives independently to the media, elected officials, funders and other diverse audiences.
• Expertise in internet communications, websites, presentation software, and creating and managing budgets with spreadsheets.
• Proven organizational skills including the ability to manage staff and manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously to produce high quality results quickly and on time.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team and with great energy, persistence, and dedication.
• Critical thinking, problem solving, accuracy, and attention to detail.

Please email application letter, resume, writing sample, and contact information for three professional references to: [email protected].