As the Chief of Strategic Communications, you'll drive the next chapter in CCAoA’s strategic communications, marketing, and digital initiatives. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you will play a pivotal role on the Senior Leadership Team, driving CCAoA's overarching strategic priorities, aligning departmental goals with the organization's mission to position CCAoA to make a lasting impact in the child care sector. You will nurture, mentor, and manage a dedicated team of communications and marketing professionals and collaborate across departments to achieve CCAoA’s operational and programmatic goals.
This role requires a professional who thrives in a dynamic growth environment with the ability to drive the strategic advancement of CCAoA’s public presence while ensuring the implementation of everyday departmental tactics.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop the vision and strategy for the organization’s communications presence to amplify the brand, ensure growth, retention, mission delivery and consistent messaging and positioning as well as to maintain positive brand. This includes:
Driving a national narrative shift about child care that moves hearts and minds and supports successful policy change and increased investment for child care, CCAoA and our partner organizations.
Overseeing brand strategy and lead mission-driven strategic communications internally and externally, in coordination with senior leadership.
Overseeing public relations strategy and crisis communications planning, ensuring proactive media engagement and effective management of reputational issues.
Staying informed on industry trends, policy developments, and advancements to align the organization's messaging, products, and initiatives.
Collaborating across departments to lead communications campaigns that position CCAoA as an industry leader, aligning communication efforts with advocacy initiatives and policy goals.
Overseeing digital marketing efforts, including website management, social media campaigns, and online content creation, to enhance engagement.
Growing and overseeing the management of CCAoA’s digital database and mobilize this list effectively for advocacy and fundraising.
Managing the strategic communications and marketing department’s budget, ensuring strategic allocation of resources to maximize impact and achieve organizational goals.
Cultivating, coaching, and leading the marketing, communications, and digital teams, implementing comprehensive strategies to promote CCAoA’s mission.
Serve as a member of CCAoA’s Senior Leadership Team. This includes:
Championing the organization’s culture and values internally and externally.
Serving as a role model and leader within the organization.
Proactively assessing and improving employee morale.
Proactively assessing and improving relationships and working efficiency across departments.
Location: Arlington, Virginia. Candidates must be based in Washington D.C., Maryland or Virginia Metropolitan area and able to work a hybrid schedule with 3 days per week in-office.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in public relations, Communications, or Marketing; Master’s degree preferred
Minimum 10 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and related. experience required.
Track record of launching content-rich, data-driven campaigns across all platforms while working in a fast-paced environment and demonstrated ability to grow awareness and increase engagement.
Experience managing budgets and projects funded through blended funding.
10 years of people management experience.
Prior experience working on child care issues, early learning advocacy, or a related field, including work with associations, is a plus.
Skills and Essential Qualities:
Track record of setting and exceeding key performance indicators.
Executive-level influencing skills with the ability to get consensus and collaboration across many units/departments and communicate with all levels of management and staff while establishing straightforward, productive relationships.
Strong strategic thinking and planning skills.
Creative thinking to develop innovative and compelling content.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and evolving industry and issue landscapes.
Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) is the country’s leading voice for child care, championing equitable access to affordable, high-quality care.
CCAoA works with partners at the local, state and federal levels, including the United States Military and the Department of Defense, to make child care programs, policies and funding work better for children, families, child care providers and communities.
CCAoA works in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to build the supply of healthy, nurturing and stable child care that helps families get to work, supports children’s development and learning and keeps our economy growing. CCAoA also delivers innovative, results-based services for families and child care providers; produces research; engages with the media, public and policymakers; and advances policies and mobilizes action that promotes understanding of and increased investment in a high-quality child care system. To learn more, visit our website. Follow CCAoA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.