Research and Policy Director of Communications
Job Description
The Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) seeks a full-time Director of Communications to develop and implement CPRL’s visibility strategy. This position is located in New York City.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC RESEARCH AND LEADERSHIP
The Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) is a partnership of professional schools that prepares students for leadership positions in public education organizations committed to improving the life chances of all children, particularly those of color, from low-income households, or otherwise traditionally underserved. The program brings together upper-level graduate students in business, education, law, and policy from universities across the nation to study and engage in research and consulting projects serving public- and social-sector organizations in the U.S. and Brazil that are undertaking and supporting transformational change in P-12 education and in the public sector as a whole. The program offers graduate students the rigorous, multi-disciplinary, academic, and experiential preparation they need to flourish in exciting leadership, management, and professional positions in those same organizations while simultaneously offering the organizations high-quality, low-cost research and consulting support.
Responsibilities
Co-create CPRL’s visibility strategy
- Work with CPRL leadership to:
- Develop a strategy for increasing CPRL’s visibility in P-12 public education ecosystem (i.e., school systems, nonprofits, philanthropy), research and policy circles, and the Columbia University community and the communities of CPRL’s professional school partners
- Create an evaluation system to assess the implementation and impact of the visibility strategy
- Evaluate the impact of the visibility strategy
- Update the following items, using the visibility strategy:
- Refine CPRL’s branding and communications style
- Refine the current process for identifying content for public dissemination
- Refine processes for preparing content for public dissemination
- Plan and conduct market research, as needed
Create and manage digital, video, and print content
- Maintain CPRL’s website, including event briefs, news summaries, and content descriptions
- Write and post content to CPRL’s social media platforms
- Collaborate with freelancers and independent consultants to develop videos and features
- Write press releases and respond to press inquires
- Ensure the quality of all CPRL publications and communications, including consistent branding and style
- Prepare staff for press interviews and media events
- Summarize CPRL accomplishments and achievements in end of semester memos and communications to stakeholders, including CPRL’s advisory council
Expand and manage CPRL’s online presence
- Research opportunities for CPRL to expand its online presence, including social media platforms
- Improve the search engine optimization of CPRL’s website
- Generate quarterly content calendar for CPRL’s website and social media
- Engage with followers and prospective followers on social media
- Cultivate partnership with like-minded organizations to cross-promote content
Minimum Qualifications
- BA required; MA preferred
- 4-6 years of previous work experience in communications and/or marketing
- Demonstrated commitment to CPRL’s mission to revitalize public education in order to improve the life chances of all children, particularly those of color, from low-income households, or otherwise traditionally underserved
- Excellent written, verbal, and digital communication skills across diverse audiences and platforms
- Strong analytical skills to solve problems and clearly convey CPRL ideas, events, and publications
- Creativity to present CPRL deliverables in a manner that is far-reaching and impactful
- Organizational skills to manage multiple projects and viewpoints, meet deadlines, and flexibility to respond to unplanned visibility opportunities
- Ability to respond to and integrate feedback from both peers and supervisors; ability to communicate feedback to individuals and teams in a clear and productive manner.
- Fluency with digital platforms on both web and mobile devices
- Intellectual capacity to think strategically in a fast-paced environment; understand multiple perspectives; learn about new topics; problem solve and develop responsive solutions under changing circumstances
- Experience with Drupal or other content management system preferred
- Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment
When applying, please include your resume, cover letter, and a work sample as described here:
Select a representation of your best work that specifically showcases your readiness for this role. Include a brief description (~3 bullets) about why you chose this work product, who the product’s audience was, what your contribution was (if it was a team product), and anything other relevant information for understanding your submission.
We understand that many work products may contain confidential or proprietary information and will be redacted accordingly before submission.
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