Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) is an energized, future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.

Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more equitable early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy, and research through partnerships across the country.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning, and communication.

Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do!

The Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications, Illinois Office will lead, manage and implement Start Early's marketing and communications strategies that advance the Illinois Office portfolio, including direct services, programs, community and state-focused policy and advocacy efforts. The AD will collaborate with Start Early’s Chicago and Illinois policy experts to lead the development of content, amplification, and dissemination strategies and communications plans to support g events (webinars, advocacy campaigns, etc.) that align with Start Early’s organizational editorial calendar and support the Illinois Policy Agenda.

This person will supervise a communications manager, who directly supports the Illinois Policy Team, and a digital strategy manager, who supports Start Early’s Educare Chicago and Healthy Parents & Babies program.

Reporting to the VP, Communications you will:

Marketing & Communications Strategy: Illinois Office

• Development of the annual Illinois Office marketing and communications strategy that supports the Illinois Office’s broader goals and objectives.
• Oversee and manage the Illinois-based editorial calendar that is inclusive of website, social media, and blog-like content to ensure a successful implementation that is aligned with organizational marketing and communications strategies
• Work closely with organizational experts across the Illinois Office to create new and evolve existing content that amplifies the work of Start Early’s Illinois-based programs, policy, and research teams.
• Support Start Early’s storytelling efforts to include powerful and authentic stories of Illinois families, providers, and policymakers impacted by the early learning and care system.
• Develop and support the implementation of a comprehensive social media strategy for the Illinois Office.
• Provide strategic support to managers of current Illinois-based social media handles.
• Manage and support external media relations partner in developing and implementing public relations strategy for the Illinois Office, with a target focus on Chicago media which is aligned with the organization’s efforts
• Ensure brand and messaging alignment on key materials – including annual reports and publications, recruitment materials, print and digital assets, and across all content.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications leaders to define targets and KPIs to measure the effectiveness, reach & impact of marketing efforts.

Illinois Policy & Advocacy: Communications Leadership & Counsel

• Provide strategic guidance and support to the implementation of Start Early's Illinois policy outreach and engagement strategy,.
• Support execution of tactics that support strategy, including digital marketing (e.g., social media, website back-end, graphic design), grassroots advocacy efforts, policy-related campaign and event support, collateral development, and dissemination.
• Provide strategic guidance and support to the implementation of the marketing and communications strategy of the Raising Illinois coalition, a member-driven initiative powered by Start Early.
• Monitor Illinois policy windows, such as the annual spring legislative session, to identify, recommend, and support the implementation of opportunities to advance identified objectives of Illinois policy outreach and engagement strategy.
• Partner with the Development team and the Illinois Policy Team to activate the Start Early Affiliates Board in amplifying Start Early local policy and advocacy.

Illinois Programs: Communications Leadership & Counsel

• Provide strategic guidance and support to the implementation of Start Early’s marketing and communications strategy for Illinois programs, including Healthy Parents & Babies, Early/Head Start Network, and Educare Chicago.
• Provide project management support to Start Early programs that require ad hoc marketing and communications expertise to meet goals and objectives, including Family Connects Illinois, Home Visiting & Doula Network, Parents as Teachers, and the Professional Learning Network.
• Project support may include digital marketing (e.g., social media, website back-end, graphic design), event support, collateral development, and dissemination.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in strategic or executive communication that includes: developing & implementing comprehensive communications plans to advance organizational priorities, content creation (e.g., internal and external-facing messages and talking points, publications, and collateral), digital marketing (e.g., graphic design, back-end website management) and effective communications counsel for leadership and staff.
• Proven public relations, including earned media and thought leadership strategy development and implementation, expertise.
• Proven digital marketing, including social media, email, and website strategy development and implementation, expertise.
• Experience supervising one or more team members, providing consistent, intentional, and thoughtful coaching and guidance to help the team meet its goals and to support individual development and success.
• The ability to work independently and thrive as a self-starter in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to make decisions in a changing environment, productively advancing the work with ambiguous direction. And anticipate future needs.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading, creating, and accomplishing the goals of an integrated communications strategy, ability to think strategically and deliver tactically, and communicate passionately about the goals and needs of the organization.
• An educated understanding of the policy landscape at state and local levels; related to the early learning and care system is a plus.
• A meticulous attention to detail.
• Exceptional and diverse written communications skills - ensuring alignment with organizational and initiative-specific style guidelines provided by Start Early’s marketing and communications team. Note that Start Early uses the Associated Press writing style, thus, educated familiarity with AP Style is preferred.
• Strong leadership and project management skills with a proven ability to focus on achieving project milestones, navigating competing priorities and roadblocks, and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs.
• Comfortable with the use of Adobe Creative Suite for social media graphics, medium-level publication design, etc. – ensuring alignment with organizational and initiative-specific brand and style guidelines provided by Start Early’s marketing and communications team.
• Familiarity with digital content management systems (WordPress Marketing Cloud, preferred).
• Experience using and managing digital analytics tools (Google Analytics/GA4, preferred) and social media tools and platforms (Sprout Social LinkedIn Twitter/X, preferred).
• Deep commitment to advancing diversity, racial equity, and inclusion into organizational routines and practice.
• Comfort and experience in handling risk and uncertainty to move work forward.

We recognize that few candidates might meet every single piece of knowledge, experience, or education listed here. Research shows that women and people of color, among many other historically excluded groups, are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Start Early is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your qualifications don’t perfectly align with everything in the job description, we still encourage you to apply!

Salary: Although the full salary range for the position is $89,400 - 149,000, we expect the hiring range to be between $97,500.00 and $105K, based on skills, experience, and internal equity.

Our generous benefits plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months of paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.