Associate Director, Regional Communications

Job Title: Associate Director, Regional Communications 

Team: External Affairs

Location: Hybrid in Atlanta (GA), Chicago (IL) preferred, New York (NYC), or Newark (NJ)

Employment Type: Full-time

FLSA Classification: Exempt 

Start Date: ASAP

Braven is a national nonprofit that prepares promising college students to secure a strong first opportunity after college graduation through a career-accelerating program.

We work with higher education and employer partners to offer a life-changing experience that begins with a semester-long course for college students and continues with support through graduation.  

Together, our ambition is to help rebuild the middle class and revitalize the American Dream.

To learn more, take a look at Braven’s Jobs.

In order to achieve its ambition of serving 80,000-100,000 Fellows over the next decade, Braven is hiring an Associate Director, Regional Communications who will elevate awareness of the college-to-career challenge and Braven’s impact across the regions in which we operate. This role will also partner closely with colleagues across the organization to make sure communications are aligned and coordinated. As a key member of the Communications and Marketing team, which sits on the External Affairs team, you will be responsible for the strategy and execution of a portfolio of regions’ communications plans and efforts in partnership with each region’s Executive Director and team.

This role sits on the External Affairs team, part of Braven’s Communications and Marketing department, and reports directly to the Senior Director, Communications & Marketing. 

Strategic Leadership & Operations (60%) 

• Create and implement regional marketing and communication strategies using quantitative and qualitative insights
• Maintain regional communications calendars 
• Recommend and execute appropriate tactics to raise awareness and strengthen Braven’s reputation among new and existing university and employer partners, along with other external stakeholders. Including such things as: 
• Developing and executing a robust and integrated social media strategy for Executive Directors, in collaboration with the AD, Social Media, using LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social media
• Developing and executing media relations activities that secure high-profile placements across relevant media outlets
• Drafting speeches, op-eds, and other statements on behalf of executive and regional leadership
• Applying to local conferences and awards on behalf of Executive Directors and regions 
• Creating videos featuring Braven’s impact and champions, especially around key national campaigns (e.g., National Mentoring Month)

Regional Support & Prep (40%) 

• Lead learning and development related to Braven's brand and communications for regional staff, including old and new members 
• Work directly with the Communications teams of partner orgs (including employer and university partners) to draft joint op-eds, communications plans for new launches, etc; 
• Build a bench of local champions prepped to speak about Braven and help amplify their experiences via videos, stories, social posts, etc
• Prep executive and regional leaders, their team members, and Fellows for speeches and panel appearances 
• Support with Braven regional events, including the event description, identifying speakers and drafting their remarks/prepping them, and media support where appropriate 
• Support the New Sites team with communications research, external launch announcement plans, and more   
• Assist with the maintenance of the Braven website, including regional pages

Other duties as assigned 

• Bachelor’s Degree 
• 5 years in media relations, communications, or digital media experience in the education, government, or nonprofit sector 

Preferred Qualifications 

• You are a results-oriented strategic leader and a team player who gets things done.
• You love storytelling and the opportunity to help Fellows and members of the Braven community tell their stories.
• You are excellent at project management and influencing others to achieve outcomes, with a proven ability to create and execute project plans with strong attention to detail across multiple stakeholders and meet deadlines. 
• You exercise discretion and independent judgment in conversations with press and other high-stakes audiences. 
• You have strong self-awareness and can work across many lines of difference. 
• You are effective at prioritizing multiple competing demands and a busy meeting schedule. 
• You exemplify Braven’s core values. 
• Your experiences have informed your belief in Braven’s mission and have prepared you to work with, or for, Braven’s student Fellow population. 
• Demonstrated commitment to building strong and welcoming cultures that help to develop others.
• Experience that has informed your belief in Braven’s mission and has prepared you to work with, or for, Braven’s student Fellow population.

Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Work Demands

• Ability to work in person in Atlanta (GA), Chicago (IL) preferred, or Newark (NJ)  3 days per week
• Ability to travel to quarterly retreats with the External Affairs team and potentially other events
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to meet tight deadlines or respond to urgent communications needs
• Access to internet 

Additional Requirements

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Braven doesn’t offer employment visa sponsorship

Application & Interview Process

While the interview process may vary slightly, the general process will be:

• Phone screen with Talent Team member
• Performance Task
• Interview with Hiring Manager
• Panel Interview with Key Partners
• Reference Checks

Braven offers competitive base salaries based on the midpoint of the market among not-for-profit organizations of similar size, with opportunities for salary growth over time. We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other, their qualifications, and their impact on behalf of the organization, and take internal and external equity seriously. Given our commitment to equity, Braven does not negotiate salary offers; instead, each salary offer is determined carefully using external and internal benchmarking.

Starting salary within the range is determined by role scope and qualifications, with new hires starting at the lower end to allow for growth with performance. Braven does not base compensation on individual candidate salary expectations and is committed to maintaining internal equity. The salary ranges, by geographic market, for this role are set forth as $79,200-$85,100 in Atlanta, $83,600-$89,800 in Chicago, $92,000-$98,800 in Newark and New York City. This is based on a 50-hour work week. This is a full-time, regular, exempt, and benefits eligible position where you will be working at 100% capacity.  

Braven also provides competitive, comprehensive benefits, recognition, and career development. While Braven reserves the right to change benefits at any time, current benefits include: 

• Discretionary time off in addition to org-wide holidays and 2 week-long shutdowns in July and December  (this is a minimum of 20 days per year)
• Braven supports your path to parenthood and beyond with $25,000 in lifetime Carrot benefits for fertility, family-building, and hormonal health
• Match of your 401K contribution up to 5% of your base annual salary, starting your first full month
• Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employee and dependents
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• A one-month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff

Please note that Braven is firm in its compensation philosophy; therefore, only candidates who believe our total rewards package aligns with what they are looking for in their next opportunity are encouraged to apply. 

Location

We gather in the office 3 days a week (Tuesday through Thursday) and work remotely 2 days a week (Monday and Friday). Therefore, this role requires teammates to live within commuting distance of one of our hubs: Atlanta, Chicago, or Newark. We believe in the magic, connection, and collaboration that happens when people work together face-to-face, and we believe in giving people flexibility to focus, balance personal priorities, and save themselves two commutes per week.

Braven is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.  We encourage talented individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

Salary : $79,200 - $85,100