TITLE
Director of Communications
REPORTS TO
Partner, Communications & Community Coalitions
LOCATION
St. Louis
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TRUST
The Opportunity Trust exists to ensure every child born in St. Louis is prepared to lead a life of choice and dignity as an adult. One of the most urgent barriers to opportunity in St. Louis today is the changing nature of work and our increasingly outdated and ineffective public education system. Our first fund, Reimagining School, aims to catalyze a fundamental transformation of our public education system so that it can prepare children for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Learn more about our work at www.theopportunitytrust.org. 
OUR ASPIRATION
In our first three years, we have built a national model for new school design and forged a diverse coalition for change among partners. Over the next three years, we seek to double the share of children enrolled in quality schools, from 13% to 25%. We’ll do this by investing over $50 million to empower parents to make education choices; launch, scale, and transform schools; and improve the talent, data, and policy ecosystem in the region.
ABOUT YOUR ROLE
Reporting to the Partner for Communications and Coalitions, the Communications Director is ultimately responsible for shaping the public dialogue on education equity in our community, ensuring the voices and perspectives of those most impacted and proximate to educational inequity are at the forefront of discussion. This leader must develop and execute a communications strategy focused on increasing awareness of what is and is not working in public education across the St. Louis region and the role that The Opportunity Trust and its partners play in effecting change. 
To succeed in those efforts, this person will work closely with senior members of the organization as a communications partner on various strategic initiatives and with partner organizations ranging from school districts to teacher development organizations to parent advocacy groups. The Opportunity Trust culture is a start-up environment, which means that everyone pitches in to help and steps up to support new initiatives as they arise. 
WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead media relations and engage journalists, publications, media outlets, and other external contacts to generate content and amplify key messages of initiatives of The Opportunity Trust and its partners - including earned, paid, and social media
• Develop and implement strategic communications campaigns around key initiatives of The Opportunity Trust and the education ecosystem across the region
• Develop and implement a comprehensive content strategy to share compelling stories around The Opportunity Trust’s work that inform and engage targeted audiences
• Analyze media markets, identify, and connect with media influencers
• Maintain strong relationships with key partners to collaborate and build their capacity to share their success with the community
• Examine target audiences & organize market research
• Identify opportunities to utilize new information technology for communications outreach to internal and external audiences
• Work with the Communications Program Manager to manage, track, and analyze effective communications operations, including up-to-date contact lists, timely delivery of newsletters, organizational collateral, a current and relevant website; and coordinate and organize events that engage key audiences
• Represent The Opportunity Trust at public events as needed

WHAT WE NEED
Skills

• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with a track record of media relations and a history of effective storytelling
• An understanding of the education landscape and/or policy preferred
• Highly collaborative style; experience developing and implementing communications strategies
• Access to an established media network and an in-depth understanding of local media opportunities
• Self-motivated and passionate about supporting organizations to build their capacity
• Confidence in providing strategic points of view to senior stakeholders
• Sincere commitment to working collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives

Prior experience

• 3-5 years of experience in media, public relations, communications, public policy, education, community engagement, local government, and/or related field

WHAT WE OFFER

• Starting salary range: $100,000 - $125,000
• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible work environment
• Passionate, mission-driven colleagues