Senior Vice President, Communications

Number of Positions: 1

Work Location:

Hybrid On-Site/Remote

City Years is at an inflection point. As we scale our Student Success Coach model and build stronger pathways for young adults into leadership and career, we need communications that match the ambition of the work: sharp storytelling, disciplined positioning, and a media presence that earns credibility with the investors, funders, and partners who will help us achieve our vision. The SVP, Communications role is a builder's role.

The SVP, Communications will architect City Years’ message platform, drive proactive media placement in national and education press, and turn impact data and field stories into content that moves donors and policymakers to act. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, you’ll work closely with the CDO, CEO, and senior leaders across the organization to ensure the investor-facing narrative and public narrative move as one.

This role is based in Boston and requires on-site work three days per week.

This role will lead City Years’ advancement and development communications strategy, including related marketing and brand work, national and education media relations, crisis communications, and the core message platform that connects City Years’ impact to funder, policymaker, and public audiences. The SVP will also co‑own executive communications and thought leadership in close partnership with the CEO, CDO, and other senior leaders.

In addition, the SVP will work closely with Digital Marketing leadership and team members to support consistent communication across channels, while collaborating with partners who lead regional press, program and field communications, cityyear.org, brand social channels, broad organizational emails, public affairs, advocacy, and internal communications.

• Lead City Years’ advancement and development communications strategy, including the message platform, marketing, brand, and storytelling that support fundraising priorities and strengthen the case for investment
• Translate impact data, research, and field stories into a compelling case for investment
• Arm the CEO, CDO, and development team with talking points, briefings, and content for high-stakes donor conversations
• Ensure advancement touchpoints, including annual reports, proposals, campaign materials, and relevant website content, reinforce the impact and importance of partnering with and investing in City Years’ work

• Build and run a proactive media strategy targeting national and education press, in partnership with regional teams on local and site‑specific media opportunities
• Co‑lead op‑eds, interviews, speaking placements, executive communications, and thought leadership for the CEO and senior leaders in partnership with the CEO, CDO, and relevant senior team members
• Cultivate direct relationships with the reporters and editors who shape the field’s narrative

• Lead planning and production of flagship advancement content, including annual reports, thought leadership, campaign collateral, and development‑centered digital communications, in partnership with digital marketing and the teams that manage cityyear.org, brand social channels, and broader organizational emails
• Translate Ameri Corps member, student, and alumni stories into development‑centered content that meets goals across channels, in collaboration with program, field, and site communications partners
• Keep content aligned to funding priorities and major moments in a focused calendar

• Own City Years’ core narrative and partner with internal communications leaders to keep priority messages consistent from the…