Communications Manager

The Communications Managerwillcollaborate with the Chief Development Officer (CDO) todevelop and execute the annual statewide communications and marketing strategy that increases awareness of Communities In Schools  of Tennessee (CISTN), strengthens engagement with key audiences, elevates the organization’s narrative and storytelling, supports philanthropic growth,and advances organizational priorities.

A member of the Advancement

Team, the Communications Managerwillreport to the Chief Development Officer  and work collaboratively across the organization, the Advancement

Committee, external public relationsfirmandother external partners.

The Communications Manager willbe responsible for ensuring that CISTN’s communications are strategic, audience-centered,consistent,and aligned with the organization’s mission,values,brand,and goals.

Strategic Communications, Narrative,and Storytelling

• Build and strengthen CISTN’s organizational narrative and storytelling presence by proactively identifying, developing, and sharing compelling stories thatdemonstratethe impact of the organization’s work.
• Partner with Program Managers,Program Directors,and other colleagues to gatheraccurateand authentic stories and translate programmatic work and outcomes into content that connects audiences to CISTN’s mission.
• Develop messaging and content that communicates the experiences and impact of students, families, schools, staff, community partners, donors, and other stakeholders while ensuring storytelling is respectful,accurate, culturally responsive, and aligned with CISTN values.
• Collaborate with the CDO and members of the Advancement
  
  Team to ensure communications support relationship building and move audiences toward meaningful engagement with CISTN, including volunteering, partnership, advocacy, event participation, and philanthropic support.

Content Development and Editorial Management

• Lead the development, editing, and distribution of written, visual, and multimedia content across CISTN’s communications channels. This includes content supporting organizational communications, fundraising and donor engagement, events, media relations, digital communications, internal communications, and other organizational priorities.
• Develop and oversee astory banking process that creates consistent opportunities to identify, collect, document, organize, andmaintainstoriesand supporting assets from across the organization.
  
  Establish clear processes, tools, and collaboration practices that make it easy for Program Managers and Directors to contribute stories and impact content on an ongoing basis.
• Create, record, edit, and produce video and other multimedia content for use across digital and social media channels.
  
  Identify opportunities to use video and other emerging formats toeffectivelytell stories, highlight organizational impact, andengage diverse audiences.
• Ensure that communications are clear,accurate,engaging, audience-appropriate, grammatically correct, and consistent with CISTN and National CIS brand standards.
• Develop andmaintaincommunications resources, templates, and a digital library of brand assets.

Social Media and Digital Communications

• Manage CISTN’s digital communications presence, including the organization’s website, social media platforms, email communications, and other relevant digital channels. Develop and execute platform-appropriate content strategies that increase awareness, engagement, and connection to the organization’s mission.
• Monitor digital and social media performance and use data and insights to evaluate effectiveness,identify opportunities, and refine communications strategies and content.

Staff Training and Communications Capacity Building

• Develop,maintain, anddisseminatecommunications resources, templates, toolkits, and CISTN collateral for staff.
• Orient new hires to communications resources, brand standards, storytelling expectations, and opportunities to support organizational communications.
• Provide communications and storytelling training to staff through professional development opportunities as appropriate.
• Build staff capacity to recognize and share compelling stories, program impact, student and…