Marketing ​/ Advertising ​/ PR, PR ​/ Communications

The Opportunity

The Communications Officer is a key contributor to the success of the foundation's approach and therefore expected to acquire deep knowledge of lessons learned from our initiatives in their focus area. They will provide substantive expertise and experience in communications to the interdisciplinary team's work on strategy design, refinement and implementation; lead the writing and distillation of key messages; and support sharing of knowledge through four primary channels: direct dissemination through our Website, conference presentations and speeches;

dissemination in partnership with external membership and issue organizations; underwriting of coverage in non-profit trade and general media; and social media.

Reporting to the Vice President of Communications, the Communications Officer will work closely and support the work in Education Leadership serving on the program's interdisciplinary team that designs and implements the initiatives through which the foundation does its philanthropic work.

• Develops communication strategy at the initiative level (in alignment with our overall foundation communication strategy and guiding principles); and does so within an interdisciplinary approach in collaboration with the Vice President, interdisciplinary team, and others.
• As part of the interdisciplinary team, collaborates with colleagues from research and program to develop and disseminate consistent, clear, and effective messaging in support of the evidence-based research Wallace supports.
• Ensures strategies build on the foundation's evidence base and sustain its reputation for credibility, and employ best practices in communications, both Wallace's and field-wide, to reach key audiences and contribute to nationwide impact most effectively.
• Participates in collaborative editorial review of draft research reports and knowledge products to ensure the final version reflects the interdisciplinary perspective to "say more only as we know more," and is respectful of the grantees whose work is presented in the report.
• Collaborates, edits, and writes Wallace developed products including publications, web content including social media, videos, podcast scripts, talking points, meetings briefs and more.
• Contributes to the writing, distillation and synthesis of key messages used to prepare Wallace staff, Communications Partners, and/or grantees for meetings, speaking engagements and media interviews, and as the basis for encouraging awareness and understanding of the foundation's mission, strategies and initiatives leading to action among targeted audiences.
• Develops innovative ideas for Wallace-generated content to help distill insights and encourage broad consideration and adoption of Wallace's viewpoints among key audiences.
• Cultivates relationships and participates in external networks including but not limited to communications-specific professional associations, initiative-specific convenings and funder collaborations.

• Ensures that the funded work of our initiatives reflects Wallace's "dual goals:" benefits for our partners and those they serve, and benefits for the broader field through developing and sharing knowledge.
• Manages the work of public relations firms, grantees, communications partners, and media sponsor ships to advance the overall goals of the initiative.
• Fulfills stewardship responsibilities: (i) ensures grantee budgets reflect the scope and deliverables to support the initiative goals, monitor spending, and review financial reports to inform future funding; and (ii) maintains an up-to-date record of the grants, including report reviews and feedback, conversations with grantees, and budget…