Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement

Full job description can be found here: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

The Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement is a senior-level leadership role responsible for setting the vision, priorities, and systems that drive The Dream.

US’s communications and engagement strategy. This role operates at a 30,000-foot view—designing strategy, aligning messaging with organizational goals, and ensuring strong project management, delegation, and execution through clear structures and accountability.

As a lean, high-impact national nonprofit, The Dream.

US values leaders who can both set strategy and roll up their sleeves. In this hands-on environment, the Director will split time between managing staff, interns, and external partners and actively contributing to content creation and refinement.

Working closely with the President & CEO and Chief Operating Officer, the Director leads all external communications and engagement efforts, with a strong focus on National and Opportunity Scholars, Alumni, Partner Colleges, funders, and key external stakeholders.

This role is not a sole content producer position. While the Director will create and refine content as needed, they primarily serve as a strategic leader and player‑coach—translating vision into actionable plans, setting priorities, managing timelines, and delegating effectively to ensure high‑quality, on‑brand execution across internal staff, interns, and external partners.

The Director brings a strong creative point of view and editorial judgment, guiding and elevating content while ensuring cohesion and excellence across all outputs. They must be an exceptional writer and editor, capable of synthesizing diverse contributions into clear, compelling, and consistent final products.

In partnership with the Chief Financial Officer, the Director stewards communications‑related contracts, budgets, and technology systems, ensuring tools and platforms are financially sound, strategically aligned, and operating efficiently.

The Director also works closely with the Communications and Operations Manager and manages relationships with external vendors and agencies. Success in this role requires exceptional project management, delegation, and cross‑functional leadership, along with the ability to balance long‑term strategy with hands‑on execution.

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of communications to National and Opportunity Scholars and Alumni to ensure they have relevant, timely content and tools to support their college and career success across multiple platforms, including email, texting, social media, the program website, and The Dream.
  
  US You Tube channel
• Develop and manage the program’s external communications strategy and scholarship promotion through traditional and social media outreach, the program’s website, local and national media channels, and the program’s annual progress report, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission, strategic goals, and ultimate impact
• Oversee work with website vendors to ensure the program’s website is regularly updated, accurate, and aligned with communications priorities
• Lead and coordinate communications to over 80+ National and Opportunity Partner Colleges, ensuring they receive up‑to‑date and relevant content and tools through the PC Weekly, program website, and social media
• Partners with and directs staff to establish clear systems, processes, and workflows that integrate programmatic priorities, metrics, and goals into internal and external communications, with quarterly tracking and reporting on progress and impact
• Partner and collaborate with other team members to provide strategic guidance and support during Scholar and Partner College meetings, ensuring messaging is consistent and on‑brand
• Coordinate, prioritize, and oversee communications across the organization, serving as the primary point of contact internally and externally to ensure consistency, accuracy, and strategic alignment of all communications
• Manage the recruitment, training, and oversight of…