Communications Manager

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES  

The Communications Manager will collaborate with the Chief Development Officer (CDO) to develop 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 Manager will report to the Chief Development Officer and work collaboratively across the organization, the Advancement Committee, external public relations firm and other external partners.   

The Communications Manager will be 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 that demonstrate the impact of the organization’s work.
• Partner with Program Managers, Program Directors, and other colleagues to gather accurate and 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 a story banking process that creates consistent opportunities to identify, collect, document, organize, and maintain stories and 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 to effectively tell stories, highlight organizational impact, and engage diverse audiences.
• Ensure that communications are clear, accurate, engaging, audience-appropriate, grammatically correct, and consistent with CISTN and National CIS brand standards. 
• Develop and maintain communications 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, and disseminate communications 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 family success, and other content that strengthens CISTN’s communications and fundraising efforts.
• Partner with staff across the organization to ensure that communications and storytelling reflect the experiences and perspectives of the students, families, schools, and communities CISTN serves. 
  
  

Monthly Giving and Fundraising Engagement 

• In partnership with the CDO and Advancement Team, lead the development, launch, and ongoing management of CISTN’s formal Monthly Giving Program. Develop and implement strategies to acquire, engage, steward, retain, and grow monthly donors through engaging communications, storytelling, donor journeys, and targeted campaigns.
• Ensure that monthly donors receive consistent and meaningful communications that demonstrate the impact of their ongoing support. Monitor program performance and use donor and fundraising data to identify opportunities for growth and improvement. 
  
  

Organizational Leadership and Collaboration 

• Participate in Communities In Schools National Communications calls and relevant professional development opportunities and share relevant information and insights with appropriate CISTN staff.
  
• Develop and implement internal communications strategies that ensure staff are informed, engaged, and connected to organizational goals and priorities through channels such as newsletters, team meetings, staff announcements, and other internal communications.
• Work in concert with the CDO to develop, track, and report on communications and engagement performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness, identify opportunities, and inform ongoing strategy and decision-making.
• Support the implementation of CISTN’s crisis communications plan.
• Collaborate with external public relations counsel to identify and develop media opportunities and support media relations efforts.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure communications accurately and effectively reflect CISTN’s programs, values, impact, and organizational priorities.
• Contribute to a culture in which all staff understand their role in advancing awareness, engagement, relationships, and philanthropic support for CISTN.
• Collaborate with the Operations team to ensure internal and external communications are created, published, and maintained in accordance with accessibility standards and best practices. 
  
  

Currently, the Communications Manager is based in Nashville. The CDO and the Communications Manager will work together to determine the work arrangements for both in-person and remote work, considering the season of work and organizational needs. 

CORE COMPETENCIES    

The core competencies for the Communications Manager include, but are not limited to: 

• Communication: Demonstrates exceptional written and verbal communication skills and conveys information in ways that are clear, engaging, and audience centered. Uses writing and storytelling to translate complex ideas into meaningful messages that build trust, communicate impact, and strengthen connections with diverse audiences.
• Creative and Audience Awareness: Demonstrates curiosity, creativity, and a strong understanding of audience perspectives. Adapts ideas and approaches to effectively engage diverse audiences while remaining responsive to evolving communications practices and organizational needs.
• Collaboration and Relationship Building: Develops collaborative relationships with internal and external partners. Demonstrates understanding of the relationship between communications, engagement, and philanthropy and works across functions to strengthen relationships and advance organizational priorities. 
• Execution and Organizational Effectiveness: Organizes work effectively, manages competing priorities, and follows through on commitments while delivering work that meets a high standard of quality and achieves desired outcomes. 
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrates a clear understanding of racial and other forms of discrimination, including but not limited to historical discrimination, that may impact students and families and applies that understanding to work in schools and across the organization.  
  
  

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE  

• Associate degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, English, digital media, or a related field required; bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, or nonprofit communications. Work experience can be substituted for those without formal education, requiring five or more years of direct experience. 
• Experience with content management systems, email marketing platforms, Canva, Adobe InDesign, and basic video recording and editing tools. 
• Experience supporting or managing fundraising initiatives, including donor communications, stewardship campaigns, recurring giving programs, or other donor engagement strategies preferred. 
  

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 
We value your lived experience and those that have lived or live in the communities that we serve. Should you not meet all of the listed qualifications but feel that this position is the perfect one for you, please apply! You could be what we are looking for and we would not want to miss the chance to meet you! 

CISTN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS  

Salary range is: $65,000-$75,000