Director of Communications

Position Summary:
The Director of Communications plays a central role in managing the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s day-to-day communications operations. Reporting to the Senior Director of Strategic Communications, this position leads editorial planning, manages communications workflow, directs and develops written content, and ensures the timely execution of communications projects across the organization.
This role is responsible for advancing the Trust’s strategic vision through clear, consistent, and high-quality communications across internal and external channels. The position leads proactive media relations campaigns and serves as a primary media contact, directs social media strategy, and supports executive communications, internal communications, and institutional announcements and events.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required :
Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, writing, journalism, or related field preferred. 
Work Experience : Minimum of 5 years’ experience in strategic communications in a corporate, government, or large institutional setting is required. Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects and teams.
Supervisory Experience : Prior experience managing others preferred.
Technical Skills : Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required; experience with communications software and media monitoring tools preferred; experience utilizing AI tools to enhance productivity preferred.
Intangibles : C andidates should be passionate about the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s mission, including revitalization of Downtown Pittsburgh through the arts. Sound judgment, attention to detail, responsiveness, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines for high impact projects are essential. Candidates should be self-motivated and tactful, with strong written and oral communication skills.

Essential Functions:
Main job responsibilities :   
Communications Planning and Operations

• Direct the day-to-day communications operations of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, ensuring communications work is organized, coordinated, and aligned across departments, programs, events, and leadership needs.
• Develop and implement communications plans that support institutional priorities, major initiatives, executive visibility, audience engagement, and organizational reputation.
• Maintain an organization-wide communications calendar to coordinate timing across press, social, email, internal messaging, campaigns, and major events.
• Develop and maintain communications protocols, approval processes, key messages, spokesperson guidance, templates, and other tools that support consistent institutional communication.
• Support major institutional announcements, events, and initiatives through strategic communications planning, message development, media coordination, and cross-functional execution.

Content, Messaging, and Editorial Strategy

• Lead editorial planning and storytelling efforts across internal and external communications channels, including earned media pitches, organic social media strategy, and some email communication supported by direct reports.
• Direct and develop written content, including press materials, institutional announcements, internal messages, talking points, executive communications, presentations, and other organizational communications.
• Maintain editorial standards, message consistency, and brand voice across communications channels.
• Support internal communications by developing clear messaging for staff and leadership, including regular newsletters.

Media Relations

• Serve as a primary media contact for the organization, and lead proactive media relations pitching, interview coordination, press inquiries, and media opportunities.
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson as needed.
• Track communications outcomes, media coverage, engagement, and other performance indicators to evaluate effectiveness and inform future communications strategy.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Serve as a communications advisor to departments and project teams.
• Manage and guide communications staff, agency partners, or freelancers.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion through continuous   development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned. 

Supervisory responsibility : This position supervises full-time personnel and may oversee interns or freelancers in addition to project teams. The Senior Communications Manager and Social Media Manager are direct reports.
Budgetary responsibility : This position manages specific project budgets and vendor contracts. 
Decision-making responsibility : The Director exercises day-to-day discretion regarding management of the Trust’s communications, subject to the general oversight of the Senior Director of Communications. 
Strategic responsibility : This position collaborates with colleagues throughout the organization to ensure that institutional communications in a variety of formats support the Trust’s mission and vision. 
Reporting requirements : In addition to internal collaboration that fosters business growth and improvements for the organization, the Director will occasionally work with external stakeholders such as funders and civic leaders. 
Travel requirements : Limited travel (less than 5%) is required for this position. 
Physical demands : This position involves mainly office work – occasional lifting up to 20-30 lbs. may be required.  This person should be able to sit and/or view a computer screen for extended periods of time. 

Starting Salary Range : $80,000

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ethnicity, veteran or disability status.  
Employees are expected to be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position, with or without job modification/reasonable accommodation. If an employee believes a job modification/reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Human Resources so that a review can be conducted. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust strives to comply with the accommodation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and other related federal, state, and local laws.