Senior Communications & Engagement Strategist

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WHAT IS AVID?

We're a nationally recognized nonprofit that partners with 7,500 schools across the country and internationally to shift to a more equitable, student-centered approach, closing the opportunity gap so that ALL students are prepared for college, career, and life. And the results? Well, they speak for themselves.

AVID serves more than 2 million students annually, equipping them with the tools to think critically, collaborate, and set high expectations to confidently tackle the challenges ahead. We accomplish this by training over 85,000 educators each year through in-person and virtual professional learning that builds capacity for lasting change.

WHAT IS THE JOB?

The Senior Communications & Engagement Strategist leads storytelling, messaging, and media outreach efforts across the organization. This role will be central to shaping how AVID is perceived by key audiences—including educators, partners, and the public—through powerful narratives and earned media strategies. This role serves as a bridge between AVID's work and the broader public, ensuring that compelling stories about AVID's impact are not only told but heard by the right audiences. The strategist will play a key role in elevating the organization's voice in national education conversations, strengthening media relationships, and supporting executive and crisis communications.. If you're excited by the idea of helping a mission-driven organization tell its story on a national scale, we want to hear from you.

WHY WORK WITH US?

Competitive Salary: We've done our research and pay generously to attract the best to join our team. That's why we offer all employees the midpoint right from the start. There are no negotiations and no hassle, and you can be confident that you are being valued and offered an equitable salary. See below for our offer rates based on your geography.

• Taking Care of You Allowance: All AVID employees (that's right, ALL employees) receive an extra $10,000 annually to support them in the most meaningful ways: housing costs, transportation, family expenses— whatever your needs may be.
• Retirement Planning: AVID Center provides a 10% salary contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan, beginning after 90 days of full-time employment.
• Flexibility in Work Location: This position may work 100% remote in any of the four times zones in the contiguous United States.
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): This position is eligible for 22 days of PTO per year, with 12 paid holidays plus a winter break in between Christmas and New Year's Day .
• Continued education opportunities: All full-time employees with at least 1 year of continuous AVID Center service are eligible for $5,250 per calendar year in tuition reimbursement for qualifying coursework or certification.
Company-Provided Equipment: Our home office set-up includes a laptop, dock, and extra monitor, with other amenities available on request. Health and Welfare Plans to Support Every Aspect of Your Well-Being: AVID Center offers several benefits plans through our provider, Cigna, and greatly subsidizes the cost of these plans
• Connect in Person: A yearly All-Staff gathering will allow you to connect in person with the entire AVID team.

Pay rates for this position:

We bring in all employees at the midpoint of the salary range for your role. Knowing that not all cities share the same cost of labor, we make offers using a tiered approach based on your geographical location. While the majority reside in Zone 1 or Zone 2 areas, we acknowledge variations, even within counties, ensuring fair compensation for all based on their specific location's cost of labor.

For the Senior Communications & Engagement Strategist position, here is what we will offer:

Zone 1 (areas characterized by lower labor costs [e.g., Charleston, WV, Cleveland, OH, Phoenix, AZ, Omaha, NE, etc.]): $108,841 annually

Zone 2 (areas with moderate labor costs [e.g., Syracuse, NY, Ann Arbor, MI, Denver, CO, San Diego, CA, etc.]): $117,005 annually

Zone 3 (areas known for high labor costs [e.g., Washington, D.C., Trenton, NJ, Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, etc.]): $125,168 annually

Zone 4 (areas with the highest labor costs [e.g., Bridgeport, CT, New York City, NY, San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, etc.]): $138,774 annually

• The cities listed above are examples only and do not represent an exhaustive list for each salary zone.

WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THIS ROLE?

• Strategic Messaging & Storytelling
• • Craft and guide messaging that communicates AVID's mission, impact, and differentiators with clarity and emotional resonance.
  • Shape narratives across formats—including press releases, scripts, email content, talking points, and social media.
• Media Relations
• • Proactively pitch stories and cultivate relationships with reporters and media outlets (education trade, national, regional).
  • Monitor the media landscape and identify opportunities to elevate AVID's thought leadership and public reputation through proactive messaging and media engagement.
  • Prepare media kits, press releases, and talking points for spokespersons and leadership.
• Content Oversight
• • Oversee the development of written content by staff and vendors, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with organizational goals.
  • Collaborate with the Communications & Engagement teams to generate audience-centered, lead-worthy content.
  • Provide strategic oversight and implementation support for content across AVID's social media platforms, ensuring alignment with messaging and engagement goals.
  • Help manage and maintain the organization's media content calendar, coordinating timing and publication of key messages across channels.
• Video & Campaign Support
• • Write scripts and messaging for video and campaign materials that capture AVID's impact and resonate with diverse stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic communications plans around major initiatives, campaigns, and events.
• Crisis Communications
• • Draft timely, sensitive communications in response to emerging issues, ensuring a clear, unified voice.

WHO ARE YOU?

• You are a strategic communicator who brings deep fluency in the K-12 education landscape and crafts narratives that resonate with educators, administrators, and the public.
• You are a media-savvy professional who has pitched, secured, and shaped earned media stories across national, regional, and education-specific outlets.
• You are a natural storyteller who can develop compelling messaging that advances mission, brand, and reputation across multiple formats—from press releases to scripts to social media.
• You are a message architect who ensures alignment and clarity across internal and external messaging, with a strong editorial instinct and attention to voice and tone.
• You are a calm and confident responder who can draft timely, sensitive communications during high-stakes or crisis moments while maintaining a unified and credible voice.
• You are a cross-functional collaborator who works well with executives, content teams, and program staff to shape campaigns and communication strategies from concept to execution.
• You are a quality-focused editor who elevates written work with attention to clarity, alignment, and audience impact—whether editing your own work or reviewing others'.
• You are a campaign contributor who has supported or led multi-channel communications efforts and understands how to bring messages to life through video, storytelling, and integrated media.
• You are a mission-driven communicator who is passionate about the role of education in shaping opportunity and is energized by the chance to amplify stories of impact.
• You hold a bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, education, or a related field, and bring 5-7 years of relevant experience—preferably including experience in K-12 school systems, nonprofits, or media.

• Allowable Substitutions: Any combination of experience, training, or credential certification endorsement that provides the incumbent/applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work, as determined by AVID Center. Qualifying work experience, as identified by the VP, People Operations, may substitute for the education requirement.

AVID Center is committed to complying with federal, state, and local laws on employee vaccinations, and candidates and employees should be aware that the full vaccination against COVID-19 may be required in the future. Due to some district requirements, AVID Center may not assign employees to an in-person event in schools or districts unless they are fully up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations. AVID Center is an equal opportunity employer and will provide reasonable accommodation to those unable to be vaccinated where it is not an undue hardship to the company to do so as provided under federal, state, and local law.

AVID Center prides itself on the diversity of our workplace and continuously seeks to recruit individuals who will enhance this diversity and, ultimately, the effectiveness of our organization. To demonstrate this commitment, we encourage all who are truly excited about this role to apply, even if they don't meet every requirement. We believe that people who are passionate about what they do can succeed in this role or in other roles within our organization.

Experience

Required

• Experience working in or with K-12 education systems or nonprofits
• 5 year(s): Experience in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field

Preferred

• Experience leading storytelling efforts within complex organizations or campaign contexts.
• Deep understanding of education policy, trends, and the communication needs of educators and administrators.
• Former journalist or school district communications professional (PIO experience a strong plus).

Education

Required

• Bachelors or better in Public Relations or related field

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.