Vice President, Strategic Communications

Vice President, Strategic Communications

Axim Collaborative is a nonprofit that transforms education to work pathways by facilitating collaboration and innovations to build an ecosystem of solutions to drive better outcomes for millions of learners. Axim uses catalytic funding to foster partnerships, convene leaders and scale innovations to strengthen pathways for learners. These pathways engage students in their course of study, enable them to persist through their programs and prepare them to excel in their careers. Axim Collaborative is a joint endeavor between Harvard and MIT that evolved from edX, the pioneering online learning platform that launched in 2012.

About The Role

Reporting to the CEO, the Vice President, Strategic Communications is a member of Axim Collaborative's Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for leading a communications strategy that drives sector-wide impact by elevating the compelling work of our partners. Axim is a unique convener in the education-to-work space, and this role will leverage that position to drive cross-sector change. This is not a product marketing role; this leader is charged with developing and executing strategies to align a diverse coalition of stakeholders (universities/community colleges, nonprofits, tech partners) toward a common goal and elevating Axim's position as a convener to drive systemic change. This involves crafting a powerful, cohesive narrative for Axim's work and building the communications capacity of our partners to drive better outcomes for millions of learners.

We are actively seeking a creative leader who can build a movement around the work of our partners, someone who operates with a high-level strategic rigor and is profoundly rooted in the language and principles of social change and collective action. The ideal candidate is driven by being in service to our partners and possesses a truly bigger vision for systemic impact and field-building. The successful candidate will be able to thrive in complexity, taking ambiguous, systems-level challenges and synthesizing them into clear, compelling narratives for the entire ecosystem.

This is a Cambridge-based role. Candidates must live within commuting distance and be willing to work out of the Cambridge office at least 2 days per week. This role will require approximately 20% travel. This role is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Requirements

Strategic Leadership

• Lead a unified field-building strategic communications strategy that aligns diverse stakeholders and amplifies our partners' collective work, connects systems-level themes across our portfolio, and enhances Axim's impact.
• Develop innovative and compelling strategies to elevate awareness, engagement, and understanding about Axim's mission and our partners' impact in the context of the broader ecosystem.
• Craft thought leadership strategies that reach our target audiences, further innovation, and create new partnership opportunities.
• Advise the CEO and board on communications, brand positioning, and audience engagement.
• Partner with colleagues to ensure cohesive messaging and visibility for Axim's partnership and programmatic activities.

Strategic Communications and Digital Engagement

• Drive the narrative around both Axim and our partners' work to help our partners improve education to career pathways. This includes synthesizing complex information and ambiguity into clear, actionable narratives for the entire ecosystem.
• Support partners in developing compelling, strategic communications about their work, using all channels creatively and innovatively.
• Ensure data and analytics are used to refine strategies and measure impact across digital and offline channels.
• Oversee digital presence and content strategy, including website, social media, email marketing, to support narrative building around systems change

Communications and Public Relations

• Develop opportunities for Axim's work to be featured through owned and earned media, cultivating relationships with specific media and press outlets.
• Lead and support the development of executive communications, speeches, op-eds, and thought leadership opportunities for organizational leaders.
• Work with team members and partners to craft compelling narratives and storytelling opportunities that highlight the impact of our partners and the impact on students.
• Partner with the VP, Open edX Partnerships and Ecosystem Growth to support and collaborate on related initiatives.

General Expectations for all Axim Staff

• Contribute to the advancement of Axim's mission by living our values. Keep our mission central by orienting on how our partners can realize better outcomes for students they serve.
• Foster collaboration within and across teams, be open to feedback, and seek input from others to solve problems and uncover opportunities.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in responding to changing circumstances and evolving priorities.
• Manage Axim staff and partners focused on marketing and communications, which currently includes the Communications Manager and external firms and vendors.
• Other duties as assigned.

Serve as a member of Axim's Senior Team

• Lead strategic planning, goal setting, and budgeting to ensure organizational alignment with Axim's mission and outcomes.
• Cultivate an inclusive, trust-based collective culture across departments and with partners, modeling the values of inclusive excellence.
• Effectively prepare for and guide the organization through periods of growth, change, and transition.

Qualifications:

• At least 15 years of professional experience, with demonstrated success in communications, media/PR, and systems-level thought leadership in the impact space, such as social enterprise, philanthropy, and education to workforce sectors. Must have a strong understanding of the nonprofit and/or social impact space.
• Proven success in developing systems-level strategies, innovative thought leadership, and marketing that builds awareness, influences sector change, and translates complex, systems-level issues into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience across communications disciplines, including digital, media relations, social media, PR, marketing, communications vendor management, and partnerships.
• Deep experience working with media and news outlets to shape a narrative and build visibility.
• Deep commitment to education and experience applying a service-oriented education equity lens in all strategies and work streams.
• Robust understanding of how education innovation can support students in broad access higher education settings.
• Exceptional writing, communication, and storytelling skills, with a keen eye for integrating compelling on-the-ground stories into the larger context of systemic change.
• Proven judgement to engage audiences and deliver excellent results on a consistent basis.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to connect with and influence external decision-makers with a diverse range of priorities.
• Experience operating in a dynamic, fast paced, entrepreneurial environment as a big-picture, strategic leader focused on collective action and partnership alignment.
• Exceptional project management, prioritization, and planning skills, with demonstrated success managing complex workstreams and producing high-quality deliverables on time and within budget.

Benefits Statement

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including comprehensive medical and dental insurance, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, a competitive 401(k) plan, and a generous employer match.

Axim Collaborative is committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcomed, valued, and supported. Axim is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Idora Sopin-Vilme at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Please Note: This role is not VISA sponsorship eligible.

Salary Description $230,000 - $260,000 per year