Senior Vice President, Communications

Number of Positions: 1Work Location: Hybrid On-Site/Remote

Position Overview
City Years is at an inflection point. As we scale our Student Success Coach model and build stronger pathways for young adults into leadership and career, we need communications that match the ambition of the work: sharp storytelling, disciplined positioning, and a media presence that earns credibility with the investors, funders, and partners who will help us achieve our vision. The SVP, Communications role is a builder's role. The SVP, Communications will architect City Years' message platform, drive proactive media placement in national and education press, and turn impact data and field stories into content that moves donors and policymakers to act. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, you'll work closely with the CDO, CEO, and senior leaders across the organization to ensure the investor-facing narrative and public narrative move as one. This role is based in Boston and requires on-site work three days per week.

Job Description
This role will lead City Years' advancement and development communications strategy, including related marketing and brand work, national and education media relations, crisis communications, and the core message platform that connects City Years' impact to funder, policymaker, and public audiences. The SVP will also co-own executive communications and thought leadership in close partnership with the CEO, CDO, and other senior leaders. In addition, the SVP will work closely with Digital Marketing leadership and team members to support consistent communication across channels, while collaborating with partners who lead regional press, program and field communications, cityyear.org, brand social channels, broad organizational emails, public affairs, advocacy, and internal communications.

Investor & Funder Narrative

Lead City Years' advancement and development communications strategy, including the message platform, marketing, brand, and storytelling that support fundraising priorities and strengthen the case for investment

Translate impact data, research, and field stories into a compelling case for investment

Arm the CEO, CDO, and development team with talking points, briefings, and content for high-stakes donor conversations

Ensure advancement touchpoints, including annual reports, proposals, campaign materials, and relevant website content, reinforce the impact and importance of partnering with and investing in City Years' work

National Media Relations & Thought Leadership

Build and run a proactive media strategy targeting national and education press, in partnership with regional teams on local and site-specific media opportunities

Co-lead op-eds, interviews, speaking placements, executive communications, and thought leadership for the CEO and senior leaders in partnership with the CEO, CDO, and relevant senior team members

Cultivate direct relationships with the reporters and editors who shape the field's narrative

Advancement Content & Storytelling

Lead planning and production of flagship advancement content, including annual reports, thought leadership, campaign collateral, and development-centered digital communications, in partnership with digital marketing and the teams that manage cityyear.org, brand social channels, and broader organizational emails

Translate AmeriCorps member, student, and alumni stories into development-centered content that meets goals across channels, in collaboration with program, field, and site communications partners

Keep content aligned to funding priorities and major moments in a focused calendar

Message Platform & Team

Own City Years' core narrative and partner with internal communications leaders to keep priority messages consistent from the national office to sites

Lead crisis communications and protect the organization's reputation

Build and manage a high-performing communications and creative team

What You Bring

10+ years in communications, with deep experience in media relations

A track record landing coverage in national or education-focused outlets

Experience translating complex, data-heavy priorities into narratives that move funders

Team leadership experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Compensation
$175,000-$180,000 annually, commensurate with experience and location

Benefits
City Year offers a comprehensive benefits package that helps our employees live their best lives and grow personally and professionally.

Employment at City Year is at-will.

City Year does not sponsor work authorization visas.

As an equal opportunity employer, City Year is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Fair Labor Standards Act

Family and Medical Leave Act

Submit your application by 10/16/2026.

Benefits

Full-time employees will be eligible for all benefits including vacation, sick days and organization holidays.

You may participate in all benefit programs that City Year establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs.

Currently, City Year offers medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and other benefits including 401(k) plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 401(k) plan document.

For more information, click here.

Employment at City Year is at-will.

City Year does not sponsor work authorization visas.

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