Communications Specialist

Overview

The National Academy of Education seeks a Communications Specialist to work with NAEd leadership in developing and implementing communications strategies that advance the Academy’s mission, increase the visibility and accessibility of its work, and strengthen engagement with key audiences. The Communications Specialist will play a central role in translating education research and ideas into clear, compelling, and accessible communications for researchers, policymakers, practitioners, partners, and the broader public.

Working collaboratively across the organization, the Communications Specialist will manage NAEd’s communications channels, support the dissemination of key initiatives, and identify new opportunities for impact. The position requires an excellent writer, a strategic and creative communicator, and a project manager who can move effectively between long-term communications priorities and day-to-day execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Working with staff, board leadership, and relevant committees, advance a communications strategy aligned with NAEd’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Maintain a consistent organizational voice and visual identity across NAEd communications and provide editorial review and quality control for external-facing materials.
• Translate key material from NAEd research reports into clear, accessible, and engaging content tailored to different audiences.
• Manage and maintain NAEd’s website, ensuring that content is current, accessible, engaging, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Coordinate with external vendors, consultants, designers, and other communications partners to design and enhance NAEd public facing material, such as the NAEd’s website, research reports, policy briefs, and multimedia communication channels.
• Support media relations and external communications, including drafting press releases, newsletters, organizational statements, and other digital communication materials.
• Expand NAEd’s social media presence to increase awareness of the Academy and engagement with its work.
• Identify opportunities and mechanisms to amplify the work of NAEd members and grantees.
• Track and analyze communications performance and audience engagement, using data to inform and improve communications strategies.
• Perform other communications-related responsibilities in support of the Academy’s mission and strategic priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with organization-wide communications strategies, preferably for a nonprofit, research/policy organization, university, membership organization, or association.
• Experience working in the education space, such as a K-12, higher education, education research, education policy, education-focused nonprofit, or another education-intensive environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of the education research and policy landscape, including the different audiences and institutions involved in producing, interpreting, and using education research.
• Ability to identify compelling stories and communications opportunities within complex research initiatives and organizational activities.
• Experience communicating complex ideas to broad audiences, such as policymakers, educators, researchers, practitioners, journalists, partner organizations, and/or the general public.
• Proficiency with using website content management systems, email marketing platforms, social media management tools, and digital analytics platforms.
• Experience working in media relations and supporting organizational responses to emerging issues.
• Ability to work with others effectively in a remote work environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically at least four times per year.

Candidates hired for the position may work remotely within the United States (U.S.). This could be a full-time position or three-quarter time position (30-40 hours/week, both with benefits), and the candidate must work core hours consistent with the Eastern Time zone.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position.

About the NAEd

The NAEd advances high-quality research to improve education policy and practice. Founded in 1965, the NAEd consists of U.S. members and international associates who are elected on the basis of scholarship related to education. The Academy undertakes research studies to address pressing educational issues and administers professional development fellowship programs to enhance the preparation of the next generation of education scholars.

Salary

The salary compensation for these positions is competitive and commensurate with experience with the range of $75,000 - $85,000 depending on education and experience.

To Apply

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and project sample (examples include a press release, op-ed, blog post, internal memo, etc.) as PDF documents. Additionally, applications will ONLY be considered if they specifically respond to the question below:

Please describe one communication strategy that you used for an education-related issue that you would like to highlight. (250 words or less)

Apply Here

Direct all questions to View email address on click.appcast.io.

The posting will remain open until the position is filled.