Senior VP of Communications and External Impact

This is a remote position.

Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) is the only national organization that supports every part of the child care system. In partnership with an on-the-ground network of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) organizations, we work in states and communities to advance high-quality, affordable child care—transforming a patchwork of resources into a system that works for everyone. Together, we make child care strong—and that makes everyone stronger. CCAoA is committed to recruiting and retaining a dynamic workforce to help build a child care system that serves all children and families. Join us in ensuring that every family has access to high-quality, affordable child care.

The Senior VP of Communications and External Impact Officer is a senior executive responsible for shaping and advancing Child Care Aware of America's national narrative, influence, and public positioning to drive systemic change in child care. The Senior VP of Communications and External Impact Officer leads with transparency, sound judgment, and a strong sense of accountability, building trust across the organization and modeling the kind of leadership that brings people together to do their best work. This position is 100% remote.

This role goes beyond communications execution, translating strategy, research, policy, and on-the-ground impact into compelling narratives that shift national understanding, drive action, and unlock new resources. The Senior VP of Communications and External Impact Officer works in close partnership with the CEO and other senior leaders to ensure a cohesive, high-impact external presence that accelerates both policy and funding outcomes. The Senior VP of Communications and External Impact Officer ensures that communication is embedded as a core strategic and operational function—informing how initiatives are designed, executed, and scaled for real-world impact.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE WORKING WITH US:

At Child Care Aware of America , we believe that a happy, healthy team is the foundation of our success. That's why we offer an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage : We provide top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance to keep you and your family healthy and thriving. Flexible Spending Account options for Health and Dependent Care, too!
  
• Generous Paid Time Off : Enjoy ample vacation days, sick days, paid holidays, school events leave, and personal leave to recharge and pursue your passions.
  
• Flexible Work Arrangements : Whether the position is remote or hybrid, we accommodate your needs to help you achieve a harmonious work-life balance.
  
• Retirement Plans : Plan for your future with our competitive 403b match program and retirement planning resources.
  
• Child Care Stipend : A monthly subsidy to help cover the cost of child care - including camps and before/after school care.
  
• Community : Our staff regularly plans engaging events to ensure that teams feel connected despite a virtual environment.
  
• Child Care Stipend : A monthly subsidy to help cover the cost of child care - including camps and before/after school care.
  
• Community : Our staff regularly plans engaging events to ensure that teams feel connected despite a virtual environment.
  

POSITION, DUTIES & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES :

Enterprise Narrative & Positioning

• Define and steward CCAoA's national narrative, ensuring clarity, consistency, and power across all audiences and platforms.
  
• Position CCAoA and its network as central to solving the nation's child care challenges—grounded in real-world impact across communities.
  
• Lead message architecture that connects families, workforce, economy, and system-building into a compelling, unified story.
  

Influence Strategy and External Presence

• Design and execute a comprehensive influence strategy spanning media, thought leadership, partnerships, and executive visibility.
  
• Elevate CCAoA's role with federal and state policymakers, business leaders, funders, and national media.
  
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape voice, visibility, and high-impact external engagement.
  

Strategic Integration with Programs & Operations

• Partner with program, policy, and research leadership from the outset to shape initiatives that are not only effective—but legible, compelling, and actionable to external audiences.
  
• Ensure communications strategy informs program design, rollout, and scaling—driving adoption, stakeholder alignment, and real-world uptake.
  
• Translate external audience insight (families, providers, policymakers, funders) into actionable feedback that strengthens programmatic strategy and execution.
  
• Embed communications into key operational moments (launches, pilots, policy windows, funding cycles) to maximize impact and traction.
  

Thought Leadership & Field Translation

• Translate research, policy, and field insights into clear, persuasive public-facing content that drives understanding and action.
  
• Partner with senior leaders to amplify emerging ideas, solutions, and national frameworks.
  
• Shape how solutions are defined and framed internally to ensure they can gain traction externally and drive behavior change.
  
• Ensure CCAoA is not just part of the conversation—but helping define it.
  

Brand, Reputation & Strategic Communications

• Oversee brand strategy and reputation management, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and growth ambitions.
  
• Lead proactive and reactive communications, including crisis communications and rapid-response positioning.
  
• Ensure all communications reinforce CCAoA's credibility as a trusted, data-driven, solutions-oriented leader.
  

Network & Field Engagement

• Strengthen communications across the national on-the-ground network—aligning national messaging while elevating local impact.
  
• Ensure the network is both represented in and amplified through national communications.
  
• Build shared tools, frameworks, and messaging that increase consistency and collective impact.
  

Convenings, Visibility & Strategic Platforms

• Shape the organization's national convenings and public platforms as strategic vehicles for influence and positioning.
  
• Ensure events, reports, and campaigns are designed not just for participation—but for impact and visibility.
  

Executive Leadership & Cross-Organizational Alignment

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive team on reputation, messaging, and external dynamics—bringing sound judgment, candor, and a steady hand in moments of both opportunity and risk.
  
• Build trust and alignment across the executive team by engaging early, communicating openly, and navigating complexity with clarity and respect for diverse perspectives.
  
• Co-develop policy, programmatic, and revenue strategies to ensure they are externally resonant, scalable, and positioned for uptake—integrating communications as a core driver of design, execution, and impact.
  
• Partner with Development to support fund development, brand positioning, and donor engagement.
  
• Lead across boundaries—effectively influencing up, down, and across the organization to ensure shared ownership of strategy and consistent execution.
  

Team Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Build and lead a high-performing communications function grounded in trust, accountability, and shared purpose.
  
• Develop and support leaders and team members—creating clarity of roles, investing in growth, and ensuring individuals and teams are set up to succeed.
  
• Foster a culture that values transparency, open communication, and mutual respect—where challenges are surfaced early and addressed constructively.
  
• Set clear priorities, performance expectations, and success metrics tied to organizational impact.
  
• Establish systems and workflows that integrate communications into program planning, implementation, and evaluation cycles, not just dissemination.
  
• Bring strong operational discipline to the function, ensuring work is well-coordinated, resources are aligned to priorities, and commitments are delivered with consistency and quality.
  

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, communications, political science, or a related field is preferred.
  
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in communications, public affairs, or related fields, including significant executive-level responsibility.
  
• Demonstrated success shaping national narratives, influencing public discourse, and elevating organizational visibility.
  
• Experience working at the intersection of policy, research, advocacy, and public engagement.
  
• Proven ability to partner with executive leadership and operate as a trusted strategic advisor.
  
• Track record of building and leading high-performing teams and managing complex, cross-functional initiatives.
  
• Demonstrated ability to lead with emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and integrity—especially in complex, high-visibility environments.
  
• Experience building trust and credibility across senior leadership, teams, and external stakeholders.
  
• Proven ability to navigate and lead through organizational change, balancing strategic ambition with operational realities.
  
• Track record of developing talent and building cohesive, accountable teams.
  

Leadership Profile

• Enterprise thinker — sees communications as a lever for mission, policy, and revenue—not a standalone function.
  
• Strategic and externally oriented — deeply attuned to the national landscape and how to position the organization within it.
  
• Influence-driven— focused on shaping decisions, narratives, and outcomes at the highest levels.
  
• Connector —able to unify diverse stakeholders and synthesize information, ideas, and trends into shared understanding and actionable insight.
  
• Grounded and trusted leader — builds credibility through transparency, consistency, and follow-through; creates an environment where people feel respected, informed, and able to do their best work.
  
• People-centered operator — invests in team development, leads with emotional intelligence, and balances high expectations with strong support.
  
• Decisive and disciplined — sets clear priorities and ensures execution matches ambition.
  

The salary range reflected in this job posting is the hiring range for this position within the Washington DC Metropolitan area. Please note that a geographic differential will be applied to the salary for candidates hired from regions with a lower cost of living. This adjustment ensures competitive and equitable compensation based on location.

Child Care Aware of America works in partnership with Talentuition & Infiniti HR throughout the hiring process. Candidates may receive outreach from representatives at Talentuition on behalf of Child Care Aware of America concerning interview scheduling, resume inquiries, and any further information necessary to begin the interview process.