Director of External Affairs

Job Description

How to Apply

Submit a resume, a brief cover letter, and at least two work samples to View email address on ziprecruiter.com. Work samples can be anything that demonstrates your range: a campaign you ran, a podcast you produced, an op-ed you wrote, a social campaign you led, or a piece of accountability content you're proud of. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About Tennesseans for Student Success

Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) champions effective education policies that give every Tennessee child access to a quality public education. We combine data, political impact, and the collective power of parents, advocates, and policymakers to make Tennessee the gold standard in public education and to hold leaders accountable for student outcomes.

Building power. Leveraging influence. Changing student lives.

TSS is hiring a Director of External Affairs to own the organization's voice across every channel, earned media, owned media, social, podcast, and our flagship digital outlet. This is not a traditional communications role, and it is not a newsroom role.

We are looking for a strategist and operator who sees communications as an advocacy function that drive public opinion and outcomes: someone who can build narratives that move Tennesseans, legislators, and the policy influencers; produce content that performs across formats; and lead a small team toward measurable advocacy outcomes. The right person thinks like a marketer, writes like a journalist, moves like a campaign comms director, and treats the flagship digital outlet as a powerful platform to advance TSS's policy and political priorities, not as a traditional newsroom operating in a vacuum.

This role reports to executive leadership and manages the communications function, including editorial operations, contractors, and vendors.

What You'll Own

Strategic Direction for a Digital News Outlet

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• Serve as Managing Editor, setting the editorial vision, content calendar, and growth strategy in alignment with TSS's policy and political objectives.
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• Build the outlet into a multi-format platform: articles, podcast, video, social-first content, newsletters, that drives audience growth and shapes the education narrative in Tennessee.
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• Define and track performance metrics: audience growth, engagement, share of voice, narrative penetration, and influence on key audiences (parents, legislators, opinion leaders).
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• Make sharp editorial calls: on story selection, framing, headlines, distribution, and rapid response, that maximize the platform's strategic value.
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Integrated Communications & Brand

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• Lead TSS's full communications strategy and daily operations across earned, owned, and paid channels.
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• Develop and enforce organizational messaging, ensuring consistency across TSS, digital news outlet, and affiliated entities.
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• Draft, edit, and approve press releases, op-eds, talking points, newsletters, and public statements.
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• Oversee brand identity, voice, and visual consistency across every public-facing asset.
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Digital, Social & Multimedia

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• Direct the social media strategy across all platforms, with a marketer's eye for reach, engagement, and conversion, not just posting.
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• Oversee podcast development, production cadence, guest strategy, and distribution.
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• Manage email marketing and audience-building programs to grow and activate TSS supporter lists.
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• Use analytics to continuously iterate on what's working, and kill what isn't.
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Earned Media & Public Relations

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• Serve as the organization's primary media contact and build relationships with reporters, editors, and producers statewide and nationally.
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• Pitch stories, place op-eds, coordinate interviews, and prepare leadership for media engagements.
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• Monitor media coverage and respond quickly and effectively, including in contested or politically charged moments.
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Political & Electoral Communications

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• Partner with the political and policy teams to develop sharp, accurate, and well-sourced content during legislative sessions, election cycles, and accountability campaigns.
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• Lead rapid-response messaging when TSS's priorities, allies, or interests are under attack, or when opportunities to advance them emerge.
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• Translate complex policy and political dynamics into clear, persuasive content built for the audience and channel.
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Team & Operations

•      Manage communications staff, the editorial team, freelance contributors, and external vendors.

•      Set goals, workflows, and performance expectations; develop talent and elevate the team's work.

•      Manage budgets, vendor relationships, and project timelines.

•      Support crisis communications planning and response.

Who You Are

We are intentionally looking outside the traditional journalism mold. Strong candidates will bring:

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• 5+ years in communications, marketing, political/campaign communications, advocacy, or a hybrid of these, with measurable results.
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• A modern, audience-first mindset: you understand how content actually travels in 2026, across social, podcast, video, and email, not just press releases.
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• Marketing instincts. You think in terms of audience, message, channel, and conversion, and you know how to measure what's working.
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• Editorial chops. You can write fast and cleanly, edit other people's work to a high standard, and confidently call on framing, headlines, and story selection.
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• Political and advocacy fluency. You're comfortable operating in a mission-driven, electorally active environment and understand how communications drives policy and political outcomes.
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• Multi-format range: comfortable shaping a podcast episode, a Reels script, a long-form op-ed, and a rapid-response thread, or directing others to.
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• Strategic thinking paired with a builder's mentality. You can write a 12-month strategic plan and also ship a campaign by Friday.
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• Leadership experience: you've managed people, contractors, or cross-functional projects and can give clear, direct feedback.
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• Discretion, judgment, and a thick skin. This is a public-facing role in a politically active organization.
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Nice to Have

•      Experience with a political campaign, 501(c)(4), PAC, or advocacy organization.

•      Experience launching or scaling a podcast, newsletter, or digital media property.

•      Crisis communications experience.

•      Graphic design, video production, or content creation skills.

•      Familiarity with media monitoring tools, CRM/email platforms, and social analytics.

•      Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Political Science, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience considered.

Logistics

•      Full-time, salaried.

•      Based in Franklin, TN. In-office three days per week.

•      Approximately 25% travel within Tennessee.

•      Some evening and weekend work for events, breaking news, and political moments.

•      Must have a valid driver's license and access to a personal vehicle for work travel.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus a strong benefits package:

•      Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance

•      Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options

•      Immediate eligibility for 401(k) with employer match

•      Paid parental leave (maternity, paternity, adoption)

•      Flexible PTO and paid federal and organizational holidays

•      On-site gym