Director of Communications and Media Relations

Director of Communications and Media Relations

Job Title:

Director of Communications and Media Relations

Department/Program:

Government Affairs

The Opportunity

Entering 2025, Head Start sits in a tenuous position. On one hand, uncertainty is abundant. Children and families from at-risk backgrounds continue to experience trauma at unprecedented levels. Local Head Start programs are struggling to hire and retain qualified staff in every corner of the country. And threatening policy proposals have been floated, including Project 2025 which calls for the elimination of the program.

Yet, all of the makings of a successful renewal are firmly in place - clear evidence of Head Start’s success and transformative impact (bolstered by both data and real-life stories), a vast network of engaged and united providers serving 800,000 children and families in every Congressional district across the country, the momentum of our upcoming 60th anniversary in 2025, and yes, strong bipartisan support in Congress. These factors create an unparalleled opportunity to amplify Head Start’s mission and secure its future.    

What we’re looking for is a clear and captivating approach to enhance our existing communications strategy into a compelling and cohesive narrative. And that’s where you come in. 

As NHSA's Director of Communications and Media Relations, you will have the opportunity to shape and drive this strategy as well as its accompanying narrative. You will be responsible for communicating the impact of Head Start to a wide audience, with a key focus on policymakers, by amplifying the voices of our network of staff, parents, alumni, and advocates.

This newly created position is designed to be part of NHSA’s Government Affairs team, though our organization’s fluid, human-centered structure will require extensive cross-team collaboration. As such, the ideal candidate is open-minded, inquisitive, and has an obvious appreciation of Head Start and its mission. Beyond that, our ideal candidate is an experienced communications professional who brings in-depth knowledge of political communications strategy, including media relations, grassroots community-based messaging and narrative creation. 

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MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Communications Strategy: 

Create and lead a comprehensive narrative and messaging strategy that exponentially grows Head Start’s support across the country, and especially with policymakers. This includes:

• Creating a messaging guide for NHSA and the Head Start community.
• Drafting talking points for use with Capitol Hill, the Administration, state policymakers, and other key influencers.
• Crafting compelling, audience-tailored messaging and communication materials to engage policymakers, stakeholders, and the public in support of Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start programs.
• Developing content and messaging for newsletters, speeches, marketing collateral, field communication, X/Twitter campaigns, and presentations at NHSA events, conferences, and trainings.
• Collaborating with NHSA’s marketing team to ensure NHSA’s messaging is consistent across all audiences.

Media Relations:

Build and maintain relationships with national and local media outlets to ensure accurate and compelling coverage of early childhood education issues, as well as relationships with communications directors on Capitol Hill, external peer organizations, and the Head Start community. 

• Develop and implement proactive targeted media strategies, campaigns, and pitches for influential outlets.
• Respond promptly to media inquiries by coordinating recommended responses, talking points, and strategic deployment of NHSA and Head Start community voices.
• Collaborate with NHSA senior leaders to write and pitch Op-Eds, letters to the editor, and other editorial content.

Other Duties:

• Perform other relevant duties as assigned. (If you’re prone to saying, ‘that’s not in my job description,’ then you’re not likely to succeed at NHSA.) 

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Experience:

• Minimum of six years of relevant work experience in press, communications strategies, and campaign management, especially with a political or issue-specific focus.

Skills:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage multiple strategies, meet deadlines, and lead cross-departmental teams.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills for synthesizing information, strategy development, and identifying themes and relationships.

Personal Attributes:

• Passion for NHSA’s mission of ensuring every eligible child has the opportunity to succeed.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with ease in working with both large and small groups.
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement across all facets of work.
• High tolerance for ambiguity, coupled with sound judgment, flexibility, and problem-solving skills.
• High energy and a sense of humor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on Capitol Hill and/or in the Federal Executive Branch
• Washington, DC-based (While NHSA is a remote organization, this role may require significant time in Washington, DC. Candidates outside the area should be prepared to discuss a working plan with NHSA).
• Proficiency in Spanish, with cultural competence, is a plus.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary is commensurate with experience. If you're experienced and think you can do the job well, please apply. If you’re more junior and think you can do the job well, please apply.

Our goal is to support employees’ health and well-being to the maximum extent possible. Our comprehensive benefits package includes the following benefits, in addition to others:

• Paid time off: generous vacation days, holidays, personal, and sick days, as well as parental leave, including all federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and the week between Christmas and New Year’s
• Healthcare: health (all employee premiums covered by NHSA), dental, vision, and life insurance plans
• Retirement: Contributions to 401K plan and matching contributions to individual retirement savings

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit the following materials to jobs@nhsa.org with “Director of Communications” in the subject line:

• A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the role.
• Your résumé.
• An example of a press pitch and media strategy you have overseen (this may be a link, written document, video, etc.).

ABOUT US/MISSION AND VISION

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is a nonprofit organization committed to the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in life. NHSA is the voice for 800,000 children, 200,000 staff, and 1,600 Head Start grant recipients in the United States. Since 1974, NHSA has worked diligently for policy changes that ensure all eligible children have access to Head Start’s 360 degree model of support for the whole child, the family, and the community.  

NHSA's vision is to lead - to be the untiring voice that will not be quiet until every vulnerable child is served with the Head Start model of support for the whole child, the family, and the community - and to advocate - to work diligently for policy and institutional changes that ensure all eligible children and families have what they need to succeed. NHSA's mission is to coalesce, inspire, and support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood development and education.