Senior Director, Communications

KIPP Foundation

Senior Director of Communications at KIPP Foundation leading communications strategy and execution across internal and external audiences. Overseeing media relations, executive communications, and internal messaging.

Posted 6/18/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $156,000 - $188,500 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

The Senior Director of Communications leads the strategy and execution of KIPP Foundation’s communications across internal and external audiences.
This role oversees earned media, executive communications, issues management, and internal communications—ensuring clarity, consistency, and impact in how KIPP shows up nationwide.
The Senior Director partners closely with the Office of the CEO, senior leadership, and regional teams to align messaging, elevate strategic priorities, and strengthen KIPP’s brand and reputation.
This role manages one direct report and serves as a core member of the Marketing and Communications team, reporting to the VP of Marketing and Communications.
Design, lead, and execute a national earned media strategy that aligns with KIPP’s annual storytelling arc and organizational priorities —delivering high-profile national and local TV, print, and digital placements.
Provide strategic counsel to senior leadership (in Office of the CEO, Development, and One KIPP Priority Program Leads) to shape executive communications and secure high-impact speaking engagements and media placements.
Strengthen regional alignment by cultivating deep partnerships with regional communications leads and coordinating network-wide efforts to elevate local stories and reinforce national messages.
Oversee sourcing, refine, and elevate regional stories that demonstrate progress on One KIPP priorities for use in campaigns, announcements, speeches, newsletters, and social media.
Develop external communications plans to announce new KIPP Foundation initiatives and partnerships, including publishing press releases and regional press release templates.
Partner with Digital Marketing colleagues to amplify earned media, executive, and editorial content across channels, including paid media, social media, website, and email.
Serve as an on-the-record spokesperson for the KIPP network.
Monitor and shape KIPP’s media reputation, analyzing coverage trends, identifying risks and opportunities, and advising leadership and regional teams accordingly.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum of 8-10 years of relevant experience in marketing and communications, ideally leading Media Relations in a large-scale public service organization (e.g. a national or regional networked organization).
Access to productive media contacts at national, regional, trade and Black and Latino media outlets that can drive an organization’s evolving reputational strategy.
Experience working as a reporter or journalist a plus.
Demonstrated experience supporting C-Suite level leaders with timely decision making on communications.
Demonstrated experience collaborating with stakeholders in a demanding environment, using a combination of analysis and inner-personal skills to drive both proactive and reactive communications initiatives and campaigns.
Bachelors or equivalent experience required, Masters or equivalent experience desirable.

Benefits

Comp & perks

25 holidays for + 18 days additional flexible PTO days (flexible PTO increases to 23 days for years 3 and 4 and to 28 days for years 5+).
100% paid parental leave
100% coverage of the premium for employee and 75% for employee + family’s medical/dental/vision plans.
Wellness benefits such as fitness reimbursements, discounted tickets to theme parks/attractions, backup care support for children and adults/elders, and our employee assistance program.
Finance Security benefits including a 401K retirement plan with 4% match, employer-sponsored legal plans, life/disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

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Hard Skills & Tools

earned media strategyexecutive communicationsissues managementmedia relationscommunications planspress releasesstorytellingcampaign managementdigital marketingstakeholder collaboration

Soft Skills

strategic counselleadershipcommunicationpartnership cultivationanalysisinterpersonal skillsdecision makingteam collaborationadaptabilityproblem solving