Communications Lead, Education Programs

BACKGROUND 

Bloomberg Philanthropies works to create catalytic change across five areas of focus: arts and culture, education, the environment, government innovation, and public health. Our mission is to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. Our approach is rooted in Mike Bloomberg's unique experience and success across the field of business, government, and philanthropy. 

Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Education program works to ensure that all students have the skills and opportunities to succeed in the 21st century. By putting students’ needs first and broadening educational opportunities for youth, Bloomberg Philanthropies focuses on giving more students a chance to fulfill their potential. Our core education initiatives are: Advancing K-12 Education, Expanding College Access and Success, Supporting Career and Technical Education, and Supporting Educational Institutions. 

To learn more, visit https://www.bloomberg.org/education/  

THE POSITION 

Bloomberg Philanthropies is seeking a Communications Lead for its Education Program to develop and drive the strategic communications activities for its K-12, College Access and Success, and Career and Technical Education portfolios. This includes creating and implementing strategies that communicate our core messages, announcements, and achievements to a broad audience, as well as targeted influencer and stakeholder audiences that help us achieve and expand our goals across the program. 

The Communications Lead will manage a coordinated strategy that: 

1. Elevates Bloomberg Philanthropies’ education work and impact; 
2. Works with close partners to help build strong narratives and elevate key voices around our initiative priorities; and 
3. Enables us to reach and engage target audiences in new and ever more effective ways. 

The Education Communications Lead will ensure strong communications alignment within partner organizations; coordinate with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ communications team; and manage the relationship and activities of external public relations agencies. 

Our ideal candidate is a strategic and creative thinker who can sketch big-picture goals, identify the tactics beneath the goals, and personally execute the tactics.  You are a self-starter, proactive, have strong planning and organizational skills, and enjoy being a hard-working member of a collaborative team. You are an excellent writer who can draft, edit, and churn out high-quality content with little oversight. You need to be detail-oriented, with outstanding time management skills and excellent relationships with the media. You also possess a confirmed track record in building and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders. You are flexible, with an ability to pivot easily and work under pressure.

This role will be based full-time in New York City and sits on the Bloomberg Philanthropies Communications team. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Supervise the development and execution of an integrated communications program that elevates and accelerates the impact of the Bloomberg Education programs 
• Oversee all announcements for the portfolio and its programs, ensuring strong collaboration from partners and contract agencies and coordination within Bloomberg Philanthropies 
• Building and maintaining trusted relationships with program partners and future/potential partners 
• Create a robust and consistent media relations and social engagement plan to tell the story of our Education initiative overall, and the specific portfolios; Manage external PR firm to assist in this work 
• Promote the development and elevation of surrogates who can bring key voices and new visibility to the portfolio and its initiatives 
• Ensure program officers and partner organizations are contributing to these efforts by elevating stories and opportunities for impact 
• Tracking, capturing, quantifying, and presenting media coverage and other successes of the Education Program to share with internal stakeholders; Developing tactics to share metrics and research 

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate: 

• At least 6 years of experience designing and executing sophisticated national media plans and creative communications strategies, ideally within a government, advocacy organization or philanthropic organization 
• Knowledge and/or interest in education policy, reform and impact is preferred 
• Deep fluency in traditional and digital media and social media tools and tactics 
• Strong existing relationships with top-tier U.S. reporters, editors, and producers  
• Excellent written and verbal skills 
• Experience working and thriving in high-pressure, quick-turn professional environments  
• Discretion and confidentiality, excellent judgment 

Bloomberg Philanthropies is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and accomplishment.