Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. We dream big, as well, with an aggressive five-year plan to expand to serve 3,500 students across seven schools—growing our organization’s impact and leveling the playing field for all children. To learn more, visit wearedream.org.
Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, the Managing Director of Communication and Brand will be responsible for stewarding DREAM’s brand both within the organization and to external stakeholders in order to advance DREAM’s mission to level the playing field for all children to recognize their potential and realize their dreams. Through a strong understanding of our critical work, key issues, and objectives across the organization, the Managing Director of Communication and Brand will support and amplify organizational strategy and work collaboratively across teams at an exciting time of organizational growth.
Strong candidates will demonstrate a commitment to the mission, culture, and values of DREAM, bringing substantial expertise in all areas of responsibility. Candidates must also value DREAM’s comprehensive approach to education and desire to make a lasting impact in underserved communities as part of a growing organization.
Responsibilities
- Communications and Brand Leadership
- In collaboration with DREAM leaders, define and lead the planning, development, and execution of DREAM’s overall brand vision and communications strategy to expand our community and audiences, enhance our reputation and brand, and diversify and grow our sources of support;
- Communicate and consistently reinforce DREAM’s core values (maxims), value proposition, mission, and vision, among our staff, families, and external stakeholders;
- Lead and develop a Communications and Brand team that executes DREAM’s communication strategy in support of achieving organizational priorities and high priority initiatives;
- Lead with a data-driven approach to ensure attainment of annual goals and objectives for Communications-led initiatives;
- Develop and lead DREAM’s internal communications infrastructure, creating content, managing platforms, and supporting events and experiences that allow us to share leadership’s vision while fostering information-sharing, connection, engagement, and a collective identity among our internal community members;
- Drive audience engagement through original content storytelling across digital, video, social, and traditional media;
- Oversee DREAM’s public relations efforts, including managing external PR agencies, publicizing DREAM events and noteworthy news, optimizing our institutional positioning for awards, researching media outlets, and maintaining the press database;
- Oversee the preparation of organizational-wide communications materials, including messaging and talking points, Annual Reports, press releases, op-eds, blog posts, program brochures, and recruitment materials;
- Manage external relationships, including those with creative agencies, independent contractors, and software developers.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with key organizational leaders to execute strategy for donor communications, brand management, internal communications, family communications, crisis and change communications, and staff and student recruitment marketing;
- Implement a communications strategy to complement DREAM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work;
- Be a lead ambassador for the brand throughout DREAM, ensuring the organization maintains brand alignment in campaigns, partnerships, and events. Create processes and guidelines that ensure consistency of tone, voice, and style across all institutional platforms;
- Identify and capitalize on thought leadership opportunities to amplify the voices of our leaders and increase mindshare of DREAM in the Education, Social Emotional Development (SEL), Youth Development, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and nonprofit management spaces;
- In partnership with executive office, develop and execute DREAM’s crisis communications process and protocols;
- Collaborate with student recruitment team to develop student recruitment marketing collateral to support recruitment campaigns across traditional and digital channels;
- Collaborate closely with the Advancement team to create and execute integrated communication strategies that support fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives;
- Oversee communications, branding, and creative for signature donor events in close collaboration with the Advancement team, including the DREAM Gala, celebrity poker tournament, DREAM Up cocktail event, etc;
- Support the development of tools for a major gifts program: case for support, major gifts proposal, stewardship reports, funding and volunteer opportunity one pagers, etc;
- Other responsibilities, as directed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred;
- Extensive non-profit, education, and/or corporate communications experience, required;
- Minimum of 3 years of senior leadership experience in building and managing both internal and external communications functions and teams, required;
- Results-driven, self-motivated, and flexible team player with strong leadership and collaboration skills, with a demonstrated ability to build consensus across multiple stakeholder groups;
- Solutions orientation and customer-service mindset a must; able to both lead and execute;
- Deep understanding and appreciation for excellence, accuracy, and aesthetic details including outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail;
- Demonstrated ability to successfully prioritize and manage complex projects from start to finish;
- Strong strategic planning skills with the ability to identify ambitious and achievable outcomes, plan for and execute a strategy to achieve them, and monitor and measure success;
- Superior listening, writing, editing, speaking and presentation skills, with the keen ability to translate messaging to ensure strategic impact to various audiences;
- Sensitivity, empathy, and understanding for a diverse group of people across all levels and departments of an organization;
- Ability to lead and execute through crises, maintain confidentiality, meet tight deadlines, and navigate complex situations effectively;
- Technical expertise in marketing, design and collaborative platforms such as Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, Wordpress, Adobe Creative Suite, and Google Suite preferred.
Benefits and Paid Time Off
- We offer comprehensive benefits including:
- Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
- The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
- Dental and vision plans;
- Disability benefits;
- Life insurance;
- Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
- Flexible spending account options;
- Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
- Fitness and entertainment discounts;
- A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
- A 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 4% after one year of employment
- Referral bonuses;
- All full-time Network Support Team employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays.
- Benefits are subject to change.
Compensation
- DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $160,000 to $175,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.
At DREAM, diversity, equity, and inclusion are a matter of mission.
From our schools to our playing fields, DREAM is committed to building a team where each individual can bring their full identity and experience to work because representation matters—it enriches our team culture, enhances our ability to innovate, and strengthens our impact in and out of the classroom. DREAM engages staff that represent and appreciate the diversity of our majority Black and Hispanic student body, while working to ensure that our practices are equitable, welcoming, and productive. We are dedicated to creating a world where youth, especially youth of color, have permission to dream—along with the tools and opportunities to make their dreams reality.
All Kids Can. This Kid Can.
DREAM is Family.
Fun is a Serious Value.
Teamwork Makes the DREAM Work.
Fail. Persist. Exceed.
DREAM Big.
Applying to DREAM
We know applying for a new job can be a daunting process. In addition, studies have shown that historically underrepresented individuals often only apply to roles if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage all applications! You may be just the person we need. If you have any questions about your application or interview process, do not hesitate to ask your recruiter; we are here to help!
DREAM provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. If accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact your recruiter.
