Strategic Communications and Marketing Role

Education First is seeking a Strategic Communications and Marketing professional to lead and elevate Education First’s external voice, thought leadership and strategic communications to deepen client relationships and expand our presence in the field. We are open to candidates at the Senior Manager or Director-level. This role will play a critical role in supporting visibility, positioning and relationship-building in ways that contribute to the firm’s growth and field impact. Reporting to our Founding Partner and working in close partnership with our leadership team, the Strategic Communications and Marketing role will shape how Education First contributes to and influences the national P-16 education landscape. This team member will strengthen the firm’s external presence through thoughtful content strategy and strong storytelling across multiple platforms while ensuring our external communications reflect the firm’s values, expertise and commitment to equity. 

This role blends strategic vision with hands-on execution, shaping publication strategy, co-developing narrative direction with our Founding Partner, and producing or overseeing high-quality content that advances our mission and resonates across the field. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in strategic communications with education leaders and national funders, exceptional writing and editorial judgement, a strong grasp of the trends and dynamics in the field and the ability to collaborate effectively with senior leaders.  

What You’ll Do 

Grow the firm’s thought leadership footprint  

• Co-develop, with the Founding Partner, Ed First’s strategic communications vision to guide all publications and thought leadership content that significantly increase engagement with Ed First’s key audiences, including current and prospective clients 

• Translate insights from the field into actionable content and strategic recommendations for internal and external audiences  

• Lead the creation, sequencing and implementation of a publications and content strategy that aligns with the firm’s Blueprint, emerging opportunities and business priorities 

• Identify and elevate strategic content opportunities across social channels, newsletters website, Linkedin, webinars, op-eds, podcasts and conference presentations 

• Ensure content is compelling, clear and “so-what” driven and consistent with providing editorial feedback and coaching to staff to enhance quality and impact  

• Mobilize staff to contribute as thoughts leaders in their functional areas, empowering them to produce high-quality content through coaching and mentoring  

Drive strategic marketing and communications leadership 

• Build and manage streamlined workflows and content calendars to ensure transparency, efficiency and strategic pacing across initiatives 

• Strengthen Education First’s external voice and influence by aligning communications strategy with field trends, funder priorities, business development goals and the firm’s strategic plan 

• Advise senior leaders and sellers on messaging, narrative framing and positioning and communications to deepen client relationships and elevate the firm’s presence in the P-20 education landscape 

• Lead digital strategy and manage the firm’s presence across social media and other platforms 

• Oversee external communications vendors and creative partners to ensure alignment with strategic objectives and brand consistency 

Create and manage the publication and content strategy  

• Co-lead the design and execution of integrated campaigns that amplify Ed First’s work and thought leadership  

• Ensure brand voice, messaging and visual identity are consistent across content, campaigns and platforms 

• Implement metrics and analytics to measure impact, optimize campaigns and inform future strategy 

Requirements

• You have extensive experience in strategic communications, preferably in education, philanthropy and mission-driven sectors with evidence of leveraging communications strategies to support organizational goals, including client engagement and market positioning  

• You have a deep understanding of P-20 policy, trends, key players and political dynamics  

• You have exceptional writing and editorial skills with the ability to craft compelling content in multiple formats  

• You have a proven track record translating complex insights into actionable strategies and recommendations 

• You have strong digital literacy and experience leveraging analytics to inform communications strategy 

• You have experience managing vendors, creative teams and cross-functional initiatives 

• You are skilled at navigating ambiguity, solving problems proactively and making strategic decisions in fast-paced environments 

• You have high-integrity, sound judgement and passion for advancing social impact through communications  

Benefits

• 100% remote, U.S. based team 

• Firmwide in-person engagements a few times a year 

• Telework subsidy 

• Professional development stipend 

• Foundational Bonding and Maternity Leave 

• 20 PTO days, 11 holidays and two firmwide shutdown weeks 

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance  

• 401(k) match 

Compensation 

The salary range for the Senior Manager role is $104,000 - $117,000, and the salary range for the Director role is $118,000 - $134,000. Employees living in the following locations are eligible for a location-based supplement: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, DC, Denver, Hoboken NJ, Houston, Los Angeles, Madison, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle. 

About Education First 

Education First is a mission-driven education policy consultancy dedicated to ensuring that all students – and particularly students in poverty and students of color – are prepared for success in college, careers and life. We work with organizations that are shaping the future of P16 education across the nation, including school networks and districts, state departments of education, policy and advocacy organizations, youth empowerment organizations, talent organizations and foundations.  

We help these system leaders catalyze change through our services: 

• Conduct research and analysis on policies and provide contextual recommendations and strategic support to translate findings into concrete, sustainable action 

• Develop and implement visionary, coherent strategies and strategic plans by prioritizing inclusive voices, focusing on the right problems, and providing space to explore 

• Plan and facilitate meaningful convenings for organizations and individuals to learn, problem solve, collaborate, and advance their work 

• Design actionable and equitable solutions that meet client needs, achieve program goals, and implement initiatives with clarity and quality 

• Support grantmakers, funders, and foundations to develop thoughtful, high-impact investment strategies that align with their goals, interests, and resources 

We are a team of former teachers, district and state education leaders, policy advisors, and grant makers who live and work virtually in more than 20 states and DC. Because of our experience, we approach the challenges our clients face with humility, realistic solutions, and a commitment to follow-through. Our culture is built on genuine care for our clients and for each other. We celebrate original thinking, collaboration, entrepreneurialism, authenticity and fun. 

Our Equity Commitment 

We recognize that in order to pursue our own organizational mission at Education First, we must approach our work by studying gaps and inequities, asking tough questions about structural racism and more deliberately engaging diverse voices in problem-solving. We’ve been building our own skills to deliver solutions that center racial and intersectional equity, with particular attention to equitable ways of thinking and working, and we are committed to helping our clients do the same in projects that have a goal of increasing equity at their core. Within Education First, we have committed to building a race equity culture – creating the conditions to adopt antiracist mindsets and actions - while using an intersectional approach that addresses all systems of oppression. 

We believe: 

• Black lives matter. We are collectively responsible to amplify and support Black students, families and leaders. 

• People are experts in their own experience. We cannot effectively support our clients to problem solve and innovate without centering the people they aim to serve. 

• Racism and inequity were designed, and can be redesigned. People make up the systems, policies and processes that govern our experience, and we must support our clients to explore their role in reimagining what could be possible. 

For greater detail about our Equity Commitment, please visit our website. 

Education First actively engages our team with a robust Race, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (RIDE) strategy to build our staff and organizational capacity to lead on issues of equity and to increase diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of the firm. As a proud equal opportunity employer, we strongly encourage applications from candidates of all races, national origins, ages, religions, creeds, veteran or disabled statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Education First makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.