Chief Brand and Growth Officer

Communities In Schools of Central Texas • Austin, TX

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Communities In Schools believes brand is not just how we look or sound. Brand is trust, credibility, and belief. It is how families find us, how funders decide to invest, how staff stay aligned, and how a community rallies around students. We are seeking a Chief Brand and Growth Officer (CBGO) to lead the next chapter of CIS’s brand, voice, and visibility. The CBGO brings a deep understanding of community-centered engagement, equity-driven messaging, and innovative growth strategies to expand the organization’s reach and resources. This executive will own the brand strategy end-to-end and use it as a growth engine to increase awareness, engagement, and philanthropic support. This role is for a hard-working, strategic brand leader who knows how to build and manage a brand in motion, lead creative teams, and translate mission into messaging that moves people to action. If you love fast-paced environments, believe deeply in education and opportunity, and understand how strong brands drive growth for nonprofits, this role is for you.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in branding, communications, or marketing
• Proven success building and managing brands, ideally in mission-driven organizations
• Deep experience with brand strategy, market segmentation, and brand management
• Experience leading teams across communications, social media, and design
• Strong internal and external communication skills

Nice To Haves

• Experience using the brand to support fundraising and donor growth
• Familiarity with education, youth development, or social impact work
• Experience with grassroots organizing, community engagement, or movement-building
• Must reside in Central Texas

Responsibilities

• Lead CIS’s brand strategy as a driver of trust, awareness, and philanthropic growth
• Build a brand that is both highly visible and deeply rooted in community
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape narrative, voice, and influence
• Align internal and external communications around a shared mission
• Grow grassroots engagement that translates into long-term support and advocacy
• Own CIS’s brand strategy, positioning, and visual identity across all platforms.
• Ensure brand consistency while allowing for authentic, community-based expression.
• Lead brand evolution as CIS grows and expands across Central Texas.
• Develop and lead grassroots brand strategies that strengthen CIS’s presence in schools, neighborhoods, and community spaces.
• Equip staff, AmeriCorps members, parents, and partners to serve as brand ambassadors.
• Translate brand strategy into tools that work at the campus and community level.
• Build visibility through local storytelling, events, and community engagement, not just digital campaigns.
• Strengthen trust and recognition among families, students, and school communities.
• Use brand to drive philanthropic growth, donor trust, and community investment.
• Partner with Development to align brand storytelling with fundraising strategies.
• Design campaigns that connect grassroots engagement to giving and advocacy.
• Lead market segmentation across diverse audiences, including families, educators, funders, staff, and community partners.
• Ensure messaging resonates across cultures, languages, and communities.
• Use insights to guide outreach and engagement strategies.
• Oversee multi-channel marketing and communications strategies (digital, social, PR, events, earned media)
• Ensure digital platforms amplify grassroots stories and local impact.
• Grow engagement through authentic, community-centered storytelling.
• Shape compelling narratives that elevate the voices and experiences of the communities served
• Lead internal communications that ensure staff are informed, aligned, and connected.
• Ensure the CIS brand is lived internally and reflected in how teams show up in the community.
• Build feedback loops between field staff and the communications team.
• Lead graphic design and creative direction across all materials.
• Ensure high-quality, accessible, and culturally responsive design.
• Maintain and evolve brand guidelines to support consistency and flexibility.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary brand, communications, and creative team.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing marketing/communications team.
• Build systems that support fast-paced work without losing quality.
• Collaborate across departments to align brand and growth strategies with programmatic goals

Benefits

• Generous paid time off: 4+ weeks of holidays, 2 weeks of vacation time, personal days and sick days
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: 100% employer-paid employee medical plan available, plus family subsidies, dental, vision, life, disability insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan with employer match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed