Communications and Digital Director

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

7d • $113,000 - $116,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Communications and Digital Director leads CDT’s communications strategy, external engagement, and digital channels, helping advance its mission of supporting youth to thrive in a technology-filled world with educators as essential partners. The Director is a thought partner to CDT leadership and strengthens the Center’s role as an amplifier of youth voices and supporter of educators by sharing research, resources, and professional development offerings and communicating research-based insights in accessible, engaging ways.

This senior role on a small, nimble team combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution. The Director develops communications plans and messaging, writes and edits content, manages digital channels and external partnerships, supports media engagement and fundraising communications, and supervises two student interns. The role also leads CDT’s website refresh, including selecting and working with an external vendor, and coordinates with the Operations Coordinator on processes and infrastructure.

The position is fully remote. It is a one-year term appointment with a high possibility of extension, and the appointment end date is one year from the date of hire. The standard schedule is 35 hours per week. Salary is $113,000–$116,000, commensurate with experience. Harvard is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, strategy, or audience engagement.
• Experience setting communications strategy for an organization or major program.
• At least three years of experience supervising staff or interns.
• Experience managing external vendors, agencies, or consultants.
• Hands-on experience with content management systems, email newsletter platforms, social media tools, and digital analytics.
• A cover letter in addition to a resume demonstrating that the candidate meets the required basic qualifications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organized and process-oriented; collaborative and comfortable working in a growing organization.

Nice To Haves

• Experience translating research for practitioner audiences and writing in an engaging, direct, non-promotional style.
• Experience leading a website project with an external vendor or agency.
• Experience building systems, workflows, and processes in a small or resource-constrained organization.
• Experience supporting fundraising through grant reports, impact reports, or funder materials.
• Editorial background or experience leading an editorial calendar.
• Experience in education or the technology sector.
• Familiarity with WordPress, Canva, Notion, Slack, Kit, and G-Suite.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement CDT’s communications strategy to reshape public discourse and build demand for evidence-based insights and interventions.
• Steward the brand identity, messaging, and voice across channels; set the editorial framework, quarterly themes, and launch and campaign plans.
• Manage research-team communications intake, prioritize requests against Center priorities, collaborate with leadership on translational applications of research, and define success measures.
• Own the editorial calendar and write and edit website, newsletter, social media, presentation, research report, and thought leadership content.
• Provide editorial direction and quality review for intern-produced content; produce simple visuals and collateral using CDT templates and identify when design support is needed.
• Set the role and audience of digital channels and use performance data to adjust the channel mix.
• Lead the website refresh by setting goals, preparing the vendor brief, reviewing deliverables, and managing scope, timeline, and internal review.
• Oversee website content, accessibility, and search visibility after launch; set email program priorities such as segmentation and list growth.
• Manage external web, design, and technology partners.
• Lead communications for strategic partnerships with funders, fellows, educators, and peer organizations; represent CDT at public events as needed and support communications for the CDT Fellows Program.
• Coordinate media engagement, prepare researchers for media opportunities, review press materials and pitches, and act as the internal contact for media inquiries.
• Work with external support to build journalist relationships that help reflect youth and educator perspectives in media stories.
• Integrate communications into fundraising and grant management; help develop proposals and prepare impact, grant, and annual impact reports and funder or donor engagement materials.
• Supervise two student interns, including scoping work, direction, quality review, and onboarding.
• Design and document communications processes, including research intake, launch sequencing, templates, and review and approval workflows; coordinate with the Operations Coordinator, partner organizations, and consultants.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior