Director of Communications

Rocky Mountain Prep • Denver, CO

1d • $90,000 - $135,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Communications Director is RMP's internal lead for communications strategy, brand stewardship, and organizational storytelling. This role sets the arc for how RMP communicates across internal and external audiences, partners closely with school and network leadership on messaging, and ensures that every channel, campaign, and public-facing moment reinforces who we are and where we are going. The Communications Director manages the Brand Media Manager, directs the work of our external PR firm, and operates as a key thought partner to the Deputy Chief of Strategy. This is a Denver-based, strategy-first role for a deeply mission-aligned communicator who leads with story, earns the trust of school leaders, and has the range to move from executive messaging to crisis response to brand planning.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to build and execute a communications strategy, not just execute against one — this person sets the direction.
• Strong instincts for organizational storytelling: the ability to identify what matters, what is distinctive, and how to tell it in ways that move people.
• Experience managing external PR or communications firms, including briefing, quality oversight, and relationship management.
• Strong writing and editing skills across formats — memos, talking points, press releases, social captions, executive messaging.
• Experience with crisis communications planning and execution, including real-time response under pressure.
• Ability to build trust with school leaders and show up as a genuine thought partner, not just a content producer.
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift and responsiveness is non-negotiable.
• Deep commitment to equity and to the communities RMP serves; this role requires cultural fluency, not just technical skill.
• Must be based in Denver, Colorado; regular presence across RMP school campuses is a core expectation of this role.
• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field.
• 6-10 years of communications experience, with at least 2-3 years leading a communications function or managing a team.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree a plus.
• Experience in K-12 education, nonprofit, or a community-facing organization.
• Relationships with Denver-area education media, including Chalkbeat, the Denver Post, and CPR.
• Experience supporting executive communications and board-level messaging.
• Ability to coach non-communications staff on messaging and brand — not just produce content yourself.
• Education sector or community-embedded experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own RMP's annual communications strategy, arc-of-year narrative, and editorial calendar across all channels and audiences.
• Define and maintain RMP's brand voice, standards, and storytelling priorities, ensuring consistency across all 12 school campuses and the network.
• Identify the three to five annual organizational priorities and build a proactive plan to tell them — through social media, media, events, and community presence.
• Translate leadership priorities into clear, compelling messaging for diverse audiences, including families, staff, funders, media, district partners, and the broader Denver community.
• Partner with school principals and network leaders to surface themes, anticipate communications needs, and align the team proactively.
• Own RMP's internal communications strategy in coordination with the Deputy Chief of Strategy, determining what channels, cadence, and formats best serve staff across a 12-school network.
• Evaluate, recommend, and manage the all-staff newsletter in partnership with the Deputy Chief.
• Ensure that staff, especially school-based staff, receive timely, consistent, and meaningful communication from network leadership throughout the year.
• Partner with the Deputy Chief on executive and CEO messaging, all-staff announcements, and high-stakes internal communications.
• Build internal communications systems that work proactively, not just reactively — anticipating moments when staff need information and delivering it before uncertainty sets in.
• Serve as RMP's primary relationship manager with SKDK, our external PR firm, including briefing, project direction, quality oversight, and ongoing relationship development.
• Direct SKDK on media relations, press strategy, stakeholder communications, and narrative positioning.
• Lead proactive storytelling efforts with education media, including building sustained relationships with local reporters — in active partnership with SKDK.
• Participate in media training and relationship-building opportunities in partnership with SKDK to develop RMP's internal communications capacity over time.
• Oversee all press releases, media advisories, and external-facing narratives before release.
• Support grant communications, donor-facing materials, and board communications in partnership with the Deputy Chief and the Managing Director of Philanthropy.
• Manage RMP's relationships with freelance design partners, serving as the primary point of contact for briefing, scoping, and quality review.
• Direct freelance designers on consequential visual projects including the network-wide communications calendar, mascot and visual identity work, Big Five campaign materials, organizational templates (PowerPoint, letterhead, event collateral), and other major design deliverables.
• Develop clear creative briefs that translate RMP's brand standards and communications strategy into actionable design direction.
• Maintain quality control across all freelance design output, ensuring alignment with RMP's brand voice, values, and visual identity.
• Work with the Deputy Chief to scope and budget freelance design needs annually.
• Serve as the primary internal lead for crisis communications planning and real-time response, activating and directing SKDK as needed.
• Maintain RMP's crisis communications plan and ensure it is current, practical, and tested.
• Draft rapid-response messaging, talking points, and stakeholder notifications; coordinate timing and sequencing across audiences.
• Prepare school leaders and executives for media interactions, in partnership with SKDK.
• Lead post-crisis debriefs and integrate lessons into future planning.
• Build trusted relationships with school principals, front office staff, and school leadership teams to serve as a genuine thought partner on communications.
• Provide communications counsel to cross-functional leaders, including support for enrollment messaging, talent brand, and funder narratives.
• Create templates, talking points, and messaging guides that equip school staff to communicate on-brand without requiring constant oversight.
• Establish and hold clear brand standards for school-level communications, and coach school staff when those standards are not met.
• Maintain a regular presence across RMP campuses — not as a content gatherer, but as a strategic partner embedded in the communities we serve.
• Set meaningful, measurable goals for the communications function, including social media reach targets, engagement benchmarks, and proactive media placements.
• Use data and analytics to evaluate what is working, adjust strategies, and report regularly to the Deputy Chief.
• Directly manage the Brand Media Manager, providing clear direction, ongoing coaching, and high expectations for quality and responsiveness.
• Step in as a practitioner when stakes, speed, or capacity require it.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off – including vacation, personal, and sick days
• 5 Weeks of Paid Organizational Holidays – including Winter and Summer breaks
• Comprehensive Health Insurance – medical, dental, and vision coverage, with 100% of medical coverage for employee-only plans.
• Retirement Through PERA – Public Employees' Retirement Association of Colorado
• Paid Leave of Absence Options – including parental, medical, and disability leave
• Mental Health & Wellness Support – to help you thrive personally and professionally
• Pre-Tax Accounts – flexible spending accounts (FSA), dependent care accounts, and health savings accounts (HSA)

What This Job Offers

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