Director, BigFuture Communications
About The Position
The Communications department plays a critical role in advancing College Board’s mission and ensuring our work is understood with clarity, accuracy, and impact. We define and align core messaging across the organization and lead strategic engagement with key audiences, including students, families, educators, policymakers, and the media. As a creative, strategically disciplined team, we hold ourselves to high standards and continuously innovate in how we tell our story—elevating thought leadership, strengthening executive visibility, and delivering clear, effective communications in moments that matter. We partner closely with leaders and teams across programs, research, policy, and operations to translate complex work into compelling narratives that expand understanding, strengthen trust, and drive meaningful impact. As Director, Program Communications - BigFuture and Higher Education, you will shape how College Board communicates with students, families, and higher education partners. You will lead the development of clear, focused messaging and communications strategies that support both the BigFuture program and the Higher Education, Membership, and Access (HMA) division, helping students navigate the path to college and career while strengthening College Board’s relationships with higher education leaders. In this role, you will translate complex ideas into clear, compelling, and useful narratives and lead the development and execution of integrated communications strategies across key channels and moments. You will partner closely with colleagues across Engagement and Reach to bring those strategies to life, and support executive communications and thought leadership in high-visibility engagements. This role requires exceptional writing, strong judgment, and the ability to bring clarity to complex, evolving issues. You will serve as a strategic partner to program and divisional leadership and report to the Executive Director, Program Communications.
Requirements
- Demonstrated ability to own and lead communications strategy in complex, cross-functional environments, with strong judgment in prioritizing work and navigating ambiguity
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling, and useful messaging for diverse audiences
- Experience developing and driving integrated communications strategies, with a focus on measurable outcomes such as engagement, adoption, or audience understanding
- Proven ability to lead through influence, partnering effectively across teams such as marketing, product, media relations, and executive communications
- Strong understanding of audience needs and behaviors, with the ability to apply insight to shape messaging, positioning, and communications strategy
- Experience supporting senior leaders in high-visibility communications, including preparing materials for external engagements or moments of scrutiny
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining clarity, speed, and message discipline in a fast-paced environment
- Familiarity with the education landscape and issues affecting students, families, and higher education institutions
- Experience using data, feedback and experimentation to drive communications effectiveness
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, or a related field
- 5+ years of professional experience in communications, content strategy, marketing, or a related field, with a track record of increasing responsibility
Nice To Haves
- Experience in education, consumer-facing products, or mission-driven organizations preferred
Responsibilities
- Lead and own messaging and communications strategy for BigFuture and HMA, defining clear, compelling narratives that translate complex products, services, and research into useful and accessible stories for students, families, and higher education partners
- Serve as an expert on key audiences—including students, families, and higher education partners—using insight to shape messaging, positioning, and communications strategy
- Drive integrated communications initiatives from strategy through execution, including goal setting, message development, sequencing, and measurement—partnering with Reach, Marketing, and other teams to activate across channels
- Develop and operationalize messaging frameworks, tools, and standards that ensure consistency, clarity, and adoption across external communications
- Lead cross-functional alignment across Engagement and Reach, Product, and Media Relations to ensure coordinated, effective communications
- Own and oversee the development of high-quality communications materials—including talking points, FAQs, presentations, and digital content—that support priority initiatives and high-visibility moments
- Lead executive communications strategy for BigFuture and higher education, shaping leader visibility and preparing for high-impact engagements in partnership with Executive Communications and Media Relations, with messaging that is clear, consistent, and aligned to strategic priorities
- Proactively identify and advance opportunities to elevate the BigFuture story, including validating voices and real-world impact
- Serve as a strategic communications partner to BigFuture and HMA leadership, helping shape priorities, clarify messaging, and drive effective communications planning
Benefits
- Annual bonuses and opportunities for merit-based raises and promotions
- A mission-driven workplace where your impact matters
- A team that invests in your development and success
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
