Director, Strategic Communications

NAFCC

6d•Remote

About The Position

The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to promoting high-quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care (FCC). Home-based early learning programs serve nearly 40% of the 6.7 million children who receive care from a nonrelative on a regular basis. Since 1982, NAFCC has supported FCC providers across the country as they make the intentional professional choice to offer high-quality early care and education in their homes. NAFCC's mission is to support and leverage a nationwide network of educational professionals by: (1) engaging and developing a diverse membership base of FCC educators; (2) increasing the number of FCC educators accredited for meeting the highest standards in home-based early care; and (3) serving as a national leader elevating the voice of FCC. About the Role The Director, Strategic Communications will establish NAFCC as the preeminent thought leader and trusted resource in family child care education. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Market Solutions, this role will develop and execute communication strategies that build brand awareness and deepen engagement among Family child care educators, advocates, policymakers, and other key stakeholders. The Director will support NAFCC's Strategic Plan to grow from 4,500 to 45,000 FCC educators engaged. The Director will provide direct support to the Membership, Accreditation, Professional Development, Partnerships and Policy teams.

Requirements

Commitment to NAFCC's mission of supporting family child care educators and the communities they serve
Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Public Relations, or Marketing preferred
10+ years of experience in communications, digital marketing, public relations, or SEO
Media publication placement experience
Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and social media skills
Data-driven approach to decision-making and proficiency with analytics tools and SEO
Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate and adapt to evolving trends and technologies
Strong interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills
Excellent organization and planning skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, remote environment
Self-motivated with a positive approach to feedback

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive annual communications plan to guide all external outreach and engagement
Produce high-quality written content including articles, press releases, newsletters, and social media posts; edit and proofread for accuracy and professionalism
Ensure consistency, clarity, and educational value across all internal and external communications
Stay current on emerging trends and best practices in family child care, communications, and public relations
Manage vendors and external partners to support communications priorities
Elevate NAFCC's brand awareness among educators, advocates, and industry stakeholders
Safeguard and enhance NAFCC's brand identity through consistent messaging, visual standards, and tone across all platforms
Monitor brand perception and address any discrepancies proactively
Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries; cultivate relationships with journalists and outlets and proactively seek coverage opportunities
Develop and execute crisis communication strategies, providing timely, accurate information to maintain stakeholder trust
Use data analytics to track the effectiveness of communication strategies and apply insights to optimize future efforts
Lead strategic communications and public relations efforts, including developing and placing op-eds, securing earned media, and elevating NAFCC's voice in national and state conversations
Partner with executive leadership to shape messaging, prepare thought leadership, and position NAFCC as the leading authority on family child care
Build and manage media relationships, oversee press strategy, and drive integrated campaigns that advance visibility, narrative change, and policy influence
Partner with cross-functional teams to promote NAFCC events, conferences, and workshops; develop promotional materials and manage related communications
Manage internal communications systems and workflows, including the ticketing system, cross-team communications meetings, and project delegation to ensure clear coordination, prioritization, and timely execution across the organization
Disseminate organizational updates and announcements to staff, board members, and volunteers; foster a culture of transparency and collaboration
Align communication efforts with the Advocacy team's goals and amplify messages that mobilize support on policy issues affecting FCC educators
Develop, edit, and review content across organizational departments as needed