Manager, Marketing & Communications – Directly Operated Programs

START EARLY•Chicago, IL

1h•$72,500 - $80,000

About The Position

Start Early is a champion for early learning and care from a child’s very first moments, so every child has the opportunity to thrive in school and life. Our desire to close the opportunity gap and create more inclusive experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy, and research through partnerships nationwide. We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication. Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do. The Manager of Marketing & Communications for Directly Operated Programs leads program-level communications, content development and family engagement support for Start Early’s directly operated sites, including Educare Chicago, Healthy Parents & Babies and Start Early’s Early Learning Centers in Lake County, as well as the transition to permanent Educare Lake County. This role manages day-to-day marketing and communications needs for directly operated programs, serving as a close partner to program leadership and family engagement teams to strengthen recruitment, highlight program experiences and elevate family and community voices. The Manager plays a central role in local storytelling, community engagement and the development of high-quality visual and narrative content that reflects the lived experiences of families and staff. This role also leads the development of the marketing and communications foundation for Educare Lake County, supporting the transition from interim operations to the permanent school set to open in fall 2027 through brand building, community engagement and the launch of new digital and on-the-ground communications assets. Working in close partnership with the Manager of Marketing & Communications for the Early Learning Network, this role ensures that program-level storytelling and content development align with broader enrollment and communications strategies. The Manager of Marketing & Communications for the Early Learning Network must reside in Illinois and must be available for in-person meetings in the Chicagoland area.

Requirements

BA/BS in Marketing, Communications major preferred or equivalent experience
At least 5 years of professional experience in digital, including website maintenance and content creation with demonstrated increased responsibility and support of and contribution to broad strategy Strong understanding of digital marketing concepts, strategies and execution best practices
Generating program-level social media content and collaborating with the marketing and communications team to align on publishing, workflow coordination and amplification
Experience in digital execution and competent in creating, managing, and organizing web content; experience using digital analytics tools and pulling reporting data and finding meaningful insights Working knowledge of graphic design tools. Familiarity with the following tools is preferred: WordPress, GA4, Google Tag Manager, Google Ads, Adobe Creative Suite
Strong written communication skills.
Practiced experience in identifying key themes and details and developing creative, thought-provoking and action-oriented messages that connect with the intended audience.
Ability to foster interpersonal relationships, establish trust and collaborate across functions and with diverse audiences – internally and externally.
Strong ability to plan and prioritize assignments and manage deadlines.
A problem solver who shows initiative, works independently and as part of a team, and is flexible and adapts.
Deep commitment to advancing diversity, racial equity, and inclusion into organizational routines and practice.
Effectively establish and maintain effective relationships with customers and gain their trust and respect.
Comfort and experience in handling risk and uncertainty to move work forward.
Must reside in Illinois and must be available for in-person meetings in the Chicagoland area.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day marketing and communications needs for Educare Chicago, Healthy Parents & Babies (HPB) and Lake County programs. Serve as primary marketing and communications partner to directly operated programs, supporting family engagement, recruitment and community visibility through tailored content, messaging and materials.
Support and steward program storytelling, visual content and community engagement promotion. Serve as the primary steward of program-level storytelling, elevating family, educator and community voices into Start Early’s broader organizational communications. Proactively identify timely milestones, partnerships and engagement opportunities that align with the organizational editorial calendar, elevating program stories for integration into internal updates, external storytelling and campaign content. Lead and manage visual storytelling and program promotion efforts, including: · Coordinating video shoots, photo shoots and testimonial development · Developing content that highlights family and workforce experiences, family leadership and embedded supports · Supporting marketing and communications for community events, celebrations and milestones, including promotional materials and on-site storytelling · Generating program-level social media content and collaborating with the marketing and communications team to align on publishing, workflow coordination and amplification
Oversee digital presence and content strategy for Start Early’s directly operated programs, including: · Managing and updating directly operated program pages across the Start Early website, ensuring accuracy, consistency and strong user experience for prospective and current families · Managing the Educare Chicago website, including content updates, storytelling features, family-facing service information and coordination with technical partners as needed · Expanding and maintaining program-specific digital content, including program descriptions, visuals, videos, testimonials and family engagement resources · Partnering with the central marketing and communications team to ensure alignment with brand standards, accessibility requirements and organizational content strategy · Identifying opportunities to improve clarity and navigation for families seeking information about services, enrollment and program offerings
Oversee development and execution of comprehensive marketing and communications strategies that support the growth, visibility and successful launch of Educare Lake County, including: · Managing the development and ongoing maintenance of the Educare Lake County website, including content architecture, family-facing service descriptions, visual storytelling and enrollment-related pathways · Creating new print and digital collateral to support outreach, enrollment, partnerships and fundraising milestones · Leading communications and promotion for key community engagement activities, including groundbreakings, information sessions, celebrations and opening milestones · Supporting relationship-building with community partners, families and local stakeholders through targeted communications and on-site engagement · Coordinating visual storytelling efforts (photo, video, testimonials) that document the school’s development and elevate family and community voices throughout the launch process
Support social media content generation. Generate program-level social content and collaborate with the marketing and communications team on publishing, coordination and workflow processes to ensure program voices are reflected across platforms. Partner with manager of marketing and communications, as well as program partners, to manage and execute across social content calendar.