Managing Director, Marketing & Communications

KIPP • New York, NY

8h • $165,000 - $195,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

As the Managing Director of Marketing & Communications, you will co-design and lead the work that shapes KIPP NYC’s public identity and be the tactical engine behind our growth. Reporting to and working in lockstep with the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, you will bridge the gap between high-level vision and the gritty, operational excellence required to win in the New York City landscape. This is a role for a senior leader who understands that in a market defined by choice, brand value is the ultimate differentiator. You will help translate the ambitious goals of our Vision 2030 strategy into high-impact, full-funnel campaigns that drive student enrollment and staff recruitment across the five boroughs. You aren’t just managing a department; you are steering a brand that serves as a launchpad for 14,000+ students and alumni, ensuring that our story of excellence and joy is the most compelling Plan A narrative in NYC education.
This leader will directly manage the Director of Marketing & Communications, as well as the Senior Associate of Marketing & Communications.
This is a full-time position with a hybrid schedule, requiring a minimum of three in-person days per week based out of our KIPP NYC Midtown Manhattan office. The role also includes travel to KIPP NYC campuses across the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. The cadence and frequency of school visits will be determined by your leadership team.

Requirements

• Professional Experience: 15+ years in Marketing, Communications, or Brand Management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing integrated campaigns across multiple markets, business units, or geographies, with demonstrated experience overseeing large teams and agency partners. NYC-specific marketing experience preferred.
• Senior Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work autonomously with senior-level management, acting as a high-level thought partner in defining strategy through to execution.
• Full-Funnel Marketing Expertise: Demonstrated experience developing and launching comprehensive advertising campaigns across multiple channels (ATL, BTL, grassroots, social, and PR).
• NYC Market Knowledge: A deep understanding of the NYC education landscape, including neighborhood-level nuances and the drivers of family behavior in a competitive environment.
• Crisis Management: 5+ years of proven experience navigating sensitive, high-stakes communications in either a behind the scenes or public-facing role.
• Operational Excellence: The ability to move seamlessly between strategy and execution, managing the complex "moving pieces" required to bring creative concepts to life.
• Data & ROI Savvy: Excellent analytical skills to interpret performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Proven ability to translate data and insights into actionable and clear strategic direction.
• Digital Accessibility & Inclusion: Deep understanding of ADA compliance standards as they apply to the digital marketing experience ensuring that websites, social media content, and digital advertising are accessible to all families, including those with visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments.
• Exceptional Communication: Superior writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to manage up to a C-suite and act as a subject matter expert for regional leads.
• Agility & Volume Management: Proven ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously, efficiently pivoting between strategic oversight and hands-on execution in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Mission Alignment: A deep commitment to KIPP NYC’s mission of creating joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students for lives of choice and power
• Bachelor’s Degree required

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (MBA or Master’s in Communications) preferred.
• Spanish-language proficiency is a significant plus.
• Knowledge of Charter School systems within NYC Public Schools preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Execution & Brand Stewardship
• Vision 2030 Alignment: Partner with the CMCO to evolve and execute KIPP NYC’s core narrative, aligning marketing efforts with long-term strategic growth.
• Brand Governance: Oversee regional brand stewardship, ensuring all materials across schools and channels adhere to KIPP brand standards while maintaining a signature, NYC-specific visual language.
• Digital Evolution: Manage the transition and ongoing evolution of the KIPP NYC website, ensuring it serves as a high-performing conversion tool for families and staff.
• Recruitment Marketing & Campaign Management
• Full-Funnel Campaign Leadership: Lead the execution of the annual 12-month integrated marketing plan, focusing on Student Recruitment (Oct–June) and Staff Recruitment (Feb-June).
• Agency Management: Manage relationships with external NYC-based creative and media-buying agencies, ensuring media spend is optimized for ROI across, but not limited to, paid search, social, programmatic, and OOH.
• Content Strategy: Develop and oversee content through every stage of the funnel, including digital video, storytelling assets, and field marketing collateral.
• Communications & Public Relations
• Public Relations: Direct regional PR efforts and media relationship management to elevate KIPP NYC’s thought leadership and visibility.
• Crisis Management: Support rapid-response regional crisis communication strategies for both internal and external stakeholders to mitigate reputational risk.
• Regional Communications: Manage regional family communications and streamline organizational updates to enhance leadership visibility and staff engagement.
• Team Leadership & Strategic Collaboration
• Team Development: Manage and develop the Marketing & Communications team, currently consisting of a Marketing Director and a Senior Associate, with potential for future capacity expansion.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Act as a strategic thought partner to regional department leads (Operations, Talent) and school leadership to ensure marketing efforts are tightly integrated with school-level needs.
• Data-Driven Performance: Utilize dashboards to evaluate the full family journey from "first touch" to enrollment, optimizing for conversion at every step.

Benefits

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 50% match after 6 months.
• Generous Time-Off aligned with the school calendar
• Up to 12 weeks of 100% parental leave.
• Bright Horizon Back-up Child and Elder care.
• Employer-paid Life Insurance and Short-term / Long-term disability.
• Employee incentives include an 8-week paid Sabbatical after 10 years, annual professional development funds, and tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

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