Description

About the Organization

Founded in 2011, Philadelphia Charters for Excellence (PCE) works to ensure that every student has equal access to a high-quality public school. PCE is a 501(c)3 membership organization that connects, convenes, and catalyzes collective action on behalf of Philadelphia’s brick-and-mortar charter schools and the families they serve. PCE advocates for public policy and legislation that impacts charter schools in Philadelphia and statewide, and is the central point for advocacy, communications, and community-building for member schools.

Position Overview

The Director of Advocacy Communications is responsible for two interconnected bodies of work in service of strengthening support for Philadelphia’s charter public schools: executing PCE’s internal and external communications strategy, and supporting the execution of PCE’s advocacy agenda.  

The Director will report to Dr. Cassandra St. Vil, the Chief Executive Officer of PCE, and is expected to work in close partnership with member schools. While this role does not include formal supervisory responsibilities, the Director will collaborate with and support the management of key government affairs and communications consultants and interns. PCE has engaged communications consultants to support the onboarding and successful transition of this Director through June 2026. This is a one-year grant-funded position, with anticipated renewal for subsequent years.

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop and execute a comprehensive communications and advocacy strategy that amplifies the value of the Philadelphia charter public school sector and generates increased levels of support for the community and its advocacy priorities.
• Ensure that PCE’s messaging is consistent with the overall brand and mission and is understood by a variety of stakeholders.
• Learn deeply about Philadelphia’s public charter schools and their unique missions via school visits, member meetings, consultations, and ongoing upkeep of school-based communications.
• Launch and lead a community of practice (COP) for school-based communications professionals at member schools to build their capacity and engagement, and strengthen their ability to engage in positive storytelling and education advocacy.
• Cultivate 1:1 relationships with leaders/directors at member schools, and provide individual support for their communications efforts when needed.
• Drive a proactive earned media strategy to solidify the PCE brand as a trusted, credible source of charter school/public education policy issues. Support and train spokespeople (e.g., CEO, school leaders, charter school parents), and develop talking points for spokespeople for a variety of contexts (e.g., media interviews, Board of Education meetings, and other public forums). Identify and secure opportunities for positive earned media coverage that amplifies the value and stories of PCE and its member schools. In partnership with PCE staff, provide timely, effective, and responsive crisis communications support for member schools.
• Develop and oversee a comprehensive digital communications strategy. Ensure that digital strategies align with organizational goals, including all email campaigns, social media channels, website, and other online channels. Support the implementation of various tactics that grow PCE’s online audience, yielding greater digital supporter engagement and activation. Develop benchmarks and track metrics to assess engagement and support decision-making.
• Create and manage external communications (e.g., newsletters, press releases, social media presence, op-eds, etc.), and oversee the development of all core collateral (e.g., annual report, membership brochure, fact sheets, fundraising materials, etc.). Coordinate with external designers and printers as needed to ensure that collateral is visually appealing and impactful.
• In partnership with the CEO, develop and implement engagement strategies for PCE member school communities to engage with local and statewide elected officials, their staff, and coalition partners. Help foster these relationships to advance PCE’s political and advocacy goals and stay abreast of new political developments, opportunities, and threats.
• Draft legislative and policy testimonies, policy briefs, and presentations; draft, review, and share PCE’s advocacy agenda with stakeholders as appropriate; and develop recommendations for PCE’s response to and position on key legislative issues in the public discourse.
• Assist the CEO and staff with producing events designed to further PCE’s advocacy goals, including community-wide advocacy events and key activation moments.
• Set actionable goals, develop benchmarks, and track performance metrics to assess the communication program and its impact.
• Other relevant activities as requested by the Chief Executive Officer.

Requirements

Qualifications

• A belief in the value of charter public schools in the public education system.
• Strong messaging and storytelling skills; ability to understand, synthesize, and explain issues, trends, and policies affecting public education to gain broad appeal and generate action.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.
• Strong organizational skills, high attention to detail, ability to stay focused and nimble, and ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
  Track record of creating/executing communications plans and/or communications campaigns.
• Strong relationship-building skills; able to develop, sustain, and strengthen relationships and trust over time; and the ability to work with numerous stakeholders to forge consensus.
• Ability to hold sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
• Demonstrated knowledge with communications technologies such as CRM systems, website and mobile platforms, search engine marketing, social media platforms, and Microsoft. Knowledge of Google suite, including analytics and AdWords, and AI tools.
• Availability to make in-person school visits and attend events, including in the evenings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 5-8 years of professional experience.
• Experience in charter public school and/or education communications.
• Knowledge of state legislative, policymaking, and rulemaking processes, including policies and regulations about public education.
• Experience in policy research, including writing briefs and memoranda.
• Familiarity with the Philadelphia media landscape.
• Graphic design, videography, and photography skills are a plus.