Director of Communications and Advocacy

Job Description

Organizational Overview

The barriers to college completion are complex and intertwined. No one educator, department, institution, or state can solve them. Without a simultaneous and intersectional approach, those barriers will continue to rob all of us—educators, advocates, and students alike—of the life-changing benefits of a complete college journey.

Complete College America (CCA) builds movements for scaled change and transforms institutions. Since its founding in 2009, CCA has paired bold, innovative thinking with practical actions that colleges and policymakers can implement across every level of higher education. CCA’s work centers on researching and testing education reforms, providing coaching and support, and advocating for change. Across these areas, CCA uses data to identify barriers and design successful strategies; aligns policy, perspective, and practice so complex systems operate effectively; connects experts to amplify their insights; and builds shared accountability. The organization is at the center of the broad CCA Alliance, a network of members made up of states, systems, and consortia driving change that works for every leader, every campus, and every system.

The selected candidate will work remotely, with frequent travel required.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Vice President of Development and External Affairs, the Director of Communications and Advocacy is a key organizational contributor responsible for shaping and advancing CCA’s voice, brand, and policy influence at the state and federal levels. This role integrates strategic communications with advocacy to ensure CCA’s evidence-based practices and equity-focused mission reach and resonate with policymakers, institutional leaders, researchers, and the broader postsecondary ecosystem.

The Director of Communications and Advocacy leads a cross-functional communications and advocacy strategy, supervises the Communications Manager and external consultants, and serves as a key contributor to senior leadership on messaging, public affairs, and coalition engagement. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and skilled communicator who thrives at the intersection of policy and narrative and can translate complex research into compelling stories that move people to action.

Responsibilities

Communications

Set and drive the overall strategic direction for CCA's communications function, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, brand standards, and equity values

Oversee brand management, editorial calendar, project workflows, and ongoing assessment of communications strategies against organizational objectives
Lead media relations, including cultivating journalist relationships, managing press briefings and interviews, issuing rapid response communications, and proactively identifying opportunities to elevate CCA's work
Guide the development of high-quality written and multimedia content, including press releases, op-eds, blog posts, research reports, policy briefs, social media, and digital campaigns
Oversee CCA's digital presence, including the website, social media channels, email marketing, podcasts, and other online platforms
Supervise the Communications Manager and a roster of external consultants and freelancers, providing direction, feedback, and support to maximize team capacity and quality
Support the design and content creation for the CCA Annual Convening and other organizational events
Generate communications-related reports for funders, senior leadership, and the CCA Board of Directors

Advocacy & Policy Communications

Develop and implement communications strategies that advance CCA's state and federal policy priorities, translating research and data into accessible, persuasive narratives for policymakers and legislative audiences
Build and steward relationships with advocacy partners, coalitions, and allied organizations to amplify CCA's policy positions and expand its influence across the postsecondary landscape
Monitor the state and federal policy environment and lead rapid response communications efforts when legislative developments intersect with CCA's mission
Partner with Strategy Directors, Alliance Engagement Directors, and program staff to develop advocacy messaging that supports Alliance member states in advancing equity-focused policy goals
Represent CCA in external coalition spaces, convenings, and stakeholder forums as appropriate
Advise senior leadership on policy communications strategy, public affairs positioning, and stakeholder engagement approaches

Cross-Functional Leadership

Serve as a communications and advocacy resource to the Vice President of Development and External Affairs, the Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President for Strategy, and other organizational leaders on a range of communications and advocacy issues
Collaborate across departments to ensure consistency of messaging and strategic alignment in all external-facing communications
Provide communications counsel and capacity support to program, research, and development teams as needed
Contribute to organizational strategy and planning through cross-departmental collaboration and active input to senior leadership

Qualifications

An ideal candidate will possess the following skills and experience:

Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred; and/or minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public affairs, advocacy, or a related field, with at least two years in a leadership or supervisory role
Demonstrated experience developing and executing communications strategies in support of state and/or federal policy goals
Deep knowledge of the higher education landscape, including postsecondary policy, equity issues, and the challenges facing underrepresented and first-generation students
Proven ability to translate complex research and policy content into clear, compelling communications for diverse audiences
Experience in coalition building, stakeholder engagement, and external partnership management
Expertise in media relations, including placing op-eds and managing earned media campaigns
Strong supervisory and project management skills, with experience managing staff and/or consultants in a fast-paced environment
Proficiency with social media platforms and management tools, web content management systems, and email marketing platforms
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with mastery of AP style and careful attention to organizational voice and tone
Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop); HTML/CSS fluency a plus
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
A firm commitment to equity in the workplace and the achievement of equitable outcomes for minoritized students
Clear alignment with and commitment to the CCA mission, values, goals, and theory of change
Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed

Physical Demands

Employees must occasionally lift twenty-five pounds. Reasonable accommodation will be made for individuals with disabilities to be able to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed as received, and the position will remain open until an ideal candidate is identified.Application Priority Deadline: June 5, 2026

Salary:

The salary range is $90-110K. The final salary is commensurate with relevant educational background, previous work experience and professional expertise. In addition to the salary, CCA also offers a competitive benefits compensation package.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Complete College America (CCA) strives to attract, develop, and retain highly qualified individuals representing the diversity of America. CCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse work environment.

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