Communications Director

CTU
Chicago Teachers Union

Communications Director

Based in Chicago, IL

Summary:
Under the supervision of the assistant to the President, the Communications Director will be charged with implementing the strategic communications of the union in order to advocate for its members and advance its mission of bargaining for the common good.

The Communications Director will supervise all communication department staff, direct paid, earned and owned media campaigns, craft and implement messaging and mobilization campaigns at the city and state levels, and support the work of our elected leaders and members with traditional and digital media efforts.

The Communications Director also will serve as the chief writer and media strategist for CTU and will work with other CTU departments and the international union to develop and execute traditional, digital and internal membership communications strategies.

Serving almost 30,000 educators, clinicians and school support personnel, CTU sits at the forefront of the Chicago movement for working families and is fighting to ensure that every student attends a safe, welcoming and thriving neighborhood public school. This role will sit at the intersection of developing and communicating that message to the people of Chicago.

Position Responsibilities include:

• Lead development and implementation of communications strategies for the union’s member activities, services, and local, state, and national campaigns
• Oversee the daily the implementation of CTU communications across digital, earned, owned, and paid media.
• Manage communications staff and contractors to ensure high-quality, consistent and creative deliverables across media types to advance the mission and vision of CTU.
• Build and manage CTU’s relationships with journalists, influencers and producers.
• Design and coordinate strategies to amplify CTU officers’ voices, especially that of the President, including speaking engagements, media requests, speech and opinion writing, and leveraging digital media to best promote and support activities of CTU’s membership and executive officers.
• Works with other CTU department heads and additional stakeholders to craft and deliver messaging for CTU, its officers, and its members

Primary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A minimum of four years’ experience running media, messaging and/or digital campaigns.
• At least four years of experience managing staff in communications and/or political campaign settings.
• Ability to write quickly and effectively, with a strong eye for political messaging.
• Ability to supervise work allocation and implement procedures and systems to maximize operating efficiency.
• Experience writing speeches, columns, op-eds and articles.
• Ability to persuasively articulate the importance of integrating media strategy in an organizing, political or issue advocacy campaign.
• Knowledge and interest in integrating digital media with traditional media.
• Ability to work effectively with elected leaders and staff in complex and sometimes politically sensitive situations.
• Ability to oversee and manage multiple priority projects and meet deadlines.
• Background in labor, education and/or politics.

Secondary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Prior work experience in a union environment.
• Experience in African American media outreach.
• Familiarity with local and state education and political issues.
• Experience in Latino and Spanish-language media outreach.
• Experience working with community partners and civil rights groups.

Compensation: Salary range $110,000 – $130,000

Benefits: Health Insurance, Short Term Disability Insurance, Voluntary Long Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, 401K, Paid Holidays, PTO and Vacation.

Application Requirements:
Applicants should submit a cover letter, writing sample and résumé via email to: [email protected] . Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please reference CTU Communication Jobs in the subject line.

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