Communications Director

About the position

KERA, North Texas source for NPR and PBS programming, is looking for a Communications Director to join our team. Serving the countrys fifth-largest media market, KERA reaches more than 4.5 million people monthly through KERA TV, KERA News, KXT, WRR and The Denton Record-Chronicle. For more than 60 years, North Texans have turned to KERA as a destination for community engagement and lifelong learning. As we seek to recognize and reflect our audience and communities, we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and points of view to consider employment opportunities at KERA. KERA is seeking a strategic communications professional to serve in the role of Communications Director. This position will be responsible for leading strategic internal and external communications at KERA, including writing, creating and deploying many different types of communications to a variety of stakeholders including KERAs team, Board of Directors, partner organizations, community advisory boards and other groups. The Communications Director will report directly to KERAs Chief of Staff and will manage an organization-wide communications calendar. The Director will work to ensure communications to KERAs many stakeholders are clear, cohesive, on brand, and convey KERAs unique mission and distinctive identity. This includes communications around community affairs, government relations and constituent engagement work. This position will work closely with the President & CEO; VP, People Strategy, KERAs Board of Directors, advisory boards and more. This position will also work closely with KERAs Audience Development, Development, and Content teams to ensure internal and external messaging is consistent across the organization. The Communications Director will think strategically and broadly about how to tell KERAs story to its many diverse and growing audiences. The Communications Director is FLSA classified as an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime.

Responsibilities

• Manage a strategic, organizational-wide communications calendar, working closely with KERAs Senior Leadership team
• Ensure KERAs stakeholders (internal team, audiences, Board of Directors, Community Advisory Boards) have a clear understanding of KERAs mission and strategic priorities
• Create and deploy strategic communications including, but not limited to: Reports, presentations and key messaging for KERAs Board of Directors, staff, advisory boards, and others
• Crisis communications and talking points
• Press releases, media relations and government relations
• Fundraising materials
• Manage KERAs media and press contact list
• Support and help execute communications as related to KERAs fundraising and development efforts, in coordination with KERAs Development team
• Create and develop messaging and storytelling that enhances KERAs reputation and increases alignment with industry partners, for a broad set of constituents, including congressional outreach
• Partner with VP, People Strategy, Chief of Staff, and others to deploy strategic internal communications and initiatives that celebrate our culture, drive engagement, and enable business results
• Assist the Chief of Staff in supporting KERAs Board of Directors and Community Advisory Boards, including planning meeting presentations, updates, providing administrative operational and implementation support and more
• Support the Chief of Staff in executing strategies and goals in community affairs to ensure that KERA has representation and engagement in critical discussions, meetings, events, and other opportunities
• Coordinate logistics of projects from the Executive Office as assigned
• In collaboration with other team members, help solve the root cause of problems, document processes and create efficiencies where possible
• Shape culture, implement systems and support staff to ensure KERA is a great place to work and grow
• Work in a manner that is consistent with KERAs mission, vision and values; and maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Requirements

• Excellent communication skills, including short- and long-form writing, copyediting, scripting and more
• Ability to write from different perspectives and voices than your own and often switch between those perspectives quickly, as needed
• 6+ years of experience in communications, PR, marketing, executive office management, project management, or strategy
• Experience in crisis communications and internal communications
• Outstanding time management skills and the ability to complete multiple tasks on deadline
• Must be an innovative, creative and accountable problem solver, and a self-starter
• Must have a strong command of the following software: Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and other Office applications
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and think strategically
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to support staff navigating change
• Experience working in dynamic, fast-paced, daily environment
• Passionate and enthusiastic about public media and serving a diverse North Texas audience
• Experience or passion for working in non-profit management

Benefits

• Generous vacation (3 weeks), sick (8 days), personal time (2 days) and holidays (11)
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance
• KERA-paid short and long-term disability, basic life insurance and AD&D insurance
• Flexible scheduling and hybrid work environment
• 401k plan with KERA-contribution after 6 months
• Robust employee assistance program available to the employee and all members of their household