Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications and Development

WHAT IS THE ROLE 

The Senior Vice President (SVP), Strategic Communications and Development, serves as the executive leader for Communications, Development, and Research/Data, integrating these three functions into a cohesive and high performing storytelling engine. This role ensures the organization communicates with clarity and influence, collects and analyzes strategically aligned data and research, and advances a compelling philanthropic narrative that supports diversified fundraising goals. The SVP, Strategic Communications and Development, partners with CEO to set the narrative and voice of the National Alliance and ensures the communications, development, and research and data work is aligned to advancing policy goals. 

 

WHAT YOU’LL DO 

Lead Communications Strategy 

• Set and execute an integrated communications strategy that advances federal and state policy objectives, legal strategies, and organizational priorities. 

• Direct message development, strategic communications planning, and the editorial calendar. 

• Ensure a consistent and credible organizational voice across all public-facing channels. 

• Oversee integrated PR campaign planning across earned media, owned/digital, and collateral material development to drive measurable influence. 

Media, Visibility, and Rapid Response 

• Oversee proactive and reactive media strategy, including relationships with reporters and news outlets. 

• Manage rapid-response and crisis communications in a dynamic and often contentious education policy landscape. 

• Maintain clear escalation paths, approvals, spokesperson guidance, and high-quality executive communications and briefing materials. 

Lead the Research & Data Function 

• Provide executive oversight for the research and data team and their portfolio of work, including helping determine which data collection to prioritize and how it will be shared publicly. 

• Align the data collection and research agenda to organizational priorities and ensure data is translated into actionable, accessible insights for advocacy, communications, and fundraising. 

• Establish quality and accuracy standards, data-use guidance, and release calendars that synchronize with communications and development needs. 

Lead Development Storytelling & Alignment 

• Provide strategic leadership to the Development team, ensuring communications and research fuel fundraising success across foundations, individuals, government grants, corporate partnerships, dues based campaigns, and broad based giving. 

• Oversee narrative development and quality standards for all donor facing materials, including cases for support, proposals, pitch decks, fundraising campaigns, and donor stewardship materials. 

• Partner closely with the CEO and VP of Development on strategy and high stakes philanthropic moments, ensuring alignment across message, data, and organizational priorities. 

• Ensure Development has timely access to messaging, insights, and assets that strengthen donor engagement and deepen understanding of impact. 

Build and Lead High Performing Teams Across All Three Functions 

• Lead managers, staff, and vendors across Communications, Development, and Research/Data, setting goals, managing budgets, and upholding high standards of quality, accuracy, and message discipline.  

• Establish an operating cadence (shared objectives, quarterly planning, regular reviews) that ensures coordination and alignment across all three teams. 

• Foster a culture of seizing opportunity, collaboration, accountability, and excellence. 

Organization Wide Alignment and Clear Messagingreactgoaidata