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 Messaging 

• Help anchor the organization in a shared narrative and ensure coordinated messaging for priority campaigns, policy moments, publications, and major announcements. 

• Provide internal and external stakeholders with timely guidance, talking points, and communications support. 

• Reinforce message consistency and brand discipline across all external touch points. 

 

WHO YOU ARE 

• You are a senior communications executive with demonstrated success leading a complex work portfolio — and you bring the range, judgment, and readiness to oversee communications, development, and research/data as integrated, high performing functions. 

• You bring deep expertise in strategic communications, including message development, media relations, rapid response, and crisis communications in policy or advocacy environments. 

• You have meaningful experience partnering with or managing development teams: shaping donor narratives, strengthening proposals and stewardship, and aligning messaging and data to support diversified fundraising goals. 

• You understand how to leverage research and data to influence opinion, strengthen policy arguments, and power organizational storytelling — and you have managed analytical or research-driven workstreams. 

• You excel at distilling complex issues into compelling content for policymakers, media, funders, and the public. 

• You are an leader who turns vision into executable strategies, tactics and projects; you manage budgets, set high standards, and lead managers; you coach teams and consultants to deliver consistent quality at a fast pace. 

• You lead through collaboration and clarity, building cross team alignment and driving results in dynamic, high visibility contexts. 

• You are a confident, polished communicator who operates effectively in high-stakes settings with senior executives, board members, donors, and press. 

• You demonstrate sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to navigate complex political and advocacy environments. 

• You are committed to the mission of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and passionate about expanding access to high-quality public education for all students. 

 

WHAT WE OFFER 

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools offers a sector-leading salary and benefits package. We cover 100% of an employee’s medical, dental, and vision premiums, and 50% for spouses and dependents, including an HRA to cover 100% of in-network medical deductibles. We also offer: 

• 403(b) retirement account with up to a 6% match after 90 days of employment 

• Automatic life insurance coverage, short- and long-term disability coverage, and FSA 

• 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave 

• 25 PTO days annually, plus every federal holiday and a week off at year-end 

• Monthly reimbursement for internet and cellular service, plus a $500 home office setup stipend in your first 90 days 

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $200,000–$240,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.  

 

WHO WE ARE 

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools believes that all families deserve high-quality public school options. Charter schools are independent public schools providing families with a new set of public school options. Each of these schools is developed to be a partnership between parents, teachers, and students.    

When given the option, parents are choosing to enroll their children in charter schools. In fact, the demand for charter schools is far outpacing the supply in most communities. What began as a small movement in a few states has grown to become a major force in education reform across the country. Through advocacy, research, and strategic communications, the National Alliance works to grow the number of high-quality charter schools available to all families, especially those who do not have access to high-quality public schools.