Communications and Digital Director

Responsibilities

• Communications Strategy and Planning (25%): Develop and implement CDT's communications strategy, with the goal of reshaping public discourse and building demand for evidence-based insights and interventions. Steward brand identity, messaging, and voice, and apply them consistently across channels. Set the editorial framework, including quarterly themes and how research releases, programs, and events map onto them. Lead quarterly and launch planning, and sequence campaigns so a single initiative is strategically supported across the web, email, social, and media. Own the intake relationship with the research team, including intake criteria and minimum lead times, and help prioritize communications requests against Center priorities. Collaborate with leadership on high-impact, translational applications of research, and define how success is measured.
• Writing, Editing, and Content (20%): Own the editorial calendar. Write and edit content for the website, newsletter, social channels, and support select presentations and research reports, as well as thought leadership pieces. Provide editorial direction and quality review for intern-produced content. Produce simple visuals and collateral using CDT templates, and determine when work may require the support of a designer.
• Digital Channels and Website (15%): Set the role and audience of each digital channel (website, email, social) and adjust the channel mix based on performance data. Serve as internal lead for the website refresh: set goals, write the vendor brief, review deliverables against CDT's objectives and voice, and manage scope, timeline, and internal review. Following launch, oversee the website's content, accessibility, and search visibility, and set email program priorities such as segmentation and list growth. Manage external web, design, and technology partners.
• External Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement (10%): Lead communications for strategic partnerships with funders, fellows, educators, and peer organizations, ensuring alignment with CDT objectives. Represent CDT at public events as needed and support communications for the CDT Fellows Program.
• Media Relations (10%): Support media engagement and coordination. Develop media prep materials for researchers, review press materials and pitches, and serve as the internal point of contact for media inquiries. With external support, build relationships with key journalists to help reflect more youth and educator perspectives in media stories.
• Fundraising and Development Support (10%): Work with leadership to integrate communications into fundraising and grant management. With leadership, help develop proposals for prospective funders, prepare impact and grant reports, including the annual impact report. Create funder/donor engagement materials that show progress and impact.
• Team, Systems, and Process (10%): Supervise two student interns, including scoping, direction, quality review, and onboarding. Design and document communications processes, such as research intake, launch sequencing, templates, and reviews and approvals, always rightsizing them for a small team. Coordinate with the Operations Coordinator and with partner organizations and consultants.

Requirements

• - A Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• - A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, strategy, or audience engagement, including experience setting communications strategy for an organization or major program, ideally within an academic, research, nonprofit, education, or thought leadership environment.
• - A minimum of three years supervising staff or interns.
• - Experience managing external vendors, agencies, or consultants, such as on a website, design, or media relations.
• - Hands-on experience with content management systems, email newsletter platforms, social media tools, and digital analytics.

Preferred

• Experience translating research for practitioner audiences, and the ability to write in an engaging, direct, non-promotional style.
• Experience leading a website project with an external vendor or agency.
• Experience building systems, workflows, and processes within a small or resource-constrained organization.
• Experience supporting fundraising through grant reports, impact reports, or funder materials.
• Editorial background or experience leading an editorial calendar is a plus.
• Experience in education or the technology sector is a plus.
• WordPress, Canva, Notion, Slack, Kit, and G-Suite preferred.
• Organized and process oriented, with strong written and verbal communication skills; collaborative and comfortable working in a growing organization.

Benefits

• Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
• - Generous paid time off including parental leave
• - Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• - Retirement plans with university contributions
• - Wellbeing and mental health resources
• - Support for families and caregivers
• - Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• - Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks
• Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page .