Responsibilities

• Enterprise brand strategy and positioning: define and evolve NACD’s brand narrative, positioning, messaging architecture, and brand guardrails across key audiences and segments.
• Enterprise initiative campaigns: lead integrated campaigns for signature programs and priorities (e.g., Blue Ribbon Commission, Directorship 100), ensuring clear narrative, cross-channel execution, and consistent messaging.
• Strategic communications and PR: set annual communications strategy tied to enterprise priorities; lead proactive and reactive media strategy; manage press releases, statements, and communications planning.
• Reputation and risk management: serve as a trusted counselor to executive leadership on sensitive issues; build decision frameworks and rapid response protocols; coordinate cross-functional crisis communications as needed.
• Executive visibility and leadership communications: drive a disciplined, year-round executive visibility program across LinkedIn, speaking opportunities, bylines, interviews, and internal messaging; ensure leadership voice is aligned to strategy.
• Thought leadership and content platform: oversee the newsroom/editorial approach, governance content campaigns, and strategic storytelling; ensure content supports both human audiences and AI-driven discovery.
• Internal communications: own internal communications strategy and operating cadence; improve channel discipline and message ROI; support change management for enterprise initiatives; partner with HR/Ops on employee engagement and leadership messaging.
• Creative and agency leadership: lead internal and external creative/PR resources; set clear briefs, service levels, and performance expectations; ensure creative output is on-brand, high-quality, and efficient.
• Measurement and insights: define success metrics for brand, communications, and internal comms; establish reporting cadence that ties visibility and engagement to enterprise outcomes.
• Fiscal and operational stewardship: own budgets, forecasting, vendor contracts, and spend accountability; make tradeoffs and resourcing recommendations consistent with a lean organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in communications, including team management and cross-functional influence.
• Demonstrated success building and executing brand and communications strategies that drive measurable visibility, engagement, and trust.
• Deep expertise in media relations, executive communications, thought leadership, and digital-first storytelling (including social platforms).
• Experience leading internal communications strategy, including channel governance and change communications.
• Strong business acumen, including budget ownership, vendor management, and resource prioritization.
• Exceptional writing and editorial judgment; ability to translate complex strategy into clear, compelling messaging for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to lead in a matrixed environment with professionalism, calm judgment, and strong stakeholder management.

Preferred

• Experience in membership associations, education, or professional services organizations.
• Familiarity with corporate governance, boardroom audiences, or executive education markets.