2 weeks ago
Director, External Communications
Blue Star Families
District of Columbia, USA (Hybrid)Full time$87K/yr – $120K/yr
Director, External Communications
District of Columbia, USA (Hybrid)
$87K/yr – $120K/yrDirector/ExecutiveFull time
Posted 2 weeks ago
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Job Summary
Own media relations and external storytelling, coordinating earned and partner channels to broaden reach with military families and advocates.
- Own media relations and proactive opportunities across national to local outlets with a focus on veterans and military family audiences.
- Lead social strategy and content amplification to align programs, campaigns, and partnerships with measurable engagement.
- Oversee PR agency and influencer/partner programs to craft consistent messages and drive earned coverage.
Job Description
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute earned media strategies that increase awareness of Blue Star Families, its programs, research, and advocacy priorities.
- Build and maintain relationships with national, regional, military, defense, nonprofit, lifestyle, and mainstream media outlets.
- Identify and secure media opportunities for organizational leadership, subject matter experts, military families, and program representatives.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for media inquiries and coordinate timely responses.
- Manage the organization's public relations agency and other external communications partners, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and performance expectations.
- Develop media materials including press releases, media advisories, talking points, key messages, briefing documents, and spokesperson preparation materials.
- Monitor news cycles and identify opportunities to proactively position Blue Star Families in relevant conversations and coverage.
- Lead the development and execution of Blue Star Families' social media strategy across all platforms.
- Oversee social media content planning and collaborate with internal teams to amplify programs, campaigns, events, partnerships, and advocacy initiatives.
- Analyze audience engagement and platform performance to optimize content and drive growth.
- Develop and implement influencer, creator, and ambassador engagement strategies that expand reach and introduce new audiences to the organization's mission.
- Cultivate relationships with military-connected influencers, content creators, strategic partners, and brand advocates.
- Support communications initiatives tied to corporate partnerships, sponsorships, national campaigns, and special events.
- Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to identify compelling storytelling opportunities that advance organizational goals.
- Ensure consistency in messaging, brand voice, and organizational positioning across external-facing channels.
- Contribute to the planning and execution of integrated communications campaigns that leverage earned, owned, shared, and partner channels.
- Develop and maintain a diverse, organization-wide story bank of military- and veteran-connected families, volunteers, program participants, caregivers, and partners available for media opportunities, speaking engagements, advocacy efforts, fundraising campaigns, social media content, and organizational storytelling.
- Develop and execute communications plans that support organizational priorities, programs, research initiatives, advocacy efforts, partnerships, and special events.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify communications objectives, key audiences, messaging strategies, and promotional tactics for major initiatives.
- Draft and refine key messages, talking points, FAQs, presentations, executive communications, website content, articles, blogs, and other communications materials.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, PR, marketing, or a related field or comparable experience
- 5+ years of experience in media relations, public relations, social media, brand marketing, or external communications with 3+ years of experience managing an in-house communications team
- Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated media and social media strategies that drive measurable outcomes
- Proven experience securing earned media coverage and cultivating relationships with reporters, producers, influencers, and strategic partners
- Experience managing external agencies, contractors, consultants, or vendors
- Strong writing, editing, messaging, and storytelling skills across digital and traditional communications channels
- Highly organized with exceptional project management skills and the ability to coordinate multiple concurrent projects, deadlines, and stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and competing demands
- Self-starter who takes ownership of projects, identifies opportunities, and proactively drives work forward with limited direction
- Experience using media monitoring, social media management, analytics, and reporting platforms
- Ability to travel locally up to 60% of the time as required to perform essential job responsibilities
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as necessary to perform essential job responsibilities
- Ability to travel overnight on an occasional basis to attend meetings, trainings, conferences, and events
- Physical ability to lift and carry supplies and equipment up to 30 lbs
Preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, PR, marketing, or a related field; a graduate degree is preferred
- Experience working in a nonprofit, mission-driven or community-based organization
- Familiarity with chapter-based or distributed community models
- Experience with storytelling and its application to membership engagement and data
- Strong communication skills, self-starter, and you leverage creative thinking to address opportunities
Benefits
- Flexible work options (remote, or hybrid depending on the role)
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
- Flexible Spending Accounts, life insurance, and disability insurance
- Communications allowance
- Professional development and career growth opportunities
- PCS leave for Active Duty military spouses
Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families (BSF) is a national, nonprofit network by and for military families from all ranks and services, including active duty, National Guard and reserves. Wherever American military families go, Blue Star Families ensures connection, support, and empowerment to thrive in every community, across the nation, and around the globe. Founded by military spouses in 2009, the organization has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and served more than 1.5 million military family members annually, including wounded and transitioning service members and their loved ones. Free BSF worldwide membership includes military spouses, children, parents, and friends, as well as service members, veterans, and civilians. For more information, please visit bluestarfam.org.
Traffic Signals
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$28.5K
Marketing Team
Marketing Roles Posted (Last 30 Days)
1
Funding
Total Funding
$1M
Last Raise
$1M
Grant, 2 years ago
Funding History
- Dec 2023Grant • $1M