JOB DESCRIPTION
Date: February 2025
POSITION: COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
REPORTS TO: President and CEO
POSITION OVERVIEW: The National WIC Association (NWA), the nonprofit education arm and advocacy voice of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), has an immediate opening for a Communications Director.
The Communications Director provides strategic leadership for the Association’s communications team and serves as a key member of the NWA leadership team. This role is responsible for overseeing all communication efforts that support NWA’s policy and advocacy initiatives, the Center for Innovative Practices, member services, conferences, NWA products, and other organizational activities. This position reports directly to the President and CEO, and oversees a team of four.
The Communications Director will be a member of the NWA leadership team, which is responsible for shaping organizational strategy and decision-making. Leadership team members also model NWA’s core values (curiosity, balance, clarifying power) and promote a positive and collaborative work culture within the organization.
The NWA communications team works closely with all departments across the organization. The ideal candidate will thrive in a strategic, cross-functional communications role, managing diverse projects such as leading an NWA brand and website overhaul, crafting strategic media responses to emerging WIC issues, marketing NWA conferences, and more. This dynamic position requires a leader who excels at tailoring messaging to various audiences and is skilled at working collaboratively, strategically, and creatively.
The successful candidate will have experience managing public policy communications related to public health and/or nutrition. WIC subject matter expertise is preferable.
Responsibilities:
Strengthens NWA and WIC’s visibility and reputation by strategically leveraging their brands, expertise, and trusted leadership.
Supervises the communications team, including mentoring staff, fostering a supportive team culture, and managing workload and capacity.
Drives NWA's public-facing content across platforms to raise awareness, create momentum, and promote NWA's organizational priorities. This includes overseeing the development of communication strategies, press releases, conference promotions, digital advocacy campaigns, social media events, etc.
Serves as NWA’s primary press contact and lead media strategist, overseeing media relations, press briefings, media events, and pitch materials. Manages and expands NWA’s press list, strengthens media engagement, is readily available to respond to press inquiries, and monitors all WIC-related media placements.
Coordinates media engagements and prepares NWA and WIC spokespersons for interviews, press events, and public appearances.
Directs consistent generation of compelling digital and social media content that actively engages diverse WIC stakeholders and drives measurable advocacy efforts.
Leads management of NWA websites, including coordinating website updates and maintenance and ensuring new content is consistent and posted regularly.
Develops and manages the annual communications team budget in coordination with the Director of Finance and Administration.
Participates in the NWA leadership team, shaping organization-wide strategies and fostering cross-departmental collaboration.
Requirements:
7-10 years of experience working in the field of Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or other related fields. Public Health and Maternal Child Health experience is a plus.
Bachelor’s degree in Communications or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
Experience developing and implementing communications strategies for non-profit organizations.
Experience managing and motivating a team of at least 2.
Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills.
An ability to reach diverse audiences through content creation, writing and verbal communication.
A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently.
An ability to be responsive to press inquiries and build strong working relationships with journalists, pitching stories and managing press coverage.
Experience working on communications specific to advocacy and/or policy related issues.
Proven ability to handle high-pressure situations and manage crisis communication effectively.
Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters.
Ability to think strategically to align communications strategies with organizational goals.
Experience in brand management.
Proficiency in social media platforms, content management systems and analytics tools.
Skilled in prioritizing and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Project management is a plus.
Commitment to the mission and vision of NWA.
Commitment to integrating equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging into communications strategy and management style.
Salary Range:
$125,000 - $145,000
NWA full-time staff must be based in the DC metro area, which includes Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We currently have a hybrid work environment with the expectation of 32 hours per month in the physical office at 1099 14th Street, NW Washington, DC. At NWA, we value equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all that we do, and encourage those from underrepresented groups to apply for this position.
NWA provides competitive benefits, including hybrid work, tuition reimbursement program, ongoing professional development opportunities in addition to generous health care plans, dental and vision coverage, flex spending account, dependant care flex spending account, basic term life, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, long term disability insurance, paid time off, free gym access, a company-matched 403b retirement program, employee assistance program, cell phone and internet stipend, and more.
To apply, please click here and submit a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples . No phone solicitation accepted.
More Information: https://www.nwica.org/nwa-job-postings