Director of Communications

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), a dynamic higher education advocacy organization with a 20 year history of success, seeks a personable, creative, well-organized, and strategic communications professional to join our team as Director of Communications. Founded in 1995, ACTA works to advance academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability through research, public education, and outreach to policymakers and trustees. Our work has recently been featured in prominent outlets such as the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.

The Communications Department is charged with presenting ACTA’s message in an informed, articulate, and accurate manner and maintaining a distinctive tone and style across all external-facing materials and communications.

The Director works to advance ACTA’s core message and serves as the point person for media and public relations, digital and social media, and other external-facing communications. He or she focuses on developing high-quality written materials such as news releases, op-eds, and other essential communications and cultivating relationships with members of the media and external partners who can help further ACTA’s mission. The Director of Communications reports to the President and works extensively with both the President and Vice President of Policy to plan multi-pronged communications campaigns designed to expand the organization’s reach and visibility.

Responsibilities

Among other responsibilities, it is the role of the Director of Communications to:

• Develop creative release strategies for ACTA’s reports, publications, and initiatives that leverage multiple channels, including earned media, digital and social media, and external partnerships with allies and influencers.
• Manage relations and proactive outreach to national, local, and trade media and constantly search for ways to maximize media opportunities.
• Regularly draft news releases, op-eds, articles, blog posts, and other external-facing collateral for print and online publication.
• Serve as frontline media contact and work to prepare on-the-record spokespeople, principally ACTA’s president.
• Initiate and maintain strong relationships with key trade publications and members of the media, as well as think tanks and analysts covering the higher education sector.
• Oversee ACTA’s digital and social media campaigns, working with ACTA’s Digital Producer/Communications Officer to develop digital and social media content, including blogs, podcasts, web and social media copy, etc.
• Ensure that reports and publications consistently and accurately reflect the organization’s messaging and positioning through collaborating with subject matter experts and project directors.
• Supervise the creation of digital and traditional media analytics and provide other staff with analytical reports that document key outcomes and achievements.

Qualifications: The Director of Communications must approach these tasks as an entrepreneurial enterprise, requiring an understanding of and proactive approach to ACTA’s program activities. The successful candidate will possess a comprehensive knowledge of a wide range of print, broadcast, and digital channels, as well as the specific requirements and strategies for disseminating an organization’s message using each of those channels. He or she will be expected to act with the highest degree of personal responsibility, accountability, and honesty.

A minimum of 5-7 years in strategic communications and public relations is required. Knowledge of higher education and policy is strongly preferred, but not required. This is a mid-senior appointment, so experience managing and mentoring staff is essential.

To apply: Please send cover letter and resume to Nick Barden at info@goacta.org.

Program Associate, Communications

ACTA’s Communications Department is responsible for all digital communications, as well as several related sections of our website. The department is charged with presenting ACTA’s message to the outside world in an informed, articulate, and accurate manner. The department strives to maintain ACTA’s distinctive tone and style in all its work, from 140 character tweets to extended articles and op-eds.

The Program Associate, Communications assists in the coordination of ACTA’s communications efforts under the supervision of the Program Officer, Communications and the Director of Communications. Responsibilities include:

• Assisting the Digital Media Producer in developing and expanding ACTA’s new media program.
• Assisting in drafting eBlasts and monthly eNewsletters.
• Contributing to ACTA’s blog (The Forum).
• Providing content for ACTA’s Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts under the supervision of the Digital Media Producer.
• Providing a weekly report to the staff detailing ACTA’s social media presence.
• Updating the News Roundup on the website and assisting with website maintenance.
• Contributing stories to ACTA’s quarterly newsletter, Inside Academe.
• Scrubbing media lists.
• Maintaining a database of LTE and op-ed submission guidelines at major papers.
• Producing sound research on matters concerning higher education policy and reform.
• Assisting as needed with the execution and promotion of programmatic work.

The Communications Associate must approach these tasks as an entrepreneurial enterprise, requiring an understanding of and proactive approach to ACTA’s program activities. This role requires a personable, creative, dynamic, well organized, highly motivated, and principled person. This individual is expected to act with the highest degree of personal responsibility, accountability, and honesty.

To apply: Please send cover letter and resume to Nick Barden at info@goacta.org.

Policy Database Internship

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni seeks accomplished, high-energy undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with excellent research abilities for remote, part-time internships with ACTA.

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) is an independent, non-profit organization committed to academic freedom, excellence, and accountability at America's colleges and universities. Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives a philosophically rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.

Part-time interns will primarily conduct research and enter data for ACTA's What Will They Learn?™ project. This is a unique opportunity to help create a one-of-a-kind database of over 35,000 secondary school guidance counselors.

Responsibilities:

• Creating a database of over 35,000 public and private school guidance counselors
• Researching structures of public and private secondary schools
• Using search tools to identify and locate secondary school guidance counselors
• Assisting department staff to implement streamlined data collection procedures
• Providing logistical support to curricular improvement department’s national and regional outreach initiatives

Experience Required:

Candidates or Recipients of BA/BS; strong attention to detail; database experience a plus

To apply for this internship, please e-mail your resume and a cover letter to info@goacta.org or mail it to 1730 M Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036.