Director of Communications

Description

Job Title: Director of Communications

Full Time, 12 Month, Role Level 5

Reports To: Chief Development Officer

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Who We Are:

YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School is a tuition-free, public charter high school, with a singular focus on supporting youth aged 17-20 who have been pushed out of traditional schools. During our 1-year alternative program, Youthbuild facilitates a warm, loving culture that uses a variety of structures to build community, such as a restorative-justice approach to discipline, weekly community meetings, and school-wide service projects. Students are empowered to attain their high school diploma and vocational certifications, while receiving unconditional support by the staff around them. At YouthBuild, we work intentionally to disrupt the cycle of poverty and support our students to achieve post-secondary success (4-year college, 2-year college, vocational training program, or liveable wage job). Visit https://www.youthbuildphilly.org/ to learn more.

The Opportunity:

In April 2025, The Philadelphia Inquirer published a powerful opinion piece by Temple University Assistant Professor DaVonti’ Haynes titled “The Forgotten Millions: Disconnected Young Americans.” In it, he notes that roughly 1 in 6 young adults nationwide—some 30,000 in Philadelphia alone—are neither enrolled in school nor employed full time. What Haynes describes as a quietly brewing crisis is loud and clear within the walls of YouthBuild Philly where 250 of those Philadelphia youth, who otherwise would have been left forgotten, are found and being heard. YouthBuild Philly seeks a seasoned communications professional to join our team as Director of Communications (DOC) to raise awareness of the critical role we play in changing the landscape for disengaged youth. You will be a part of a five-person advancement team which annually raises half of YouthBuild Phily’s revenue. The DOC will join the team at a critical time, as we approach a 35th anniversary, and seek to grow and diversify revenue against ambitious goals. The position reports to the Chief Development Officer, serving as a key thought partner and playing a crucial role in shaping and promoting the YouthBuild Philly brand, elevating the School’s presence, and engaging key stakeholders including donors, decision makers, government officials, prospective students and families, and the wider Philadelphia community. The successful candidate will be comfortable working towards impact, making sure that activities align with stated KPIs and using data to inform decision making. An important part of this position is listening to student voices and connecting this lived experience to our target audiences. The ideal candidate will be a highly creative storyteller and strategic thinker who can amplify YouthBuild Philly’s voice and mission and can collaborate with development team members to create donor communications that inspire action.

Who You Are:

You are/have…

• A bachelor’s degree and 5 + years of communications experience. 
• A high level of attention to detail and strong written and oral communication skills. 
• Excellent ability to establish priorities, coordinate work activities, multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment with accuracy and attention to detail. 
• A self-starter, able to work independently and as a team, and able to adjust to shifting priorities.
• Ability to consistently make good decisions through a combination of analysis, experience, and judgment. 
• Strong analytical, organization and problem-solving skills, strategic data interpretation skills. 
• Excellent people skills with the ability to build relationships across leadership levels and functions. 
• Comfortable with design, web content management, and graphic editing tools and practices.
• Highly collaborative and dedicated to personal and professional development. 
• Able to work enthusiastically with diverse audiences including young-adult students, donors, the media, and government officials. 
• Equity-focused, believing that all students can achieve. 
• Excited to mentor students and support them throughout their time at YouthBuild and beyond. 
• Familiarity with platforms like WordPress, Canva, Network for Good, and all social media platforms.

Requirements

What You’ll Do:

You will…

• Develop and execute YB Philly’s marketing and communications strategy/plan for fundraising, awareness and recruitment, including press releases, profile/feature stories, broadcasts, and press conferences. 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for media, cultivating