Communications Director

Location: Dallas, Texas
Job Category: Other
Job ID: 12266
Employment Type: Full time
Salary:
Posted: 03.26.2025

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Occupations:

Job Description:

Communications Director
 
KERA, North Texas’ source for NPR and PBS programming, is looking for a Communications Director to join our team.

WHO WE ARE:
Serving the country’s fifth-largest media market, KERA reaches more than 4.5 million people monthly through KERA TV, KERA News, KXT, WRR and The Denton Record-Chronicle. For more than 60 years, North Texans have turned to KERA as a destination for community engagement and lifelong learning.
As we seek to recognize and reflect our audience and communities, we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and points of view to consider employment opportunities at KERA.


POSITION SUMMARY:
KERA is seeking a strategic communications professional to serve in the role of Communications Director. This position will be responsible for leading strategic internal and external communications at KERA, including writing, creating and deploying many different types of communications to a variety of stakeholders — including KERA’s team, Board of Directors, partner organizations, community advisory boards and other groups.

The Communications Director will report directly to KERA’s Chief of Staff and will manage an organization-wide communications calendar. The Director will work to ensure communications to KERA’s many stakeholders are clear, cohesive, on brand, and convey KERA’s unique mission and distinctive identity. This includes communications around community affairs, government relations and constituent engagement work. This position will work closely with the President & CEO; VP, People Strategy, KERA’s Board of Directors, advisory boards and more. This position will also work closely with KERA’s Audience Development, Development, and Content teams to ensure internal and external messaging is consistent across the organization. The Communications Director will think strategically and broadly about how to tell KERA’s story to its many diverse and growing audiences.

The Communications Director is FLSA classified as an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime.


WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Communications

• Manage a strategic, organizational-wide communications calendar, working closely with KERA’s Senior Leadership team
• Ensure KERA’s stakeholders (internal team, audiences, Board of Directors, Community Advisory Boards) have a clear understanding of KERA’s mission and strategic priorities
• Create and deploy strategic communications including, but not limited to:
  •   Reports, presentations and key messaging for KERA’s Board of Directors, staff, advisory boards, and others
  •   Crisis communications and talking points
  •   Press releases, media relations and government relations
  •   Fundraising materials
     
• Manage KERA’s media and press contact list
• Support and help execute communications as related to KERA’s fundraising and development efforts, in coordination with KERA’s Development team  
• Create and develop messaging and storytelling that enhances KERA’s reputation and increases alignment with industry partners, for a broad set of constituents, including congressional outreach  
• Partner with VP, People Strategy, Chief of Staff, and others to deploy strategic internal communications and initiatives that celebrate our culture, drive engagement, and enable business results.

Project Management and Constituent Relations

• Assist the Chief of Staff in supporting KERA’s Board of Directors and Community Advisory Boards, including planning meeting presentations, updates, providing administrative operational and implementation support and more.
• Support the Chief of Staff in executing strategies and goals in community affairs to ensure that KERA has representation and engagement in critical discussions, meetings, events, and other opportunities.
• Coordinate logistics of projects from the Executive Office as assigned.

General

• In collaboration with other team members, help solve the root cause of problems, document processes and create efficiencies where possible.
• Shape culture, implement systems and support staff to ensure KERA is a great place to work and grow.​​​
• Work in a manner that is consistent with KERA’s mission, vision and values; and maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.
• Perform additional duties as assigned
   

This list of job duties is not exhaustive and is subject to regular reviews and updates.
 

Job Requirements:

WHAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL:
We believe a strong organization includes employees from a range of backgrounds, with different skills, experiences and passions. If you do not meet every position qualification but have some of these skills and feel you could be the right candidate for the job, we would like to hear from you. Please apply and tell us more about yourself.

• Excellent communication skills, including short- and long-form writing, copyediting, scripting and more
• Ability to write from different perspectives and voices than your own and often switch between those perspectives quickly, as needed
• 6+ years of experience in communications, PR, marketing, executive office management, project management, or strategy
• Experience in crisis communications and internal communications
• Outstanding time management skills and the ability to complete multiple tasks on deadline.
• Must be an innovative, creative and accountable problem solver, and a self-starter.
• Must have a strong command of the following software: Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and other Office applications.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and think strategically
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to support staff navigating change
• Experience working in dynamic, fast-paced, daily environment.
• Passionate and enthusiastic about public media and serving a diverse North Texas audience
• Experience or passion for working in non-profit management
   

SALARY RANGE:
$84,000-$94,000 annually depending on experience.


BENEFITS

• Generous vacation (3 weeks), sick (8 days), personal time (2 days) and holidays (11)
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance
• KERA-paid short and long-term disability, basic life insurance and AD&D insurance
• Flexible scheduling and hybrid work environment
• 401k plan with KERA-contribution after 6 months
• Robust employee assistance program available to the employee and all members of their household

LOCATION:
We expect this position to work out of our Dallas office at least 50% of the time (equivalent to 20 hours per week).


HOW TO APPLY:

• Complete the application on KERA’s employment page.
• Optional cover letter indicating why you’re excited about joining the KERA team
   

APPLICATION TIMELINE:
We generally close roles 2-4 weeks after posting. The hiring process may continue for several weeks after the closing of the role depending on the number of applicants. This role may require a writing test and samples during the interview process.

 
KERA is an Equal Opportunity Employer
At KERA, we are committed to equal employment opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic or basis protected by law.