Director of Communications

The Seattle Promise program and the Public Relations and Strategic Initiatives office are hiring a Director of Communications for Seattle Promise.

Salary Range for this position is $95,690 to $132,141 annually (depending on experience). 

Opportunity is open until filled; first review of materials will begin October 3rd, 2025.

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Public Relations and Strategic Initiatives and working closely with the Sr. Executive Director for Seattle Promise, this position serves on the Seattle Promise leadership team and leads the Seattle Promise program's 

• Public relations (issues management, policy development, internal and external communications, media relations, social media management, advertising and marketing, writing, and web development) 
• Strategic communication planning and execution: creating, implementing, managing, and measuring effective campaigns.

This position may supervise staff, including full-time staff, interns, and/or student program ambassadors as the program matures.

This position is funded by the City of Seattle's Family, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy which is fully funded through June 30, 2026, with the possibility of extending with the renewal of the City's Education Levy.

This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, primarily 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.. This position may be required to work evenings and weekends as needed. 

About Us

Seattle Colleges

We are a district of three distinct colleges: North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College; and five specialty training centers. Which makes us the largest and most diverse community college district in the state of Washington, we are leaders in change and innovation. 

Seattle Colleges is committed to recruiting dedicated faculty and employees who together create a welcoming academic climate that reflects the diverse backgrounds of our community, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, race, gender, gender identity, age, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, disability, political status, and sexual orientation.

As a Seattle Colleges employee, you will gain access to a great benefits package including: 

• Competitive Pay Rates 
• Promotional Opportunities 
• Great Medical, Dental, and Retirement plans 
• Paid Sick and Vacation Leave 
• Transportation benefits 
• Tuition Waivers
• PEBB Wellness Plan 
• Washington State Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Seattle Colleges staff and faculty also enjoy professional development opportunities and enrichment experiences in areas of their choice, including committee, workgroup, and affinity group opportunities.

Seattle Promise

 

Seattle Promise is a partnership created in 2018 with the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools to create more equitable higher-education opportunities for Seattle public high school graduates. Seattle Promise offers graduates regardless of GPA, income, ability, or country of birth two years (or up to 90 credits) of tuition and additional financial support for fees, books, course supplies, etc. to those with financial need.

The program also provides personal support and guidance from 12th grade through associate degree completion to ensure student success, as well as priority access to ORCA transit cards, Path to UW advisors and programming and other transfer pathways, paid internships through the Seattle Youth Employment Program, mentoring through Project Baldwin, WSOS scholarship funds, and more. 

Seattle Promise an example of Seattle Colleges civic and educational partnerships has been recognized by The Seattle Times as a flagship program leading the way for other promise programs in the region.

Application Procedures:

1. Attach a cover letter addressing how your background intersects with the job
2. Attach current resume
3. Attach a PR/Communications/Marketing plan created and implemented by the applicant.

Required application materials must be completed and submitted online

Notice to Applicants:

Please note that Seattle Colleges has moved to holding interviews virtually using video conference options such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. As such, if you are selected for an interview, please be prepared to hold your interview virtually.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a regular basis. The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

What you will be working on:

Representation

• Represents the Seattle Colleges and the highly visible Seattle Promise program.

Representation: External

• Coordinates with other high school programs and initiatives, college programs and initiatives, and partner programs and initiatives in support of the program and students.
• Facilitates check-ins with Seattle Promise leadership and other stakeholders as relevant. 
• Represents Seattle Colleges/Seattle Promise when coordinating with external program partners, including Seattle Public Schools, the City of Seattle, the City of Seattle's Department of Education and Early Learning, university partners, and other partners on mutually beneficial public information projects and activities.
• Collaborates with relevant stakeholders to assist with community engagement and legislative advocacy efforts.

Representation: Internal 

• Represents Seattle Promise and the District Communications and Strategic Initiatives office on related districtwide communication efforts.
• Coordinates efforts with Seattle Promise, Running Start, and other high school programs recruitment and district communications to align strategy, leverage resources, and measure effectiveness.
• Coordinates efforts with Seattle Promise, Project Baldwin, TRIO, Advising, Student Life, and other Seattle Colleges Student Services departments to align strategy, leverage resources, and measure effectiveness. 
• Collaborates with staff and partners to ensure messages, visual identity, and branding are consistent, integrated, and aligned. 
• Connects and collaborates with staff to identify and respond to communication needs. 
• Meets and works with district and college communications leadership, Seattle Promise leadership, relevant high school and college programs, and partners to create and implement communication plans focused on improving the program's image and reputation and student recruitment and retention. 
• Works with communications and program colleagues to develop audience- and program-specific content.
• Collaborates with communications colleagues to establish program policies, standards, and calendar/scheduling.
• Trains and prepares Seattle Promise Student Ambassadors for public appearances and opportunities.

Representation: Seattle Promise Team 

• The Director serves on the strategic communications team, Seattle Promise leadership team, and is the communications counsel for the Seattle Promise program staff.
• Serves as communications counsel for the Seattle Promise program at Seattle Colleges.
• Actively engages in Seattle Promise full-team meetings and retreats, which are typically held on campus.

Communications

• Leads the development and implementation of communications programs that enhance the image and reputation of Seattle Promise and increase student recruitment, enrollment, and retention. 
• Coordinates and executes new development with the communications, recruitment, and web team colleagues to align efforts and ensure a seamless student experience across Seattle Colleges. 
• Recommends processes and policy development and is involved in decision-making. 
• Leads the development of the recruitment, retention, and completion communication funnel including managing digital marketing and advertising, social media, website development, and CRM communications. 

Communications: Planning

• Leads the development and execution of strategic communications plans for Seattle Promise key audiences, including students, parents and other external and internal stakeholders. Plans will include goals, measurable objectives, strategies, and tactics that support Seattle Promise 
• Works with communications leadership, Seattle Promise leadership, high school program teams, and college student service departments to create and implement communications plans for student recruitment, enrollment, retention, and completion

Communications: Internal

• Directs internal communications planning and implementation that increases faculty and staff knowledge, understanding, and support about program goals, priorities, and updates 

Communications: Media Relations

• Leads Seattle Promise media relations efforts, including acting as media contact, preparing program spokespersons with talking points/coaching/FAQs, and publicizing/extending coverage obtained in local and national media.
• Plans, tracks, and reports the communications budget for Seattle Promise

Communication: Products and Materials

• Manages the graphic identity and top-tier communication products (including print collateral, video, etc.) for Seattle Promise key audiences.
• Develops and approves top-tier products to ensure visual identity and brand standards before external distribution.
• Maintains Seattle Colleges editorial and brand style guide, including Seattle Promise's guidelines.
• Manages and maintains the Seattle Promise official website and social media accounts and creates content for high school students. 
• Leads the development of communications products (emails, presentations, speeches, talking points, printed resources) for executive leadership. 
• Directs and approves communications products and materials to enhance Seattle Promise's image and reputation. 
• Leads with an access mindset, focused on closing opportunity and educational gaps in Seattle, crafting communications and publishing materials that are culturally responsive and accessible for all communities served by the college, including, individuals with disabilities, individuals whose primary language is not English, and communities historically underrepresented in higher education 
• Develops and review communications products and materials (ads, brochures, videos, infographics, etc.) to support high school recruitment campaigns.
• Develops and reviews communication products and materials (ads, brochures, videos, infographics, posters, etc.) to support student recruitment, retention, and completion.

Assessment

• Supports program assessment goals in collaboration with the program's Director of Research and Planning 
• Conducts annual communications audits and develops recommendations for improvement.

This description is not intended to cover every aspect of this job, we are a team that works together to meet the needs of those we serve, and every member of the team is expected to contribute, even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this posting.

What you bring as a candidate (Any Equivalent Combination of Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education and Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations or journalism or a related field; and an equivalent combination of 10-plus years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated progressive professional leadership and experience in public relations (issues management, policy development, internal and external communications, media relations, social media management, advertising and marketing, writing, and web development).
• Demonstrated progressive professional leadership and experience in strategic communication planning and execution: creating, implementing, managing, and measuring effective campaigns. 
• Demonstrated professional experience leading public relations in a complex environment consisting of unionized labor, decentralized executive leadership, and major government entities (i.e., the City of Seattle, Seattle Public Schools, and the Washington State Legislature).
• Demonstrated successful experience managing budgets in a budget environment with multi budgets, funding sources and restrictions.
• Demonstrated experience exercising sound judgement, business acumen, political savvy, confidentiality, and communication counsel. 
• Demonstrated experience making presentations to top executives and community leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Demonstrated success leading teams, including teams comprising of content creators (e.g. writers, artists, graphics designers, etc.).
• Demonstrated successful experience working with multiple high-level executives and stakeholder groups consisting of unionized labor and executive leadership from major government entities (i.e., the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools, and Washington State Legislature).
• Demonstrated successful experience working with multiple stakeholders of diverse communities, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities including employees, community members, students, individuals with disabilities, individuals for whom English is not their first language, etc.
• Demonstrated successful experience creating communications materials that are culturally responsive and accessible to diverse communities.
• Demonstrated management and supervisory experience. 
• Ability to travel between Seattle College campuses and other worksites within Seattle.

Physical Demands and Disability Accommodation

Persons with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodation in all aspects of employment with Seattle Colleges. This includes, but is not limited to, recruitment, application, interviewing, hiring, training, termination, conditions of employment, and any other employer-supported activities. Applicants requesting accommodation should contact Human Resources.

Office Setting:

Seattle Colleges follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides the following information as a guideline for applicants: 

• Ability to operate office equipment, receive and interpret data, and prepare various materials
• Ability to exchange information with supervisor, lead, co-workers, and students
• Ability to provide 1:1 support, present to small groups, and work at a computer exercising repetitive hand motion
• Work is performed primarily in office settings with frequent interruptions and encounters noises typical of these settings 

Notice of Non-Discrimination Statement

Seattle Colleges is committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity for all its students, employees, and applicants in education, employment, services and contracts, and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, color, age, hair texture or protective hairstyles, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression, status as an honorably discharged veteran or disabled veteran or military status, political affiliation or belief, citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability. In addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations for all otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. Further, Seattle Colleges is committed to ensure that all employees and students work and learn in an environment that fosters mutual respect and professionalism, free from all forms of "bullying" behaviors, including "cyber bullying."

Students, employees, and applicants at Seattle Colleges can reach the Title IX Coordinator or ADA/Section 504 Coordinator for questions about discrimination, harassment or grievance procedures.

Background Check Statement 

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. In addition to the background check, candidates will complete Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Form WA HB 2327 as required.