Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs

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Salary Range:

$100,000.00 - $125,000.00 USD annually.

As part of Arizona State University’s charter to provide access and excellence, ASU Preparatory Academy (ASU Prep) shares this commitment by demonstrating all students can achieve at the highest levels, regardless of their background. To scale our current impact, ASU Prep is advancing a major expansion program taking fundamental responsibility for the communities we serve.

The Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs leads strategy and execution for all communications activities across the charter school network. This includes internal communications, media relations, public opinion management, outreach to policymakers and advocacy groups, engagement with local businesses, and community reputation-building. This executive serves as a senior advisor and key spokesperson, reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer. The ideal candidate brings a proven ability to lead through complexity, tell powerful stories backed by evidence, and mobilize diverse stakeholders around a shared vision of student-centered learning.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in Marketing, Communications or related field.
• Ten (10) or more years of progressive leadership experience in Communications, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Journalism, or a related field.
• Five (5) or more years of Senior level experience leading a mid to large size team
• Proven success in media relations, crisis communication, policy advocacy, and community engagement.
• Active AZ Department of Public Safety (DPS) IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card .
• Any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement communication plans to keep faculty, staff, students, and families engaged and informed while building a culture of belonging.
• Oversee creation of newsletters, memos, and content for internal platforms.
• Advise leaders on change management and crisis communications.
• Work closely with ASU Media Relations to coordinate all media activities.
• Serve as chief spokesperson, managing press releases, media inquiries, and crisis responses.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, opinion leaders, and media outlets.
• Develop talking points, press kits, and executive communications for both proactive and reactive situations.
• Manage any outside Public Relations and Media Relations firms
• Lead engagement strategies with policymakers, government officials, and advocacy groups at local, state, and national levels.
• Develop advocacy campaigns and external communications supporting public policy objectives.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and advise leadership accordingly.
• Build partnerships and outreach programs with local businesses to support school initiatives.
• Serve as the primary liaison for corporate sponsorship communications and civic relationships.
• Represent the network at community meetings and public events.
• Design strategies to build and protect the organization’s reputation locally.
• Strengthen ASU Prep’s profile through proactive community engagement, media outreach, and strategic partnerships.
• Oversee planning and execution of community events that engage families and the broader community.
• Collaborate closely with school leaders to promote student and staff achievements at public events.
• Drive strategic content development including research publications, conference presentations, awards submissions, and RFP responses.
• Position ASU Prep leaders and initiatives as national voices in K–12 innovation and education equity.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Directly supervises employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include decisions related to selection, performance appraisal, discipline and salary recommendations.
• Build strong and empowered teams by providing direction, delegation, counsel, mentoring and expertise to individual team leads, while retaining overall responsibility and accountability for results.
• Promote and encourage the development, training and promotion of staff members to assure the perpetuation of a professional and competent workforce.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated excellence in strategic communication, with advanced verbal and written skills and strong public speaking abilities.
• Proven expertise across the full media spectrum, including digital, print, broadcast, technology driven and industry journals.
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building, and influencing skills, with proven ability to guide decision making among stakeholders.
• Advanced skill in complex workflows, defining priorities and applying data-informed strategies to monitor performance and achieve organizational goals.
• Experience managing teams and working within large, multi-site organizations.
• Willingness to work evenings/weekends as required by events and urgent communications.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and talk or hear and sometimes walk and sit. The employee must use hands, arms and fingers to input data, handle, feel or reach. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs . such as boxes, supplies, etc. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

LOCATION:

UCENT - Hybrid

TRAVEL:

Occasional travel may be required for site visits, meetings, trainings and/or conferences. Locations may vary and may require overnight stays.

This job description is subject to change at any time.

Work Location: In person