Vice President, Communications

THE ORGANIZATION

The Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF) is a leading nonprofit venture philanthropy fund dedicated to identifying the nation’s best public charter schools, investing in their expansion, and helping to increase their impact. Our “portfolio” includes 200+ charter school networks that operate 1,700+ schools and serve more than 725,000 students. We are committed to expanding the impact of schools that are closing achievement and opportunity gaps. CSGF operates with the same strategies, discipline, and focus as a venture capital firm by awarding multi-year grants and loans to talented education entrepreneurs building networks of high-quality charter schools that enroll traditionally underserved students. Our goal is to serve 1,000,000 students by 2030 and 1.4 million by 2035.

This is an exciting time to join the Charter School Growth Fund. We are launching Fund V, our most ambitious fund yet, building on our 20-year track record of success. Fund V will add 250,000 new high-quality seats while helping our portfolio become durable, bedrock institutions in their communities for decades to come. We invest in the strongest charter leaders and networks in the country, and we partner closely with them to sustain excellent outcomes as they grow. Our portfolio continues to serve student populations of roughly 90% students of color and 75% students from low-income backgrounds, and we remain committed to being proximate to the lived experiences of the students and communities we serve.

THE OPPORTUNITY

CSGF’s Policy, Communications & Advocacy team builds the public perception, political will, and sector narrative that allow high-quality public charter schools to grow. As CSGF launches Fund V, the organization envisions a more proactive public voice: one that tells the story of our portfolio networks, positions CSGF as a leading authority in K-12 education reform, and equips our portfolio leaders to communicate with confidence.

CSGF is seeking a Vice President, Communications to set the vision and strategy for CSGF’s internal and external communications and to serve as the organization’s lead strategist for brand, media, and narrative. Reporting to the Managing Director, Policy, Communications and Advocacy (PCA), the VP will shape and drive CSGF’s earned media strategy, build and protect the organization’s reputation with national partners and the broader education reform field, and navigate complex or sensitive communications moments with sound judgment. This is an individual-contributor VP role: the VP will manage CSGF’s communications budget and external partners (agencies, consultants, freelancers) rather than internal staff, and will build deep, trusted relationships across CSGF’s teams, portfolio network leaders, and external stakeholders to advance CSGF’s mission.

The ideal candidate is a sharp and seasoned strategic communicator who can set direction independently, move fluidly between big-picture narrative and hands-on execution, and represent CSGF with credibility to media, funders, public officials and other sector partners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & BRAND LEADERSHIP

Set the vision and strategy for CSGF’s internal and external communications function, aligning it with CSGF’s mission, Fund V priorities, and organizational goals

Shape CSGF’s brand and narrative as a leading voice in the public charter school sector and K-12 education reform, ensuring consistent, high-quality positioning across all communications channels

Serve as a trusted communications advisor to the Managing Director of PCA and CSGF’s senior leadership, bringing judgment and foresight to reputational opportunities and risks

Lead the development of CSGF’s website and social media channels and content, and other flagship public-facing materials that tell the story of the portfolio’s impact

Lead communications community of practice for CSGF portfolio members, including the development of webinars and planning and execution of in person convenings

MEDIA RELATIONS & EARNED MEDIA

Hold and maintain existing strong relationships with national and regional education, policy, and philanthropy reporters

Drive a proactive earned media strategy that places CSGF’s perspective and portfolio stories in front of key audiences, including prospective portfolio members, funders, public officials and other sector influencers

Prepare CSGF spokespeople, including senior leadership and portfolio network leaders, for interviews, testimony, and public appearances

Navigate incoming media inquiries with sound judgment, balancing responsiveness with message discipline

MESSAGING & CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

Develop compelling, on-message content — op-eds, talking points, speeches, digital/social content, and podcast content — that advances CSGF’s policy and sector priorities

Create opportunities for portfolio storytelling that resonate with target audiences including funders, charter sector leaders and policymakers

Build message frameworks, guidance, and talking points that CSGF teams and portfolio leaders can use consistently across audiences

Guide CSGF’s social media and digital presence, ensuring it reflects a coherent, current, and credible voice

CRISIS & RAPID-RESPONSE COMMUNICATIONS

Identify potential reputational risks before they arise and build response plans that protect CSGF and its portfolio network leaders

Lead rapid-response communications during fast-moving news cycles or sensitive moments affecting CSGF or the charter sector broadly

Exercise sound judgment and comfort with ambiguity when advising leadership on high-stakes or fast-moving communications decisions

CROSS-TEAM PARTNERSHIP & ECOSYSTEM BUILDING

Build strong relationships across CSGF internal teams and portfolio members to ensure communications strategy reflects and reinforces their work

Support portfolio network leaders in building their own communications capacity and confidence, sharing best practices and benchmarking across the sector

Represent CSGF externally to broader stakeholders in the charter school and education reform field, building CSGF’s standing as a sought-after thought partner

BUDGET & VENDOR MANAGEMENT

Develop and manage CSGF’s communications budget, ensuring resources are prioritized against the highest-impact opportunities

Ability to source, manage and evaluate multiple contracts with communications agencies, consultants, and

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Skills and Requirements

Demonstrated ability to independently set strategy and vision for communications function, with minimal oversight

Excellent judgment and comfort making difficult, high-stakes decisions under ambiguity and time pressure

Exceptional relationship-building and collaborative skills

Outstanding writing, editing, and verbal communication skills across a range of formats and audiences

Ability to move seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on, detail-oriented execution in a fast paced environment

Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and external vendors simultaneously

Travel up to 50% may be required to support portfolio communications work, convenings, all-team gatherings, and in-person team meetings

Deep commitment to CSGF’s mission and passion for K-12 education and expanding excellent public school options for underserved students

Educational Background and Work Experience

12+ years of progressive experience in strategic communications, media relations, or public affairs

Demonstrated success building and executing proactive earned media strategies and managing rapid-response or crisis communications

Experience developing and managing a communications budget, including agency and vendor relationships

Experience in charters or the K-12 education, advocacy, or the nonprofit/political sector strongly preferred

Ability to work with senior