Chief Communications Officer

Chief Communications Officer Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida Fort Myers, FL Job Details Full-time $107,120 - $120,510 a year 1 day ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Vision insurance 401(k) matching Life insurance Retirement plan Qualifications Stakeholder engagement Team management Full Job Description About Us At the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, we believe early learning changes lives, and strong communities make that possible. Serving Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties, the Coalition works to ensure children have access to high-quality early learning experiences that prepare them for school and long-term success. We partner with families, providers, community organizations, business leaders, and policymakers to strengthen Southwest Florida's early childhood ecosystem. We are seeking a strategic, relationship-driven executive leader to serve as our Chief Communications Officer,a highly visible leadership role responsible for shaping the Coalition's voice, strengthening community partnerships, advancing strategic initiatives, and driving meaningful engagement across the region. The Opportunity This is not a traditional communications role. The Chief Communications Officer serves as a senior executive leader responsible for developing and executing an integrated communications, outreach, engagement, and partnership strategy aligned with the Coalition's multi-year strategic plan. This role requires an exceptional communicator, relationship builder, strategist, and public-facing ambassador who can translate mission into momentum. The ideal candidate brings executive-level judgment, strong partnership development experience, political savvy, and the ability to connect communications strategy with measurable organizational outcomes. This leader will help expand the Coalition's influence, deepen community trust, strengthen stakeholder relationships, support advocacy priorities, and position the organization as a recognized leader in early learning across Southwest Florida. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership Lead the Coalition's communications, outreach, and community engagement strategy Align external engagement efforts with organizational strategic priorities, advocacy goals, and funding requirements Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team Develop measurable communications and stakeholder engagement strategies that drive visibility, trust, and impact Use data, feedback, and performance metrics to continuously improve outcomes Partnership Development & Community Engagement Build and strengthen high-value partnerships with community organizations, schools, businesses, local governments, faith-based organizations, civic leaders, and strategic stakeholders Represent the Coalition at public events, community forums, legislative meetings, and stakeholder convenings Facilitate stakeholder listening sessions and community engagement opportunities Identify opportunities to expand partnerships that increase access, awareness, and community impact Support public policy and advocacy efforts through compelling storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and strategic messaging Communications & Brand Leadership Oversee organizational communications strategy, including public awareness campaigns, media relations, digital engagement, newsletters, messaging, and content development Ensure consistency of brand voice, messaging, and public positioning Lead public education initiatives focused on school readiness, family engagement, literacy, and early childhood awareness Collaborate across departments to communicate impact, initiatives, and organizational priorities effectively Strengthen internal communication practices that improve alignment, transparency, and employee engagement Leadership & Operational Oversight Lead, coach, and develop communications/outreach staff and related team members Oversee departmental planning, performance expectations, and budget accountability Ensure outreach and communications initiatives meet compliance expectations tied to public funding and grant requirements Support organizational change management and cross-functional strategic execution What We're Looking For Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, nonprofit leadership, education, public administration, marketing, or a related field 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in communications, community engagement, public affairs, partnership development, nonprofit leadership, or related executive roles Minimum 3 years of management or supervisory experience Demonstrated success leading strategic communications and high-level stakeholder engagement initiatives Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and executive communication skills Experience representing an organization publicly with professionalism and confidence Preferred Qualifications Experience in nonprofit, education, public sector, healthcare, or human services leadership Familiarity with early childhood education, public funding environments, or family-serving systems Experience with legislative engagement, public policy advocacy, or coalition-building Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Haitian Creole strongly preferred Why Join Us? This is a rare opportunity to shape the public voice and strategic influence of a mission-driven organization serving thousands of children and families. You'll join an executive leadership team focused on innovation, impact, and long-term systems change in early learning. If you're a strategic communicator who can build trust, develop partnerships, influence stakeholders, and turn vision into action, we'd love to hear from you. - Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with United States Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$107,120.00 - $120,510.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person