Senior Director of Brand & Marketing

About Achievement FirstAchievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments — schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life.The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members — 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI.Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves.We are looking for a strategic and dynamic Senior Director of Brand & Marketing to join our Public Affairs team.Your ImpactThe Senior Director of Brand & Marketing is a strategic enterprise leader responsible for elevating Achievement First’s brand, strengthening our visibility across regions, and ensuring more families and educators understand and choose AF as a place where students thrive and adults grow. This leader drives the network’s external marketing strategy to support student enrollment, teacher recruitment, and community pride — ensuring our message lands, our brand resonates, and outreach translates into real hiring and enrollment impact.They will guide a multi-year brand evolution, develop compelling storytelling that centers our communities, and build scalable in-house marketing capabilities so that the majority of AF’s brand and marketing needs can be met internally. This leader manages and grows a small but mighty team, including the Manager of Graphic Design and Manager of Marketing & Digital Strategy, and partners closely with the Senior Director of Communications to deliver cohesive and data-informed campaigns across all channels.Success in this role means our brand is clearer and stronger, families and educators feel confident choosing AF, and our marketing engine becomes a sustainable, high-performing function that supports every school, every region, every year.Reporting directly to the Associate Chief of Public Affairs, you will be responsible for:Recruitment Marketing & Community EngagementPartner with student and teacher recruitment teams and school leaders to deeply understand regional needs, recruitment cycles, and community perspectivesDesign and execute data-driven marketing strategies that drive student enrollment and teacher recruitment outcomesCreate localized campaigns that reflect community priorities and clearly articulate AF’s value propositionMonitor and optimize performance against recruitment KPIs and growth goalsBrand Development & IntegrityLead ongoing brand evolution and ensure consistent application of AF’s visual and messaging standards across all schools and regionsDevelop and maintain brand guidelines, templates, and training to support strong, localized brand executionIntegrate market research and competitive insights to refine brand positioning and increase impactBuild & Strengthen In-House Marketing CapacityDevelop scalable systems and processes to deliver the majority of marketing needs internally, reducing reliance on external agenciesManage and develop the Manager of Graphic Design and Manager of Marketing & Digital Strategy to ensure high-quality execution and continuous improvementImplement project management tools and performance metrics to monitor workflow efficiency, measure ROI, and report outcomesPartner with Systems & Data to build and refine marketing data infrastructure and performance dashboardsStorytelling & Integrated CommunicationsCollaborate with the Senior Director of Communications to align brand, marketing, and organizational storytelling across channelsLift up school-based achievements, student success, and educator impact to strengthen AF’s community narrative and reputationAnalyze content effectiveness and adjust strategies to increase engagement and conversionWhat You’ll BringBachelor’s degree in Marketing, Branding, Communications, Business, or a related field required; advanced degree strongly preferred8+ years of progressively responsible brand strategy, marketing, or communications experience, including 3+ years leading teams or major initiativesDemonstrated success creating and executing multi-year brand or marketing transformation strategiesProven ability to leverage data and insights to optimize recruitment and enrollment campaigns and strengthen community engagementExperience leading in-house marketing operations, including managing designers, content creators, and external specialists (e.g., SEO/SEM, media buying)Deep understanding of brand development, visual identity systems, and integrated marketing channelsStrong project and team leadership skills with the ability to manage complex workflows and build scalable processesAnalytical thinker with comfort using digital tools and market research to drive decision-making and refine audience targetingExceptional communicator and collaborator who builds strong cross-functional partnerships and aligns stakeholders toward shared goalsExperience in mission-driven or educational environments a plus, with an enthusiasm for serving students, families, and educatorsIn addition, the following characteristics are required to be successful on this team:Strong ethics and ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality Confident in interacting with and influencing individuals at all levels within the organizations Ability to thrive in a fast‐paced, entrepreneurial environment; flexible, able to work autonomously as well as take direction as needed Ability to multitask, exceptional detail and follow up skills, and is organized Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a proactive communication styleBelief in the Achievement First mission and educational model Travel Expectations This is a hybrid role. The expectation is that the person in the role would be able to come into the Network Support office (NYC, CT, or RI) at least 1 day a week. There may be additional travel to regions outside of your own on a monthly basis.CompensationAchievement First sets salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on the requisite skills, education, and experience relevant to the role. The salary for this position is $130,842 In order to uphold our commitment to equity, Achievement First does not negotiate pay. Additionally, Achievement First offers to all regular, full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match, and paid Family Leave.Achievement First is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Spanish language proficiency is a plus. You can learn more about diversity at Achievement First here: http://achievementfirst.org/about-us/diversity/