Executive Director of Communications

Colorado Springs, CO

El Paso County

Date Posted: 1/16/2026

El Paso County is seeking an Executive Director of Communications for Colorado’s most populous county. With over 750,000 residents, El Paso County is home to Colorado Springs—the county seat and the state’s second-largest city—and the iconic 14,115-foot Pikes Peak. The county's unique blend of natural beauty, access to both outdoor recreation and metropolitan amenities, and over 280 days of sunshine each year make it one of the most sought-after places to live in Colorado. 

EL PASO COUNTY

El Paso County serves a population of approximately 750,000 residents across over 2,100 square miles with a team of over 3,000 authorized FTEs. The County is dedicated to fostering a culture of excellence through their core values of being service-focused, collaborative, accountable, trustworthy, and transparent. The County fully embraces its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan initiatives, is service driven, and strives to provide outstanding services while keeping taxes low and limiting government regulations. As El Paso County’s popularity continues to grow, state projections anticipate that the population will grow by roughly one‑third of its current size over the next 25 years. 

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

The Executive Director for the El Paso County Communications Department provides strategic and innovative public relations support to the Board of County Commissioners, County Administrator, and County leadership, while developing, overseeing, and managing the County’s communications and public information efforts. The Executive Director will fine tune and manage the County’s public relations efforts, including overseeing content development and press releases while supervising the Communications Department team consisting of eleven employees.  An important aspect of this position will be to assist with the shift of aligning the County’s values and culture to the strategic plan and ensure timely messaging for employees, County Board members, community stakeholders, and residents. 

WHY APPLY

The Executive Director of Communications position is an excellent opportunity to lead and continue to develop a solid communications team looking for strategic leadership to continue to move the department into the premier communications source and information platform for all County news and information. El Paso County is an outstanding employer that embraces a solid work-life balance, values their employees, and provides competitive salaries and benefits. From the mountainous landscapes of Colorado's Front Range and the rolling plains that stretch to the horizon, to the beautiful Black Forest and the Paint Mines Interpretive Park, El Paso County is comprised of some of the most amazing natural landscapes in North America. El Paso County is an outstanding place to live, work, and play. If you're looking to join a team that genuinely cares about public service and strives for excellence every day, this may be the position for you. 

For questions on this position, please contact:

Linda Woulfe  
GMP Consultants
lwoulfe@gmphr.com
(612) 965-0237

Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Cambridge, MA

Axim Collaborative

Date Posted: 1/14/2026

Description

 Axim Collaborative is a nonprofit that transforms education to work pathways by facilitating collaboration and innovations to build an ecosystem of solutions to drive better outcomes for millions of learners. Axim uses catalytic funding to foster partnerships, convene leaders and scale innovations to strengthen pathways for learners. These pathways engage students in their course of study, enable them to persist through their programs and prepare them to excel in their careers. Axim Collaborative is a joint endeavor between Harvard and MIT that evolved from edX, the pioneering online learning platform that launched in 2012.

ABOUT THE VP, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS ROLE

Reporting to the CEO, the Vice President, Marketing and Communications is a member of Axim Collaborative’s Senior Leadership Team and responsible for developing and overseeing Axim’s marketing and communications efforts. This role is responsible for developing and executing  strategies that leverage our unique position in the field to elevate our partners’ work, advance thought leadership, and further Axim’s mission and impact. This role is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

This is a hybrid role, and candidates must be willing to commute to the Cambridge office 2 days per week. This role will require approximately 20% travel.

Core Requirements:

Strategic Leadership

• Lead a unified marketing and communications strategy, building from foundational work, aligned with the organization’s strategic goals, mission, and positioning.

• Develop and drive priorities to amplify our partners work, connect themes across our portfolio, and enhance Axim’s impact.

• Develop innovative and compelling strategies to elevate awareness, engagement, and understanding about Axim’s mission in the context of the broader ecosystem.  

• Craft thought leadership strategies that reach our target audiences, further innovation, and create new partnership opportunities 

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, advising the CEO and board on communications, brand positioning, and audience engagement.

• Partner with colleagues to ensure cohesive messaging and visibility for Axim’s programmatic activities.

Marketing and Digital Engagement

• Develop comprehensive marketing and communication management plans, ensuring consistency and clarity across all channels and materials.

• Ensure data and analytics are used to refine strategies and measure impact across digital and offline channels.

• Oversee digital presence, including website, social media, email marketing, and content strategy. 

• Oversee key strategic initiatives to elevate our mission, programs and impact, including the next website and impact report. 

Communications and Public Relations

• Develop opportunities for Axim’s work to be featured through owned and earned media, cultivating relationships with specific media and press outlets.

• Oversee and support the development of executive communications, speeches, op-eds, and thought leadership opportunities for organizational leaders.

• Work with team members and partners to craft compelling narratives and storytelling opportunities that highlight the impact of our partners and the impact on students.

• Partner with the VP, Open edX Partnerships and Ecosystem Growth and Community Manager to support and collaborate on related initiatives

Serve as a member of Axim's Senior Team

• Build a sense of shared purpose and collective culture within and across departments; cultivate trust between the organization and its partners.

• Model the values of inclusive excellence and foster environments that actively encourage a diversity of perspectives on teams

• Participate in annual organizational goal setting and planning to align operations and budgets with the broader mission

• Effectively prepare for and guide the organization through growth, change, and transition.

Team Management

• Manage Axim Staff and partners focused on marketing and communications, which currently includes the Communications Manager and external partners

• Provide a variety of motivational styles, tailored to individual team members using a range of tools and tactics to help staff of varying abilities perform and grow

• Invest in the ongoing professional development of staff by staying informed of opportunities and resources for growth within the organization and encouraging staff to explore them where appropriate. 

• Clearly communicate performance expectations and provide regular, fair, actionable, and timely performance feedback; recognize competent and exemplary performance, effectively address marginal and unsatisfactory performance.

• Ensure all members of the organization understand the strategic mission of Axim and how they play a part in its outcomes

Requirements

 Qualifications:

• Deep commitment to education equity, and experience applying an equity lens in all strategies and work streams

• At least 15 years of professional experience, with demonstrated success in marketing, communications, and field building in sectors such as social enterprise, philanthropy, and education to workforce sectors

• Track record of developing innovative thought leadership and marketing strategies that build awareness, shape new ideas, and influence sector level change

• Robust understanding of how education innovation can support students in broad access higher education settings 

• Exceptional writing and oral communications skills using clear, simple, and jargon free language. 

• Proven judgement to engage audiences and deliver excellent results on a consistent basis

• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to connect with and influence external decision-makers with a diverse range of priorities 

• Experience operating in a dynamic, fast paced, entrepreneurial environment as a creative thinker and problem solver

• Exceptional project management, prioritization, and planning skills, with demonstrated success managing complex workstreams and producing high-quality deliverables on time and within budget

Benefits Statement 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including comprehensive medical and dental insurance, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, a competitive 401(k) plan, and a generous employer match. 

Axim Collaborative is committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcomed, valued, and supported. Axim is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Idora Sopin-Vilme at HR at Axim.org.

Please Note: This role is not VISA sponsorship eligible. 

Salary Description

$230,000 - $260,000 per year

Associate Director, Communications

Peterson Center on Healthcare

Date Posted: 1/14/2026

About the Peterson Foundation

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation (the “Foundation”) is working to secure a healthy, growing economy by addressing America’s long-term fiscal challenges. The Foundation partners with leading policy experts, elected officials and the public to build support for solutions to put America on a sustainable fiscal path. As a non-partisan organization, the Foundation engages in grant-making, partnerships, and research to educate and involve Americans from a variety of perspectives.

About the Peterson Center on Healthcare

The Peterson Center on Healthcare (the “Center”) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making higher quality, more affordable healthcare a reality for all Americans. The organization is working to transform U.S. healthcare into a high-performance system by finding innovative solutions that improve quality and lower costs, and accelerating their adoption on a national scale. Established by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, the Center collaborates with stakeholders across the healthcare system and engages in grant-making, partnerships, and research.

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Communications will lead content creation and strategic communications initiatives across both the Peterson Center on Healthcare and the Peterson Health Technology Institute. This role will focus primarily on developing compelling healthcare content that engages key audiences while contributing to strategic communications planning for major project launches and organizational initiatives. The Associate Director will play a critical role in amplifying our research, findings, and policy recommendations to key stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem.

The Associate Director will report to the Director, Communications and work collaboratively with senior leadership to advance the organization’s mission through strategic storytelling and audience engagement.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

Content Creation and Strategic Communications

• Collaborate with research and program teams to identify and develop compelling storylines from organizational work and findings

• Collaborate with leadership team, internal communications team, and agency partners on communications strategies for major initiatives and research releases, providing guidance and support to grantees and partners as needed

• Lead short form content strategies across social media platforms, newsletters, and blog content for both the Peterson Center on Healthcare and Peterson Health Technology Institute

• Create compelling, audience appropriate content that translates complex healthcare research and policy findings into accessible narratives for diverse stakeholder groups

• Write and edit high quality materials including social media posts, newsletter articles, blog posts, press releases, web content, collateral, and other communications materials across print and digital formats

• Develop content calendars and editorial strategies that align with organizational priorities and campaign objectives

Digital Strategy and Content Development

• Oversee web content development, in collaboration with program teams, ensuring consistent brand messaging across all platforms

• Contribute to email marketing and social media strategy development to increase reach, engagement, and thought leadership positioning

• Stay current on digital communications trends and best practices in healthcare communications

External Relations and Executive Support

• Support executive thought leadership initiatives by creating talking points, presentations, and materials for conferences, media opportunities, and public speaking engagements

• Support annual conference and event planning activities

Project Management and Administrative Functions

• Assist with vendor contracts and invoicing for select communications services, working with Legal and Finance teams to ensure quality deliverables and adherence to project timelines

• Support project planning and timeline management for communications initiatives

Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public health, public policy, or related field required; Master's degree preferred

• Minimum 12+ years of experience with the majority of experience in professional communications and at least 5 years in healthcare communications required

• Proven track record of developing and executing successful digital content strategies and social media campaigns

Core Competencies

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt messaging for different audiences, platforms, and stakeholder groups

• Understanding of healthcare topics and current environment, and familiarity with sources of healthcare and digital health news/data.

• Strong understanding of healthcare policy, health technology, and industry trends with ability to translate complex topics for diverse audiences

• Demonstrated ability to work under tight deadlines while maintaining high quality standards

Leadership and Collaboration Skills

• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and campaigns simultaneously

• Experience leading cross functional teams and managing vendor relationships

• Proven ability to build productive relationships with stakeholders across various levels and roles

• Strategic thinking capabilities with attention to detail and commitment to organizational mission

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and working in collaborative digital environments

• Experience with digital marketing strategies, including paid media and SEO

• Experience with social media platforms, content management systems, and email marketing platforms

• Multimedia content creation experience preferred, but not required

• Experience with project management software

Personal Attributes

• Creative problem solver who can see the big picture while executing tactical initiatives

• Collaborative team player who engenders trust and builds strong working relationships

• Adaptable communicator comfortable working with diverse communication styles and formats

• Strong commitment to the missions of both the Peterson Center on Healthcare and Peterson Health Technology Institute

• Ability to work effectively in a fast paced, mission driven environment

Work Environment

• In order to build productive relationships across the organization and to ensure effective collaboration, this role requires in-person presence in accordance with the organization’s hybrid schedule of working in the office three days per week (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday).

Salary and Benefits

We anticipate that the starting base salary range for this position will be $130,000 to $145,000, plus eligibility for an annual discretionary bonus. A final decision on the successful candidate’s starting salary will be based on a number of factors, such as skills, experience, qualifications, education, and the location in which the job will be performed. In addition, we offer an extensive benefits package to support our employees, including comprehensive health insurance, a substantial 401k match, paid time off, a hybrid work schedule and other flexible work policies.

To Apply

We are a dynamic, growing organization that embraces critical thinking, problem solving and innovative ideas. If you have relevant experience and qualifications, please send your resume and a portfolio of recent work samples to careers@petersonhealthcare.org. Subject header on the email should read: "Associate Director, Communications Application."

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation and the Peterson Center on Healthcare are proud to be equal opportunity employers and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply to our organization. We offer a welcoming community that respects each individual and fosters a diverse set of experiences, perspectives, skills and ideas. We are committed to building a workplace in which every team member can thrive personally and professionally and contribute to our mission.

Communications Director

Washington, DC

Whistleblower Aid

Date Posted: 1/8/2026

About the Position:

Whistleblower Aid is seeking a motivated communications director to advance the organization’s mission to support whistleblowers in the public and private sectors coming forward to defend our democracy. The successful candidate will develop and lead a comprehensive media strategy through narrative building and media acumen that aligns with the organization’s goals and enhances visibility across all media channels. An ability to seize on media opportunities as they arise and sharp writing skills are high priorities.

Hybrid position, with minimum two days in the Washington, DC office per week. This is a full time employee position.

Responsibilities:

• Develop messaging that communicates the importance of whistleblowers under corporate and political pressures

• Develop and implement thought leadership strategy and tactics

• Identify and secure opportunities to drive the organization’s case narratives in earned media and through collaboration with validators and surrogates

• Develop detailed, thoughtful and thorough communications plans for each case

• Brief and prepare principals, stakeholders and clients for media interviews

• Draft and edit communications materials including press releases, social media, email newsletters, fundraising asks, talking points and speeches, op-eds, and more

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with members of the media

• In conjunction with other team members, track media and social media developments relevant to our work and participate in the development of social media and email content

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications for a successful candidate include:

• Ability to handle all information with absolute discretion and professionalism

• Spectacular writing ability for a variety of audiences

• Ability to meet deadlines

• Ability to think strategically and proactively to seize the moment and parlay it into opportunities

• A strong attention to detail and accuracy

• Experience with crisis communications

• An ability to multitask under time pressure and pivot in a dynamic environment

• Strong interpersonal skills, including client relationship-building and empathy

• Experience with social media strategy and content

• Experience working in pro-democracy organizations, political campaigns, or congressional offices

• 7+ years of experience in strategic communications and media relations, including generating earned media within a policy and legal advocacy environment.

• Strong technology skills with an aptitude to learn new platforms: media management (e.g., Meltwater); Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)

Benefits:

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, employer sponsored 401K plan with company match, generous Paid Time Off policy

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

About Whistleblower Aid:

Whistleblower Aid provides pro bono legal, advocacy, and communications support to government and private sector whistleblowers acting in the public interest. The organization’s lawyers have represented some of the most consequential national security and Big Tech whistleblowers in history, including the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, the anonymous intelligence community whistleblower whose disclosures led to the first impeachment of President Trump, and others.

To Apply:

Email us at hiring@whistlebloweraid.org

Naomi Seligman, Chief Strategy Officer

Please include with your application:

• Resume/CV

• List of three references

• Two writing samples

Director of Strategic Campaigns

Washington, DC/Remote

Ground

Date Posted: 1/6/2026

Overview

Ground is a strategic storytelling studio that develops, tests, and deploys research-backed campaigns designed to shift mindsets and drive measurable impact.

Our proprietary testing and analytics platform, StoryHeat, combines behavioral science, data, and two decades of documentary-style storytelling to identify which narrative strategies will move audiences before a campaign launches. We work with mission-driven organizations, advocacy groups, foundations and purpose-driven brands tackling some of the most pressing issues facing our country and the world.

We’re hiring a Director of Strategic Campaigns to take validated narrative strategies and carry them into the real world by designing, leading, and activating campaigns that operate credibly in complex public, political, and community contexts.

This is a senior role in a small company. While the work is equivalent in complexity to what you might do at a much larger agency, the environment is lean, direct, and hands-on. The right candidate will be comfortable operating at that scale.

In your application please be sure to include a cover letter. It is one of the best ways to stand out from the crowd.

The Impact You’ll Have

In this role, you will be responsible for leading integrated, narrative-driven campaigns from strategy through real-world activation. You will serve as the primary campaign lead for clients, ensuring that research-backed stories don’t stop at insight or production, but reach audiences, move through systems, and drive meaningful action.

You’ll apply public affairs and issue-campaign thinking to storytelling work, helping design campaigns that function effectively within political, institutional, and community environments, and that demonstrate impact beyond creative outputs.

This role plays a critical part in how Ground delivers results, designs all of our work, and shows real-world impact in the ways that matter most to our partners.

What the Day-to-Day Looks Like

• Lead the strategy and execution of integrated persuasion campaigns across digital, social, partner, grassroots, and paid channels, with a focus on how stories move through real-world systems.

• Translate StoryHeat research and narrative insights into clear, actionable campaign plans.

• Serve as the primary strategic point of contact for clients, guiding conversations, decisions, and priorities with confidence and clarity.

• Ensure campaigns are rooted in our research, real people’s stories, and credible messengers.

• Maintain alignment between narrative strategy, creative development, and how campaigns are activated in the world.

• Work with external partners or vendors when needed to support campaign delivery and amplification.

• Track campaign performance, interpret results, and adjust strategy based on what’s working and what’s not.

• Communicate campaign performance and learnings back to clients in a clear, strategic way.

• Contribute to proposal development by shaping campaign strategy, activation plans, and impact frameworks.

• Help define and refine how Ground consistently turns narrative research into real-world campaigns.

What You Bring

• 5–7+ years of experience leading advocacy, public affairs, political, social-impact, or mission-driven campaigns.

• Experience owning campaigns end to end—from strategy through activation and measurement.

• Familiarity with public affairs or issue-based campaign environments, and an understanding of how narratives function within real-world systems and decision-making contexts.

• Strong narrative instincts and comfort working with values-driven, story-based persuasion.

• Experience activating or distributing campaigns grounded in real people’s stories and lived experience.

• Confidence working directly with clients in a strategic advisory role.

• Comfort operating in small teams or startup environments where ownership is high and support structures are lean.

• Strong judgment, organization, and ability to manage multiple workstreams without extensive infrastructure.

• Clear writing, presentation, and communication skills.

Nice to Have (Not Required)

• Background in journalism, documentary storytelling, or narrative-driven work.

• Experience collaborating with paid media or digital strategy partners.

• Familiarity with influencer, grassroots, or partner-based amplification models.

• Experience working in contested or polarized issue environments.

What It’s Like to Work at Ground

• You’ll work closely with a small team of researchers and creatives who care deeply about getting the work right.

• You’ll have the opportunity to work on some of the most pressing issues facing our country and the world.

• You’ll have autonomy to shape how campaigns are built and carried into the world.

• You’ll work on campaigns that matter, with organizations trying to create real change.

• You’ll be trusted to exercise judgment, make decisions, and learn as you go.

We value clarity, collaboration, and doing work we’re proud to stand behind. We move quickly, but we think carefully.

We’ll Love Working With You If You…

• Enjoy collaboration and working closely with others.

• Are thoughtful and motivated by impact.

• Enjoy solving ambiguous problems and figuring things out as you go.

• Have confidence in your leadership, judgment, and ability to create strong campaigns.

• Take responsibility seriously, follow through, and lead by example.

• Care about creating and contributing to a positive, comfortable, and joyful work environment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $115,000–$140,000, depending on experience

• Remote-first flexibility

• Healthcare benefits

• Paid time off

• Professional development support

• Mission-driven, collaborative team culture