Director of Communications
KENTUCKY SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC, Arlington, Virginia, United States, 22201
CLASSIFICATION: Director, Full-time, Salaried, Exempt, Remote
SUPERVISOR Chief Executive Officer
APPLICATION STATUS: Open till filled
SUMMARY The Communications Director is a high-level, single-incumbent position responsible for architecting and executing the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)’s global communication strategy. This role is focused on establishing comprehensive internal and external communications policies, elevating the professional narrative, and driving strategic revenue growth through innovative communications initiatives. The Director will take the lead and consult with the CEO and other Directors regarding the execution model, choosing to perform work in-house (do), or manage external contractors (outsource) based on efficiency, budget, and strategic goals.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT The Director’s core duty is to provide visionary leadership in all aspects of RID’s organizational narrative, engagement, and strategic positioning.
Strategic Vision and Policy: Develop, present, and implement a high-level, multi-year communications strategy that aligns with the organization’s mission and future growth objectives. This includes creating and enforcing clear, defensible internal and external communications policies for all stakeholders and members.
Public Relations and Brand Advocacy: Cultivate and monitor RID’s external reputation and public image. This includes managing media relations, cultivating strategic partnerships, and ensuring RID is positioned as the leading authority and voice of the interpreting profession to the public and legislative bodies.
Sourcing and Vendor Management: Decide the execution method for all communications deliverables. The Director has the authority, within a budget, to outsource (manage external contractors and agencies) or execute the work personally (in-house) to ensure timely, high-quality delivery.
Revenue Generation and Innovation: Proactively identify and design creative communications initiatives aimed at generating diverse, non-dues revenue streams for RID, including the monetization of publications, research materials, and digital assets. This role will also oversee the strategic narrative for the RID Press while simultaneously leading the communication strategy for donor relations and fundraising efforts to maximize engagement and philanthropic support.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES STRATEGY & POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Develop and standardize the organization’s overarching narrative, ensuring all communications consistently advance the profession, are responsive to member demographic, available technology, and engagement trends, and champion the organization.
Serve as the chief guardian of RID’s visual and narrative brand, ensuring all departments adhere to a unified, professional identity.
Regularly conduct a comprehensive audit of all legacy communications and assets; reorganize and standardize content to eliminate inconsistencies and “clean up” the organizational narrative.
In collaboration within the organization, build, lead, and oversee internal communications strategies, ensuring clear and consistent messaging across staff, departments, membership and Board by developing internal policies and scaling communications workflows and systems.
Design and implement policies and protocols for communications during critical incidents and crises, malpractice issues, or urgent community events, providing guidance to RID staff and leadership.
Ensure all communications are crafted with a high degree of sensitivity, anticipating and considering the viewpoints and potential impacts on all key stakeholders (members, consumers, staff, stakeholders, and the Deaf community).
Provide high-level consultation and support to the CEO, Directors, and both Boards (RID and CASLI/RIDCC), crisis management, and stakeholder engagement.
Maintain a constant strategic approach on our publishing house methods and revenue opportunities.
EXECUTIVE AND REPORT OVERSIGHT
Oversee, manage, or produce the RID Annual Report and the RID Industry Report (including gathering data, determining the scope, writing/editing, and production) ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of quality and transparency.
Manage public and media relations inquiries, ensuring timely and effective external responses that align with RID’s policies.
EXECUTION & CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
Direct the end-to-end production of all RID publications, research materials, and digital assets, strategically determining the most effective delivery model through either in-house execution or external vendor management.
When outsourcing, manage the entire lifecycle: sourcing, vetting, negotiating contracts, managing budgets, and ensuring quality assurance following organization contract protocols.
Ensure our website is easily accessible and navigable at all times and up to current trends.
Develop member-focused communication strategies (such as social media) to build trust, improve transparency, and strengthen engagement across RID’s diverse membership.
EXECUTIVE & BOARD COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT
Support the CEO and Board in preparing key messaging, statements, or communications for external stakeholders, membership, or media.
Assist in developing clear, consistent talking points and communication plans for executive leadership during critical announcements or public engagements.
Ensure messaging aligns with RID’s strategic goals, values, and community expectations.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education:Bachelor’s degree in a related field or extensive equivalent high-level experience.
Strategic & Sourcing Experience:10+ years of progressive experience in strategic communications, public relations, and high-level marketing, with demonstrated experience in both executing communications plans and managing external vendors/agencies/budgets.
Communication & Cultural Expertise: Fluency in both ASL and written English is required.
Demonstrated deep understanding of Multicultural Competence, Deaf culture, and the ASL interpreting profession.
General knowledge/experience with the non-profit sector.
Skills: Proven diplomatic skills with various stakeholders, ability to prioritize complex strategic initiatives, and commitment to delivering high-quality, legally defensible work under strict deadlines.
Demonstrated comfort and experience in handling high-stakes communication, including crisis management and public statements during sensitive organizational or community events.
Exceptional judgement and ability to analyze communications from multiple perspectives (risk, tone, cultural impact, legal defensibility).
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Technical Proficiency:Demonstrated proficiency in writing, editing, and familiarity with the production lifecycle for print, digital, and video content (e.g., knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and content management systems workflows).
HOW TO APPLY HOW TO APPLY To be considered for the position of Communications Director, please submit a resume and a letter of interest directly to careers@rid.org .
#J-18808-Ljbffr
SUPERVISOR Chief Executive Officer
APPLICATION STATUS: Open till filled
SUMMARY The Communications Director is a high-level, single-incumbent position responsible for architecting and executing the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)’s global communication strategy. This role is focused on establishing comprehensive internal and external communications policies, elevating the professional narrative, and driving strategic revenue growth through innovative communications initiatives. The Director will take the lead and consult with the CEO and other Directors regarding the execution model, choosing to perform work in-house (do), or manage external contractors (outsource) based on efficiency, budget, and strategic goals.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT The Director’s core duty is to provide visionary leadership in all aspects of RID’s organizational narrative, engagement, and strategic positioning.
Strategic Vision and Policy: Develop, present, and implement a high-level, multi-year communications strategy that aligns with the organization’s mission and future growth objectives. This includes creating and enforcing clear, defensible internal and external communications policies for all stakeholders and members.
Public Relations and Brand Advocacy: Cultivate and monitor RID’s external reputation and public image. This includes managing media relations, cultivating strategic partnerships, and ensuring RID is positioned as the leading authority and voice of the interpreting profession to the public and legislative bodies.
Sourcing and Vendor Management: Decide the execution method for all communications deliverables. The Director has the authority, within a budget, to outsource (manage external contractors and agencies) or execute the work personally (in-house) to ensure timely, high-quality delivery.
Revenue Generation and Innovation: Proactively identify and design creative communications initiatives aimed at generating diverse, non-dues revenue streams for RID, including the monetization of publications, research materials, and digital assets. This role will also oversee the strategic narrative for the RID Press while simultaneously leading the communication strategy for donor relations and fundraising efforts to maximize engagement and philanthropic support.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES STRATEGY & POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Develop and standardize the organization’s overarching narrative, ensuring all communications consistently advance the profession, are responsive to member demographic, available technology, and engagement trends, and champion the organization.
Serve as the chief guardian of RID’s visual and narrative brand, ensuring all departments adhere to a unified, professional identity.
Regularly conduct a comprehensive audit of all legacy communications and assets; reorganize and standardize content to eliminate inconsistencies and “clean up” the organizational narrative.
In collaboration within the organization, build, lead, and oversee internal communications strategies, ensuring clear and consistent messaging across staff, departments, membership and Board by developing internal policies and scaling communications workflows and systems.
Design and implement policies and protocols for communications during critical incidents and crises, malpractice issues, or urgent community events, providing guidance to RID staff and leadership.
Ensure all communications are crafted with a high degree of sensitivity, anticipating and considering the viewpoints and potential impacts on all key stakeholders (members, consumers, staff, stakeholders, and the Deaf community).
Provide high-level consultation and support to the CEO, Directors, and both Boards (RID and CASLI/RIDCC), crisis management, and stakeholder engagement.
Maintain a constant strategic approach on our publishing house methods and revenue opportunities.
EXECUTIVE AND REPORT OVERSIGHT
Oversee, manage, or produce the RID Annual Report and the RID Industry Report (including gathering data, determining the scope, writing/editing, and production) ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of quality and transparency.
Manage public and media relations inquiries, ensuring timely and effective external responses that align with RID’s policies.
EXECUTION & CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
Direct the end-to-end production of all RID publications, research materials, and digital assets, strategically determining the most effective delivery model through either in-house execution or external vendor management.
When outsourcing, manage the entire lifecycle: sourcing, vetting, negotiating contracts, managing budgets, and ensuring quality assurance following organization contract protocols.
Ensure our website is easily accessible and navigable at all times and up to current trends.
Develop member-focused communication strategies (such as social media) to build trust, improve transparency, and strengthen engagement across RID’s diverse membership.
EXECUTIVE & BOARD COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT
Support the CEO and Board in preparing key messaging, statements, or communications for external stakeholders, membership, or media.
Assist in developing clear, consistent talking points and communication plans for executive leadership during critical announcements or public engagements.
Ensure messaging aligns with RID’s strategic goals, values, and community expectations.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education:Bachelor’s degree in a related field or extensive equivalent high-level experience.
Strategic & Sourcing Experience:10+ years of progressive experience in strategic communications, public relations, and high-level marketing, with demonstrated experience in both executing communications plans and managing external vendors/agencies/budgets.
Communication & Cultural Expertise: Fluency in both ASL and written English is required.
Demonstrated deep understanding of Multicultural Competence, Deaf culture, and the ASL interpreting profession.
General knowledge/experience with the non-profit sector.
Skills: Proven diplomatic skills with various stakeholders, ability to prioritize complex strategic initiatives, and commitment to delivering high-quality, legally defensible work under strict deadlines.
Demonstrated comfort and experience in handling high-stakes communication, including crisis management and public statements during sensitive organizational or community events.
Exceptional judgement and ability to analyze communications from multiple perspectives (risk, tone, cultural impact, legal defensibility).
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Technical Proficiency:Demonstrated proficiency in writing, editing, and familiarity with the production lifecycle for print, digital, and video content (e.g., knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and content management systems workflows).
HOW TO APPLY HOW TO APPLY To be considered for the position of Communications Director, please submit a resume and a letter of interest directly to careers@rid.org .
#J-18808-Ljbffr