Communications Director

National Crime Prevention Council

Be a leader on McGruff’s team! Work with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and McGruff the Crime Dog® to Take A Bite Out Of Crime®. You will be an important part of an innovative organization dedicated to solving one of the nation’s most pressing domestic issues.

Your opportunity: Drive NCPC’s position as a thought leader and, partnering with award-winning creative talent, introduce McGruff to a new generation of Americans.

Background

NCPC—with a 40-plus year track record promoting safe communities—is undertaking a brand revival of McGruff the Crime Dog® as part of its continuing public education efforts to Take A Bite Out Of Crime®. Through award-winning public education campaigns and civic engagement, the organization is providing voice to victims and empowering communities to become safer places to live, work, and play.

As one example, NCPC was among the first organizations to sound the alarm on the dangers of fake pills containing fentanyl. Through the creation of LivesProject.org, McGruff the Crime Dog® became the symbol of hope for parents and children who have lost loved ones to opioid poisoning. Through an award-winning public education campaign and public policy pressure to hold social media companies accountable, national awareness increased and opioid deaths among young people dropped by more than 20 percent.

Position Description

Communications is central to driving NCPC’s work and achievements. NCPC is seeking a mission-driven leader with an innovative mindset and proven track record managing staff and delivering communications results that drive public awareness and action. If selected, you will play a critical role in the organization, leading the communications team, generating awareness of McGruff, and inspiring action in the digital age.

Reporting to the NCPC Executive Director, the Communications Director leads NCPC’s communications strategy, oversees the Communications Department, and will be directly involved in hiring for every aspect of the department. The Communications Director will shape and amplify NCPC’s voice, steward the McGruff the Crime Dog® brand for a new generation, and drive integrated media, digital, and partnership strategies that advance national crime prevention education.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Strategic leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with NCPC’s mission and goals.
• Team management: Supervise, mentor, and evaluate the Communications staff; set priorities, allocate resources, and foster professional growth.
• Brand stewardship: Ensure consistent brand voice and visual identity across campaigns, partnerships, and all public-facing materials.
• Campaign oversight: Oversee planning and execution of large-scale public education campaigns, coordinating cross-functional teams, external partners, and vendors.
• Integrated communication planning and management: Lead a holistic approach to NCPC communications, ensuring strategic integration that maximizes individual components’ strengths while delivering cohesive message delivery. Components include:
  • Media relations: Lead proactive media outreach, cultivate relationships with national and local press, manage crisis communication, and secure top-tier coverage.
  • Digital strategy: Direct strategy for NCPC digital assets, including social media, monthly newsletter, podcast, CRM integration, and analytics to grow audience engagement and measure impact.
  • Partnership development: Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships and collaborations with government, nonprofit, corporate, and community organizations to extend reach and resources.
• Leadership communications: Develop messaging and content for the Executive Director, including op-eds and speeches. Identify, secure, and manage speaking opportunities to raise visibility for NCPC and its priorities.
• Content and quality control: Approve high-level messaging, review recurring content, and ensure all communications meet exceptional standards of accuracy and polish.
• Budget and performance: Develop and manage communications budgets, set KPIs, and report on outcomes to the Executive Director.

Required Skills and Experience

• 7+ years of progressive communications experience, including leadership roles in nonprofit, public affairs, or agency settings.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams and leading cross-functional projects.
• Proven success in communications with a track record of generating national and regional coverage, engaging target audiences through digital channels, and engaging partners in a strategic, coordinated manner.
• Exceptional writing and editorial judgment with experience producing executive-level communication and campaign messaging.
• Strong digital fluency including social media strategy, CRM-driven outreach, content management systems, and analytics.
• Budget management experience and ability to set and translate metrics into decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for working with senior leaders, partners, and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading public education or issue-advocacy campaigns, particularly including public service advertising.
• Familiarity with brand revitalization.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience managing and growing engagement with a range of digital tools, from social media to podcasts.
• Advanced degree in communications, public relations, journalism, public policy, or commensurate professional experience.

Competencies and Attributes

• Strong strategic thinker with equally strong executional focus.
• Collaborative leader who builds trust and develops talent.
• Crisis-ready communicator who remains calm under pressure.
• Mission-driven, creative, and committed to equity and inclusion.

Benefits

• Generous health and dental coverage
• Retirement match
• Work-place flexibility
• Convenient DC location with onsite health facility, game room, and other amenities
• Teaming up with an American icon

To Apply

Please submit resume, salary requirements, and three samples or portfolio link to [email protected]. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

NCPC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.