Senior VP of Communications and External Impact

The Senior VP of Communications and External Impact

The Senior VP of Communications and External Impact is a senior executive responsible for shaping and advancing Child Care Aware of America’s national narrative, influence, and public positioning to drive systemic change in child care. The Senior VP of Communications and External Impact leads with transparency, sound judgment, and a strong sense of accountability, building trust across the organization and modeling the kind of leadership that brings people together to do their best work. This position is 100% remote.

This role goes beyond communications execution, translating strategy, research, policy, and on-the-ground impact into compelling narratives that shift national understanding, drive action, and unlock new resources. The Senior VP works in close partnership with the CEO and other senior leaders to ensure a cohesive, high-impact external presence that accelerates both policy and funding outcomes. Communications is embedded as a core strategic and operational function—informing how initiatives are designed, executed, and scaled for real-world impact.

Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) is the only national organization that supports every part of the child care system. In partnership with an on-the-ground network of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) organizations, we work in states and communities to advance high-quality, affordable child care—transforming a patchwork of resources into a system that works for everyone. Together, we make child care strong—and that makes everyone stronger. CCAoA is committed to recruiting and retaining a dynamic workforce to help build a child care system that serves all children and families.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

At Child Care Aware of America, we believe that a happy, healthy team is the foundation of our success. We offer an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Vacation days, sick days, paid holidays, school events leave, and personal leave.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Remote or hybrid options to support work-life balance.
• Retirement Plans: Competitive 403b match program and retirement planning resources.
• Child Care Stipend: Monthly subsidy for child care, including camps and before/after school care.
• Community: Regular virtual events to keep teams connected.

Position, Duties & Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Narrative & Positioning

• Define and steward CCAoA’s national narrative across all audiences and platforms.
• Position CCAoA and its network as central to solving the nation’s child care challenges.
• Lead message architecture connecting families, workforce, economy, and system-building into a unified story.

Influence Strategy and External Presence

• Design and execute a comprehensive influence strategy spanning media, thought leadership, partnerships, and executive visibility.
• Elevate CCAoA’s role with policymakers, business leaders, funders, and national media.
• Partner with the CEO to shape voice, visibility, and high-impact external engagement.

Strategic Integration with Programs & Operations

• Partner with program, policy, and research leaders to shape initiatives that are effective and compelling to external audiences.
• Ensure communications strategy informs program design, rollout, and scaling.
• Translate external audience insights into actionable feedback.
• Embed communications into launches, pilots, policy windows, and funding cycles.

Thought Leadership & Field Translation

• Translate research, policy, and field insights into persuasive public-facing content.
• Amplify emerging ideas and national frameworks.
• Shape internal framing of solutions to ensure external traction.
• Ensure CCAoA helps define the national conversation.

Brand, Reputation & Strategic Communications

• Oversee brand strategy and reputation management.
• Lead proactive and reactive communications, including crisis and rapid-response.
• Reinforce CCAoA’s credibility as a trusted, data-driven, solutions-oriented leader.

Network & Field Engagement

• Strengthen communications across the national network.
• Ensure local impact is represented and amplified nationally.
• Build shared tools, frameworks, and messaging for consistency and collective impact.

Convenings, Visibility & Strategic Platforms

• Shape national convenings and public platforms as vehicles for influence.
• Ensure events, reports, and campaigns are designed for impact and visibility.

Executive Leadership & Cross-Organizational Alignment

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive team.
• Build trust and alignment across leadership.
• Co-develop policy, programmatic, and revenue strategies with external resonance.
• Partner with Development on fund development and donor engagement.
• Influence across the organization to ensure shared ownership and consistent execution.

Team Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Build and lead a high-performing communications function.
• Develop and support leaders and team members.
• Foster a culture of transparency, open communication, and mutual respect.
• Set clear priorities, expectations, and success metrics.
• Establish systems integrating communications into planning and evaluation cycles.
• Ensure operational discipline, coordination, and quality execution.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, communications, political science, or related field preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in communications or public affairs.
• Demonstrated success shaping national narratives and elevating organizational visibility.
• Experience at the intersection of policy, research, advocacy, and public engagement.
• Proven ability to partner with executive leadership as a trusted advisor.
• Track record of leading high-performing teams and complex initiatives.
• Strong emotional intelligence, judgment, and integrity.
• Experience building trust across leadership, teams, and stakeholders.
• Ability to navigate organizational change.
• Experience developing talent and building cohesive teams.

Leadership Profile

• Enterprise thinker — sees communications as a lever for mission, policy, and revenue.
• Strategic and externally oriented — attuned to the national landscape.
• Influence-driven — focused on shaping decisions and outcomes.
• Connector — unifies stakeholders and synthesizes insights.
• Grounded and trusted leader — builds credibility through transparency and consistency.
• People-centered operator — invests in team development and support.
• Decisive and disciplined — sets priorities and ensures execution.

Salary Information

The salary range reflects the hiring range for the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. A geographic differential will be applied for candidates in lower cost-of-living regions to ensure competitive and equitable compensation.

Notice

Child Care Aware of America works in partnership with Talentuition & Infiniti HR throughout the hiring process. Candidates may receive outreach from Talentuition regarding interviews, resume inquiries, and next steps.

Learn more here