Attendance Works - Associate Director of Communications

About Us

Attendance Works is a national, nonprofit initiative, fiscally sponsored by Community Initiatives in Oakland, CA. Operating virtually, Attendance Works (www.attendanceworks.org) is the nation’s go-to resource for attendance policy and practice. Attendance Works advances success in school and beyond for all students by reducing chronic absence prek-12.  Funded by a combination of grants and fees, we employ a diverse team of staff located throughout the United States.

Our website (www.attendanceworks.org) is our primary vehicle for communication with the broader public. While many offerings and products are available without charge, including the website, webinars, methods for data collection, toolkits. research and attendance messaging, a variety of fee-based services are also available to schools, districts and/or states. These include individualized consultation, technical assistance, coaching and peer learning networks.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Communications for Attendance Works manages key editorial, mission-driven  projects within the communications department with the goal of expanding Attendance Works reach. This position manages the following critical interdepartmental initiatives: Production management, including production of tools, resources, reports and other materials; management of the national Attendance Awareness Campaign; and management of Attendance Works social media presence. The position provides substantive support to the Director of Communications on a wide range of other projects.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Production of  Tools, Resources, Reports  and Other Materials: 

1. As production manager, lead the preparation of new and updated resources for publication. Establish improved production workflow  plans to ensure that the product is delivered on schedule and to a high quality standard. Resources include reports, toolkits, handouts, etc.
2. In collaboration with program staff identify and establish a schedule for regularly updating resources and make adjustments as challenges emerge.
3. Ensure a consistent appearance that follows brand guidelines across all Attendance Works materials.
4. Manage relationships and workflows with outside vendors (designers, printers, videographers) as needed, including scoping, budgeting, and quality review of deliverables.
5. Update and maintain a production tracking system (e.g., shared calendar or project management tool) showing what's in process and  upcoming deadlines. Process established for  sharing  requests for communications support.

Manage Attendance Works Social Media Presence: 

1. Design and implement new  strategies and improve existing strategies for expanding engagement across Attendance Works social media platforms, including but not limited to LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and Bluesky. Set strategic goals and assess the effectiveness of initiatives against those goals.
2. Drive increased traffic to the Attendance Works website, tools, webinars and resources through social media; develop social media and email promotional campaigns for Attendance Works products and TA offerings.
3. Maintain a content calendar that ensures timely posting of organizational messaging.
4. Collaborate across program, fund development, and communications staff to source and adapt content — research findings, partner spotlights, donor stories — into platform-appropriate social and email content, maintaining a consistent brand voice throughout.

Attendance Awareness Campaign (AAC), an annual campaign culminating in Attendance Awareness Month in September:

1. Working with the Communications Director, lead the production of  campaign  materials  (campaign slogan, posters, toolkit and  social media assets.)  Support annual updates of the AAC microsite.
2. Support  recruitment of new AAC partners and increasing engagement of existing partners.
3. Provide writing, design production and promotion of AAC including the webinar series.
4. Support managing relationships with campaign sponsors and delivering on sponsor benefits.

Writing and Editing: Provides support to the Director of Communications as assigned with the following tasks: 

1. Provide support with writing and editing a wide range of materials including but  not limited to blog posts,  promotional collateral, bright spot stories, press releases, op-eds, magazine articles, toolkit content,  annual report, and fundraising materials.
2. Ensure messaging is clear, speaks to the intended audience and conforms to brand and writing style.

Management

1. Determine project details for communications and design contractors, including providing content for contracts, and setting and monitoring contract budgets.
2. Facilitate meetings with designers and Attendance Works staff who request specific design and production work.
3. Works with the Communications Director, Director of Evaluation and Research and Communications Specialist to track and report on Attendance Awareness Campaign and social media performance using platform analytics and other tools, translating data into recommendations.
4. Other responsibilities as assigned.