Director of Communications

About Nava

Nava is a consultancy and public benefit corporation working to make government services simple, effective, and accessible to all. Since 2013, federal, state, and local government agencies have trusted Nava to build transformative digital services to help people access public benefits. Meeting our mission is an opportunity to restore trust between people and public institutions. We focus on populations that are the least protected because the stakes are higher.

As a client services company, we work with government agencies to improve how people apply for benefits, navigate their health care, and more. We bill for our time, selling our expertise and problem-solving methodology to government clients. Our clients hire us to help improve their products and services so that their users and beneficiaries have a better customer experience.

These end-users—the humans who benefit from our work—are at the core of everything we do. We research beneficiaries’ needs to help our government clients better deliver on their missions, providing everyone at Nava opportunities to do meaningful, impactful work.

Position Summary

The Director of Communications is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies to enhance the organization's reputation, increase brand awareness, and effectively communicate key messages to various stakeholders. The incumbent leads a team of communications professionals and collaborates with cross-functional departments to ensure consistent and impactful messaging across all communication channels. All work will be done in service of Nava's values: Be Active Stewards, Pursue the Root Cause, Think Long-Term, Build Together, Inclusion is Essential and Progress Takes Work.

Please note: Candidates from the DC or DC Metro area will be highly preferred but this is not a requirement. If not in this area, there will be a high frequency of travel.

What you'll do

• Developing and executing the organization's overall external communication strategy with the COO, in alignment with the company's goals and objectives
• Leading, mentoring, and managing a team of communications professionals, including an events manager, editorial manager, and communications manager, providing guidance, feedback, and professional development opportunities
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including program directors, recruiting, and executive leadership, to develop and implement communication strategies that support initiatives or campaigns
• Building and managing relationships with both media and industry contacts
• Connecting external stakeholders with the right internal contact at Nava
• Prepping executive spokespeople, providing clear and concise messaging during media interviews, public speaking engagements, and other external communication opportunities
• Monitoring the news cycle and identifying opportunities for Nava 
• Deeply understanding Nava's program areas to create and curate a distinctive program that positions and differentiates Nava, raises awareness, and increases market share
• Driving customer and recruitment communications and marketing programs by crafting key messaging, leading in the development of thought-provoking insights, and positioning Nava in the government digital service marketplace through a variety of channels including thought leadership, digital marketing, social media and events to win market share
• Ensuring that all of our external and internal communications align with our brand positioning (our mission, vision, and values, as well as our FY company goals)
• Overseeing Nava’s events strategy with our events and business services teams
• Meeting with direct reports on a regular basis
• Guiding direct reports when they are stuck in their IC duties
• Mentoring direct reports, helping them with their career path
• Managing time off, expenses, administrative work

Required skills

• 7+ years experience in marketing, brand, and business-building, including experience with marketing strategy and creative execution
• 4+ years of management experience
• Must have CivicTech or Public Interest Technology experience
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to manage and track multiple projects and stakeholders in a fast-moving environment
• Confidence in managing internal/external relationships
• Experience with developing and executing on content strategy
• An adaptive, empathetic, collaborative, and positive mindset
• A proactive nature in teaching and building up the skills of others
• Ability to proactively identify relevant media channels and build relationships over time with community leaders and other members of the media
• Comfortable working at the pace of the news cycle and keeping abreast of it, able to identify opportunities to connect Nava stories to broader audiences
• An editor’s eye for clear storytelling and voice
• Ability to communicate across diverse audiences, from government employees to technology press
• Ability to travel to events when necessary

Desired skills

• Established relationships with members of the technology, govcon, civic tech, or mainstream press
• Familiarity with working in a technology environment, able to translate technical jargon into accessible language for a variety of audiences
• Able to adapt to an agile development working model

Other requirements

All roles at Nava require the following:

● Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and meet any other requirements for government contracts for which they are hired.

● Candidates who are offered a job with Nava must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by their employer for a visa now or in the future.

● May be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or applicants who are eligible for security clearances.

Perks working with Nava

● Competitive benefits: We prioritize your well-being, offering highly competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits.

● Generous time off: Enjoy 20 days of accrued PTO, 12 paid federal holidays, 5 floating holidays, and unlimited sick leave.

● Annual discretionary bonus: Paid annually to eligible employees. When Nava does well, you do well.

● Parental leave: Receive 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave and weekly meal deliveries during your leave.

● Employee wellness program: Access our comprehensive Employee Wellness Program.

● Virtual doctor visits: Enjoy zero copay virtual doctor visits through UHC.

● Fertility support: Benefit from fertility support and treatment options.

● Sabbatical leave: We offer a sabbatical leave program.

● 401k contributions: We match 4% of your salary in 401k contributions.

● Flexible work arrangements: We offer flexible work arrangements to suit your needs.

● Home office setup: Receive assistance with your home office setup and a monthly phone allowance.

● Utilities reimbursement: Get a monthly partial reimbursement for utilities (where applicable).

● Learning and development: Access our comprehensive learning and development program.

● Tuition and Professional development budget: Receive a prorated annual tuition and professional development budget and a LinkedIn Learning license.

● Equity stock options: Benefit from equity stock options.

● Employee referral program: Participate in our employee referral program.

● Commuter benefits: Enjoy commuter benefits.

● Insurance coverage: Receive short and long-term disability insurance, as well as life and accidental death insurance.

● Inclusive culture: Join our diverse, inclusive, highly collaborative, and vibrant culture that supports remote work.

Location

You can work in a hybrid work arrangement from one of Nava’s offices in NYC, DC, or San Francisco. We also have fully remote options if you reside in one of the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.

*If you are not living in one of the states listed above, unfortunately, you will not be considered for a position at this time. 

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Nava PBC equal opportunity employer that is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, age, gender, religious or political beliefs, national origin or heritage, marital status, disability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran or any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion not only reflects our values as a public benefit corporation but also enriches our ability to do our work. Learn more about where we are today and hope to be by 2025.

Please contact the recruiting team at [email protected] if you would like to request reasonable accommodation during the application or interviewing process.

We participate in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. This role requires you to work from the contiguous United States.