Communications Director

Join to apply for the Communications Director role at Building Futures | Apprenticeship RI

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Join to apply for the Communications Director role at Building Futures | Apprenticeship RI

Reports To: Chief External Relations Officer

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Employment Status: Full-time, Exempt

Starting Salary Range: $86,000 - $96,000

The Communications Director is a strategic and creative leader responsible for shaping and sharing Building Futures' story. This position implements internal and external communications—advancing the organization’s visibility, influence, and impact with partners, policymakers, employers, funders, donors, and the broader community.

The ideal candidate is a storyteller who can translate complex workforce and economic development initiatives into compelling narratives that inspire action. This role combines strategic communications, media relations, digital engagement, and brand management to advance Building Futures’ mission.

This is a full-time role reporting to the Chief External Relations Officer and working collaboratively across the organization.

Building Futures was founded in 2007 as a construction industry partnership focused on leveraging the Registered Apprenticeship model of workforce development. For over 100 years, unions and employers have jointly operated quality registered apprenticeships in construction occupations to train individuals as highly skilled tradespeople. Our work spans three distinct but highly aligned areas.

For the benefit of low‑income Rhode Islanders, Building Futures developed and operates a comprehensive pre‑apprenticeship program to prepare diverse, low‑income men and women for success in employment as registered apprentices in the building trades. In addition, we work in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure construction projects provide employment opportunities for apprentices at the appropriate level to meet future demand for skilled labor through our Apprentice Utilization Program.

Our pre‑apprenticeship and apprentice utilization program provide an effective workforce development system in Rhode Island’s construction sector.

From this foundation, we have established Apprenticeship Rhode Island, an initiative to expand the use of Registered Apprenticeship beyond the construction sector. Now, we are helping develop new registered apprenticeship programs in multiple sectors, including healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and marine trades. Working with employers, industry partnerships, government, and community‑based organizations, we are spreading the proven model of Registered Apprenticeship to benefit the state’s workforce and economy.

• Work closely with Chief External Relations Officer to develop, implement, and regularly update a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with organizational goals and priorities that includes email, social media, earned media, and web programs.
• Ensure consistency of voice, tone, and messaging across all platforms and audiences.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership to integrate communications into programmatic, policy, and donor‑based fundraising initiatives.
• Regularly evaluate communications strategy tactics with metrics and tracking.

• Serve as primary media contact; build and maintain relationships with journalists and media outlets.
• Develop press releases, talking points, and media kits; manage press events and coverage.
• Support leaders, partners, staff, program participants, and alumni in developing public speaking and media messaging skills as needed.
• Identify opportunities to elevate Building Futures’ leadership in workforce development and apprenticeship innovation.
• Oversee and support message and brand coherence in digital presence, including on website, social media, and email program.
• Create and curate engaging content—stories, videos, and visuals—that highlight participant success, employer partnerships, and policy wins.
• Use analytics to track engagement and refine…