Director of Marketing & Communications

Position: Director of Marketing & Communications

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Position Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (2 days per week in office)

Location: Reston, Virginia

Direct Reports: Two full-time direct reports plus external vendors

Classification: Exempt, not eligible for overtime

Salary: Starting at $125,000 plus benefits & professional development opportunities

About FBLA

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is the largest career student organization in the world, dedicated to inspiring and preparing students for success in business and leadership. With nearly 90 years of history, FBLA empowers more than 200,000 middle school, high school, and college students through innovative programs, competitive events, leadership development, and real-world career preparation. FBLA connects aspiring leaders with opportunities to build skills, explore careers, and network with industry professionals, fostering the next generation of business and community leaders.

Based in Reston, Virginia, FBLA’s National Center is home to approximately 15 full-time professional staff. This small but mighty team fosters a fun, dynamic, performance-driven culture where everyone works together to get the job done.

Position Overview

The Director of Marketing and Communications serves as the chief marketing and communications officer for Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). The Director, who sits on the senior leadership team, is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive data-driven communication and marketing strategy to grow FBLA’s external visibility, achieve revenue goals, and facilitate both internal and external communications. The Director oversees a team of two professional staff and a handful of external consultants/vendors to support FBLA’s mission. This role requires a dynamic leader who is not afraid to roll up their sleeves and enjoys leading projects while leading a team.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Brand Management

• • Develop and execute a strategic communications plan to enhance FBLA’s brand identity, expand program awareness, increase stakeholder visibility, and grow revenue, registrations, and engagement.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership to create strategies and annual calendar of activities that broaden reach, deepen impact, and ensure consistent messaging across all channels.
  • Act as a "brand ambassador," maintaining proper and consistent use of FBLA’s naming conventions, brand attributes, and logo.

Event and Public Relations Marketing

• • Lead marketing and communication efforts for FBLA conferences and events, ensuring effective promotion, participant engagement, and cohesive branding.
  • Serve as the primary media contact, implementing PR strategies, building media relationships, and ensuring coverage of FBLA programs, events, and announcements.

Digital, Social Media, and Content Management

• • Oversee content creation for all platforms, including social media, newsletters, press releases, and the FBLA website, ensuring high-quality and engaging materials.
  • Manage the website to maintain content integrity, monitor performance metrics, and implement SEO strategies for optimization.
  • Develop and execute social networking strategies, responding to audience engagement and inquiries.

Tomorrow’s Business Leader Magazine

• • Initially deploy this bimonthly digital publication, per normal (includes content identification, securing writers, table of contents, etc. in partnership with design firm)
  • Identify a process to assess and refine based on student and stakeholder feedback, usage, ROI, etc.
  • Manage corresponding P/L

FBLA Shop/Online Store

• • Oversight of annual calendar for promotions, sales, and merchandising.
  • Supervise the identification and testing of new products; order and manage inventory
  • Ensure annual revenue increases year-over-year and the successful management of corresponding P/L.
  • Assess current operation including merchandise and fulfillment partner.

Team, Vendor, and Budget Oversight

• • Supervise the marketing and communications team, providing mentorship, coaching and performance evaluations, while managing relationships with external consultants and agencies.
  • Negotiate and oversee vendor contracts for the design, printing, and delivery of materials.
  • Develop and manage the annual marketing and communications budget, ensuring financial accountability.

Process Development and Performance Tracking

• • Establish and maintain guidelines for internal and external communications, ensuring alignment with FBLA’s goals and policies.
  • Set benchmarks for engagement and marketing effectiveness, using analytics to refine strategies and improve outcomes.

Program, Event, and Committee Support

• • Collaborate with internal teams to develop comprehensive communications plans for programs and events.
  • Provide support for board and committee meetings, including presentations and documentation, as directed by the Board of Directors.
  • Build and maintain key internal and external relationships to advance FBLA’

Qualifications & Experience

• • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 10 years' experience of marketing AND communications, and/or public relations experience, preferably at a nonprofit, youth development, education, and/or membership association.
  • Demonstrated experience running a metrics-driven marketing communications program that supports revenue, registrations, reputation, and ratings.
  • At least 3-5 years as a supervisor with demonstrated experience coaching and growing a team
  • Knowledge of managing and growing an online store.
  • Expertise in crafting/managing digital publications (i.e., magazine, journal, etc.)
  • Proficiency in MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, Access, Teams, and PowerPoint) and other design and project management tools (Canva, Adobe, Monday, etc.)
  • Ability to produce clear, concise, and compelling written collateral.
  • Demonstrated business acumen with excellent analytical, interpersonal, presentation, organizational, and communication (verbal and written) skills.
  • Excellent public speaking skills with the ability to clearly and effectively articulate information to different audiences.