Director of Communications

Bike Durham is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that uses events, advocacy, and education, to empower all people to walk, bike and ride transit more often. Our vision is a Durham where everyone has access to safe, affordable and sustainable transportation regardless of who they are or where they live.

Bike Durham is seeking a strategic and creative Communications Director to lead our organizational storytelling and narrative-shifting work. This role is built on three pillars: Advocacy Framing (shaping the public debate around safe streets and great transit), Program Marketing (driving attendance to our classes and events), and Development Partnership (providing the creative assets and messaging that power our fundraising).

As a "department of one," you will work closely with the Executive Director, our Advocacy Campaign Organizer on advocacy strategy, our Education Program Manager on driving attendance in our classes, and our Development Coordinator to ensure our supporters are inspired to invest in our mission.

Why This Role Matters

In a small non-profit, the Communications Director is the bridge between our work and the world. By successfully marketing our classes, you empower individuals to navigate Durham without a car. By successfully framing the advocacy debate, you build the political will to redesign the city itself.

Key Responsibilities

1. Advocacy Framing & Narrative Strategy

• Shape the Debate: Proactively define the terms of the conversation regarding transportation in Durham. Move the public dialogue away from "car convenience" toward "safety, equity, and climate resilience."
• Strategic Messaging: translate organizational and program goals into compelling narratives that mobilize the public. You will ensure that when decision-makers, the media, and the community talk about transportation, they are using our language.
• Rapid Response: Draft quick responses to local news (e.g., fatal crashes, council votes) that contextualize individual events within the broader systemic need for safe streets and great transit.

2. Program Marketing & Community Mobilization

• Drive Attendance: executing marketing campaigns specifically designed to fill seats in our educational programming (e.g., Adult/Teen bike classes, travel training workshops) and boost turnout at community events.
• Conversion Focus: Move our audience from "passive observers" to "active participants." Use email marketing and social channels not just to inform, but to convert readers into class attendees, event-goers, and activists.
• Audience Segmentation: Working with the team to define target markets and tailoring messaging and strategy to the different groups.

3. Development & Fundraising Partnership

• Creative Asset Production: Partner with the Development Coordinator to produce high-impact visuals and copy for fundraising appeals and membership drives.
• Donor Storytelling: Translate program successes and advocacy wins into "Impact Reports" and donor communications that demonstrate the value of their investment.
• Brand Consistency: Ensure all development materials (pitch decks, sponsorship packets, and grant narratives) align with the organization’s voice and framing.

4. Digital Content & Channel Management

• Social Media: Manage all channels with a mix of high-level advocacy (shaping the narrative) and service promotion (filling classes).
• Email Marketing: Lead the strategy for our newsletter and action alerts. Analyze open rates and click-throughs to optimize how we drive traffic to registration pages.
• Website Management: Keep the website dynamic and current, ensuring clear calls-to-action (CTAs) for class sign-ups, advocacy petitions, and donations.

5. Media Relations

• Build relationships with local journalists and influencers to pitch stories that highlight both our advocacy wins and the human impact of our education programs.
• Draft press releases, op-eds, and media advisories that reinforce our strategic framing of local issues.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years in communications, marketing, or a related field.
• The "Framing" Skillset: You understand the difference between "an accident" and "a crash." You know how to use language to shift power dynamics and public perception.
• The "Marketing" Skillset: Experience promoting events or services. You know how to create a "funnel" that gets a user from a social media post to a registration form.
• Strong Writer: You can write a persuasive op-ed in the morning and a catchy promotional email in the afternoon.
• Visual & Tech Skills: Proficiency with email platforms, design tools (Canva), and website CMS (Squarespace).
• Mission Alignment: A deep commitment to racial and economic justice as it pertains to mobility and access in Durham.

Preferred (But Not Required)

• Experience in political advocacy or non-profit fundraising.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) is a strong plus for reaching broader Durham communities.
• Photography/Videography skills to capture our events and programming.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Relocate:

• Durham, NC 27701: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Durham, NC 27701