Director, Storytelling

Job description

**Job Title:** Director, Storytelling **Location:** Oakland, CA (In-person, up to 50% travel required) **Position Type:** Full-Time, Exempt **Expected Hiring Range:** $127,500 – $139,999 (Full Salary Band: $115,000 – $165,000) --- ### About College Track College Track is a comprehensive college completion program empowering students from underserved communities to overcome systemic obstacles, earn a bachelor’s degree, and build meaningful careers. From high school through college graduation, we provide a 10-year integrated program of academic, financial, and personal support. What started in 1997 with 25 students has grown into a national movement of over 5,400 scholars and alumni across 13 centers in California, Colorado, Louisiana, the D.C. Metro Area, and Baltimore. --- ### Role Overview College Track is seeking a creative, collaborative, and relationship-oriented **Director of Storytelling** to bring our mission, scholars, alumni, and impact to life. Reporting to the VP of Strategic Effectiveness within the Education Division, you will lead the creation and stewardship of authentic, strengths-based narratives that deepen understanding of our program model and drive strategic engagement. In this role, you will build a culture where storytelling is embraced as an essential organizational practice across fundraising, recruitment, partnerships, and executive communications—not merely a marketing function. --- ### Key Responsibilities **Story Strategy & Relationship Building** - Partner with internal leaders to build and execute an annual storytelling plan and year-round content pipeline. - Cultivate deep, trusted relationships with scholars, alumni, families, site staff, and Education team members to collect authentic stories ethically and respectfully. - Embed storytelling practices across departments to support fundraising, scholar recruitment, and strategic partnerships. **Story Development & Production** - Lead end-to-end production of written, visual, video, audio, and digital multimedia content reflecting College Track’s values and institutional narrative. - Partner with internal teams and manage freelance creatives (photographers, videographers, writers) as needed. **Social Media & Content Distribution** - Oversee social media storytelling strategy, editorial calendar, and platform management. - Supervise, coach, and mentor a part-time student employee handling daily social media scheduling, posting, and engagement tracking. **Asset Management & Systems** - Build, organize, and maintain a searchable, accessible digital library of stories, photo/video assets, and testimonials. - Establish asset permissions, metadata standards, and ethical usage guidelines to streamline cross-departmental collaboration. --- ### Qualifications - **Experience:** 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in storytelling, journalism, communications, content strategy, or digital media. - **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, English, Marketing, Digital Media, Film, or a related field. - **Core Skills:** Exceptional interviewing, writing, and editing capabilities; proven success managing multimedia projects (photo, video, social) and editorial calendars. - **People & Relationships:** Demonstrated skill in building authentic relationships across diverse communities and managing or mentoring staff/students. - **Mission Alignment:** Fierce commitment to educational equity, ethical/strengths-based representation, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Non-profit or education background preferred. - **Travel & Requirements:** Ability to travel up to 50% and attend the annual "Semester Zero" week-long program every July. Physical ability to lift up to 20 lbs and transition between desk work and active event environment. --- ### Benefits & Workplace Culture - **Time Off:** Up to 23 discretionary time-off days (sick/vacation) plus 23 paid office closures and holidays in your first year. - **Comprehensive Benefits:** Robust coverage centered on health care, financial security, and work-life balance. - **Inclusion:** We strongly encourage candidates who identify as first-generation college graduates to apply. College Track is an equal opportunity employer.