Director of Communications

Reporting to the Senior Director of Strategic Communications, this role leads the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s day-to-day communications operations, advancing the organization’s strategic vision through clear, consistent, and high-quality communications across internal and external channels.

Responsibilities

• Direct the day-to-day communications operations, ensuring work is organized, coordinated, and aligned across departments, programs, events, and leadership needs.
• Develop and implement communications plans that support institutional priorities, major initiatives, executive visibility, audience engagement, and organizational reputation.
• Maintain an organization-wide communications calendar to coordinate timing across press, social, email, internal messaging, campaigns, and major events.
• Develop and maintain communications protocols, approval processes, key messages, spokesperson guidance, templates, and other tools that support consistent institutional communication.
• Support major institutional announcements, events, and initiatives through strategic communications planning, message development, media coordination, and cross-functional execution.
• Lead editorial planning and storytelling efforts across internal and external communications channels, including earned media pitches, organic social media strategy, and email communication.
• Direct and develop written content, including press materials, institutional announcements, internal messages, talking points, executive communications, presentations, and other organizational communications.
• Maintain editorial standards, message consistency, and brand voice across communications channels.
• Support internal communications by developing clear messaging for staff and leadership, including regular newsletters.
• Serve as a primary media contact for the organization, leading proactive media relations pitching, interview coordination, press inquiries, and media opportunities.
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson as needed.
• Track communications outcomes, media coverage, engagement, and other performance indicators to evaluate effectiveness and inform future communications strategy.
• Serve as a communications advisor to departments and project teams.
• Manage and guide communications staff, agency partners, or freelancers.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, writing, journalism, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in strategic communications in a corporate, government, or large institutional setting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects and teams.
• Prior experience managing others preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required; experience with communications software and media monitoring tools preferred.
• Experience utilizing AI tools to enhance productivity preferred.
• Passion for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s mission, including revitalization of Downtown Pittsburgh through the arts.
• Sound judgment, attention to detail, responsiveness, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines for high-impact projects.
• Self-motivated and tactful, with strong written and oral communication skills.

Supervisory & Budgetary Responsibilities

• Supervises full-time personnel (Senior Communications Manager and Social Media Manager) and may oversee interns or freelancers in addition to project teams.
• Manages specific project budgets and vendor contracts.
• Exercises day-to-day discretion regarding management of the Trust’s communications, subject to the general oversight of the Senior Director of Communications.

Working Conditions

• Mainly office work; occasional lifting up to 20-30 lbs. may be required.
• Able to sit and/or view a computer screen for extended periods of time.
• Limited travel (less than 5%).

Pay

Starting salary range: $80,000