Advocacy & Communications Manager

Reports to: Deputy Director

Manages: N/A

Status: Exempt Full-Time
Location: Houston TX Hybrid Schedule

You will lead Arts Connects efforts to promote arts education through advocacy communications and storytelling. Youll engage partners policymakers and the community plan the annual State of the Arts in Education symposium and use data-driven stories to expand access to the arts.

You Will:

• Monitor arts and education policy at all levels.
• Develop relationships with policymakers school leaders and community partners.
• Develop advocacy materials and campaigns.
• Translate data and research into accessible tools.
• Represent Arts Connect in coalitions task forces and meetings.
• Plan and manage the annual State of the Arts in Education symposium.
• Implement an annual communications plan and create content for newsletters social media press and stories.
• Maintain the website and cultivate media relationships.
• Support fundraising and programs through storytelling and data.
• Analyze data to demonstrate impact and trends and train staff and partners in its use.
• Report communications and advocacy metrics providing recommendations to leadership.

You Have:

• 3 years of experience in advocacy public policy communications or related fields (nonprofit or education sector preferred).
• Experienced in planning and managing events from concept to execution.
• Proficiency with tools such as Excel (can perform complex functions) Google Data Studio Canva or similar.
• Experience with media relations digital marketing and CRM or email platforms.
• Collaborative proactive and passionate about arts education and equity.

Working Conditions:

Work is sedentary involving desk activities computer usage and occasional travel to multiple locations to meet with potential funders. You will need to acclimate to changing priorities and new goals. This is a hybrid remote/in-office role. Our schedule is hybrid with remote work on Mondays and Fridays and in-office on Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Our Benefits:

• Comprehensive health care coverage
• Voluntary Dental and Vision insurance
• Paid Long-Term Disability Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Life Insurance
• Paid holiday leave including 9 holidays Winter Break (10 paid days) and 2 personal days
• Paid vacation sick and parental leave
• 401K plan after a year of employment

About Arts Connect Houston:

Arts Connect Houston (ACH) is building a future in which every young person thrives because they have a complete education that includes the arts. As a collective impact organization Arts Connect aligns primary stakeholder groups including Houston Independent School District (HISD) Aldine Independent School District (AISD) the City of Houston the local philanthropic community local arts and culture organizations and state and national partners. To ensure equitable access to the arts for students Arts Connect collects actionable data drives advocacy builds capacity and unlocks new investments. Arts Connect believes in education as a path to ensure equity for the well-being of all students. We center equity access and building community power in our work.

Arts Connect Houston is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation national origin genetics disability age or veteran status.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible application process for all individuals. If you require reasonable accommodations to participate in any stage of the hiring process due to a disability please contact Angelette Sevart at to discuss your needs.

To Apply:

Applicants must apply online fill out a brief application upload a resume and answer three questions. Your application cannot be saved in progress so be prepared to answer the following questions when submitting it. We will not use artificial intelligence to review these applications. Please share your responses in your own words. We really want to hear your ideas and perspective directly from you. The interview process will start before the close date. Applications will be accepted through November 28 2025.

1) Do you live in the Houston area and have the flexibility to work in person at our office This is a hybrid position with remote work on Mondays and Fridays and in-office on Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays

2) Why are you interested in a role in advocacy/communications and what skills experiences tools or qualifications make you a great candidate for this position

3) Arts Connect Houston uses data to demonstrate the impact of arts education. Share an example of how youve turned data or research into a message visual or campaign that inspired action or understanding