Director, Storytelling

Job Title: Director Storytelling

Location: Oakland CA (In-person up to 50% travel required)

Position Type: Full-Time Exempt

Expected Hiring Range: $127500 $139999 (Full Salary Band: $115000 $165000)

College Track is a comprehensive college completion program empowering students from underserved communities to overcome systemic obstacles earn a bachelors 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 5400 scholars and alumni across 13 centers in California Colorado Louisiana the D.C. Metro Area and Baltimore.

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 communicationsnot merely a marketing function.

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 Tracks 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.

• Experience: 57 years of progressively responsible experience in storytelling journalism communications content strategy or digital media.

• Education: Bachelors 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.

• 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.