About the Organization
The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) is a social enterprise driving economic prosperity in rural America through entrepreneurship and tech job creation. Focused on the 500 U.S. micropolitan communities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000, our Rural Innovation Network spans 40 regions across 25 states. At CORI, we believe rural America can lead in the innovation economy.
Our 35-person team works alongside local leaders to build thriving, tech-enabled ecosystems, combining community strategy, research, and talent development with the CORI Innovation Fund, our venture arm investing in scalable rural startups. Together, our programs and capital create a powerful model for unlocking innovation and inclusive growth across rural America.
About the Opportunity
CORI is entering a breakthrough moment. With bold goals to grow the Rural Innovation Network, elevate founder pipelines, and lead the nation in rural AI readiness, we are reshaping what is possible for small town America.
The Director of Brand & Communications will be a creative force behind this transformation. CORI’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Wired, Fortune, The Hill, and VentureBeat, and we’re ready for the next level. We are looking for a dynamic brand-builder — someone with a point of view, a strong creative instinct, and the drive to shape CORI’s national presence. This is someone who sees storytelling as strategy, and who gets energized by fast-moving teams, ambitious goals, and the chance to help redefine the narrative about rural innovation.
If you want to help build a national movement where rural leaders, learners, and founders are at the center of the innovation economy, this is the role.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer (and working closely with the Founder & CEO), the Director of Brand & Communications serves as CORI’s chief brand storyteller and visibility architect.
You will:
- Build a bold, modern, cohesive enterprise brand.
- Craft narratives that spark imagination and shift perceptions of rural America.
- Create high-impact digital, editorial, and media campaigns.
- Elevate CORI’s thought leadership in tech innovation, AI readiness, and rural entrepreneurship.
- Empower a small but talented team and a set of external agencies.
- Collaborate deeply across Programs, Operations, Data, and Growth divisions and the CORI Innovation Fund (CIF).
Your success will be visible in how the nation sees rural innovation: increased brand awareness, stronger partnerships, expanded visibility for our communities and rural founders, and breakthrough moments that elevate CORI’s impact. Key audiences include national policymakers, investors, philanthropy, and rural leaders across the country.
This role is perfect for someone with creative drive and leadership energy.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Brand Leadership & Narrative Strategy (30%)
- Build and steward CORI’s brand identity—voice, visuals, narrative architecture—and ensure coherence across all channels.
- Develop bold, future-forward messaging that elevates rural innovation as a national priority.
- Lead storytelling that translates CORI’s research, AI insights, ecosystem work, and venture investments into compelling narratives for funders, policymakers, and the public.
- Partner closely with the CEO and CGO on keynotes, major announcements, thought leadership, and strategic visibility.
Creative Content & Storytelling (25%)
- Lead creation of high-impact stories about rural founders, learners, and community leaders.
- Oversee editorial calendars, newsletters, blogs, social content, case studies, and digital storytelling.
- Bring a strong creative POV to campaigns, copywriting, visual narrative, and audience engagement.
- Integrate human-centered, equity-driven storytelling across CORI’s work.
Campaigns, Digital Strategy & National Visibility (20%)
- Design and execute integrated digital campaigns that expand awareness and inspire engagement.
- Build CORI’s national media strategy, securing earned media and elevating CORI’s role in rural innovation, AI, and tech economy conversations.
- Strengthen CORI’s digital presence across social, email, SEO, and paid channels.
- Experiment with AI-enabled content tools to increase creative capacity, personalization, and analytics.
- Help grow CORI’s annual conference into a nationally recognized event showcasing rural innovation, AI leadership, and our founder ecosystem.
Team Leadership & Vendor Management (15%)
- Manage and mentor a small communications and marketing team, fostering creativity, collaboration, and high performance.
- Lead external vendor relationships (designers, PR firms, videographers, agencies) to expand capacity and creative range.
- Build strong, cross-functional partnerships across CORI to elevate internal communications consistency and clarity.
Marketing to Support Growth & Partnerships (10%)
- Develop compelling materials that support fundraising, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and federal opportunities.
- Collaborate with the Growth team to strengthen donor and partner engagement through storytelling, brand strategy, and impact communications.
- Promote CORI’s signature events – in person and virtual – including our national conference, regional gatherings, pitch events and other founder showcases, and Network convenings.
Required Experience
- 7–10+ years of progressive experience in strategic communications, brand marketing, public relations, or digital strategy. At least 2–3 years should be in a leadership or management role.
- A proven track record of evolving or managing a cohesive enterprise brand. You can point to specific examples where you developed voice, visual identity, or narrative architecture.
- Demonstrated success in securing earned media placements. You have experience pitching to national outlets (e.g., The New York Times, Wired, Fortune) and trade publications.
- Experience managing an editorial calendar and producing high-quality content across various mediums (op-eds, blogs, newsletters, social media, video scripts).
- Experience managing direct reports and overseeing external relationships with agencies, PR firms, and freelancers to execute projects on time and within budget.
Personal Qualities
- Deep belief in rural innovation as a force for national competitiveness.
- Creative, energetic, and mission-driven with a strong point of view.
- Confident collaborator who thrives in fast-moving, entrepreneurial environments.
- Strategic thinker with hands-on execution ability.
- Skilled communicator who can inspire policymakers, investors, rural leaders, and media.
- Committed to equity and human-centered storytelling.
- Motivated to challenge outdated narratives about rural America.
Location:
Fully remote, though New England-preferred, with ~20–30% travel to rural communities nationwide, Hartland, VT HQ, and 3–4 convenings per year. Must have lived rural experience.
Physical Requirements:
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
- We will manage the application and review process using our Workable platform. Please direct all inquiries through this system. We are unable to respond to phone/email inquiries at this time.
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive salary - $120,000 - $130,000 - Depending on Experience
- Health, dental, vision, short-term disability and life insurance
- Annual professional development allowance
- 15 days PTO first year, 8 floating holidays, 5 sick days
- Employer matched 401k after 90 days
- Home office set-up allowance
- Employee Assistance Program
CORI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, believing that everyone's unique story adds value to our mission.
**We are seeking candidates who currently live in a rural area or have lived in a rural area for more than 5 years. Rural is defined as a town with a Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) code of 4 or higher as determined by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.**
