Job Details

Description

Note: APA operates on a 37.5-hour work week with one-hour lunch breaks each day. APA sets salaries based on several considerations, including years of relevant experience, level of education, and previous staff and/or governance experience at APA.

The Head of Content, Communications develops and orchestrates the organization’s comprehensive content strategy, serving as a senior strategic leader who shapes how the story of psychology is told to diverse audiences, including association members, media, policymakers, educators, and the general public. This role requires systems-level thinking to ensure cohesive, mission-aligned storytelling across all organizational communications - grounded in the editorial discipline and stakeholder sensitivity that a complex, membership-driven organization demands. The position requires a forward-thinking leader who leverages artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to optimize content production, audience engagement, and organizational reach while driving measurable impact and exploring revenue-generating content opportunities.

Reporting directly to the Chief Communications and Membership Officer (CCMO) within a unit that spans content, membership, strategy and operations, public engagement, and other functional areas, this position functions as a key member of the senior leadership team and provides direct supervision to content development and production teams, ensuring strategic alignment, operational excellence, and high-quality storytelling across platforms.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in communications, journalism, or related field strongly preferred
15+ years of progressive experience in strategic communications and content leadership
Proven track record of optimizing multichannel content operations for complex organizations with multiple stakeholder groups
Demonstrated experience managing senior-level teams and creating work environments that bring out employees’ best
Demonstrated experience in setting and driving organizational content vision
Experience translating complex scientific and clinical subject matter for diverse audiences
Track record of building scalable content processes across distributed teams
Demonstrated expertise in leveraging AI and automation tools for content production, audience management, and personalization at scale
Experience developing content strategies that generate revenue or measurable business outcomes

Computer Skills Required:

Proficiency in content management systems, digital publishing platforms, and workflow collaboration technologies
Expertise in AI-powered tools for content production, audience intelligence, and personalization at scale
Experience with analytics, performance measurement, and data visualization platforms
Familiarity with social media management, digital marketing, and project management tools

Responsibilities:

This role requires a strategic leader, not a manager, who can ensure cohesive storytelling across platforms and audiences while driving diverse functions. Reporting directly to the Chief Communications and Membership Officer (CCMO), the Head of Content serves as a key member of the senior leadership team and directly supervises employees across content development and production teams.

1. Content Strategy and Leadership

Set the editorial agenda for APA’s public and member communications efforts and oversee its execution
Establish and evolve a comprehensive content strategy that meets the organization’s mission and goals, maximizes the talents of our teams, and streamlines workflows across multiple channels and platforms
Define unified messaging frameworks that scale across diverse audiences while maintaining appropriate voice and expertise for each
Design scalable content processes that leverage both internal expertise and external resources effectively
Ensure strong content governance systems to maximize our extensive source material and subject matter expertise
Establish clear performance goals and ensure content efforts are consistently measured against organizational objectives and reported on
Drive adoption of emerging technologies to enhance content creation efficiency, personalization, and distribution within organizational guidelines

2. Revenue Generation and Business Development

Identify and develop revenue-generating content opportunities across platforms and formats
Collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to align content strategy with revenue goals, including webinars, digital products, premium content offerings, and other monetizable formats
Provide strategic oversight and thought partnership for revenue-focused content initiatives beyond direct departmental purview, ensuring cohesive brand messaging and quality standards.

3. Public Communications and Outreach

Guide content leaders in strategy for public-facing digital channels, including web and social media content strategy as well as video and podcast strategy, including APA’s primary podcast Speaking of Psychology.
Set the vision for content that translates psychological research and practice for general audiences
Establish frameworks for repurposing scientific content across multiple public channels
Ensure coordination of public content with media relations and public affairs efforts to maximize impact.

4. Member and Professional Content

Guide content leaders in strategy for key member communications, publications, and professional resources
Lead the team in developing member newsletters and APA’s flagship magazine, The Monitor on Psychology
Establish systems to efficiently share clinical, research, and applied insights across member channels
Ensure coordination with membership team on content that drives member satisfaction and demonstrates value

5. Team Leadership and Development

Lead and develop high-performing teams across content, creative, public affairs and media relations, and sales functions
Establish and steward shared editorial standards across content teams, ensuring organizational voice is consistent, mission-aligned, and reflects APA’s responsibility to its diverse membership and the broader public
Lead the content team through a period of structural and cultural evolution, building a collaborative, accountable team culture that balances creative excellence with organizational alignment
Empower team members to work strategically through clear frameworks and improved workflows
Foster collaboration to ensure integrated strategies
Build team capabilities in translating complex psychological science for varied audiences and using AI and other tools to grow reach and quality
Develop talent pipeline for content excellence
Other Duties as Assigned

About APA:

The American Psychological Association (APA) represents 146,000 psychologists, students, and affiliates, primarily in the U.S. and Canada but also in other countries around the world. APA is a scientific and professional organization with about 500 employees and is categorized as a 501(c)(3) along with its 501(c)(6) companion organization, APA Services, Inc.

APA offers a generous employee benefits program, including Remote Work/Flexible Scheduling; a 401(k) option with employer match of up to 4%; medical, dental, and vision insurance options and an outpatient mental health benefit; paid personal/vacation time plus 12 paid holidays; Family/Medical Leave; tuition assistance; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); short- and long-term disability insurance; and more.

Job Location: Remote: APA jobs may be considered for remote work eligibility as defined in APA’s Flexible Work Policy and are subject to approval. Remote work employees may not work from the following states or U.S. territories: Alaska, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, Wyoming.

Application Instructions:

Qualified candidates must apply online through APA’s applicant system and attach a resume and cover letter specifying your salary expectations. Applications that are submitted without both documents are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed for consideration. Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. Please make sure to check your Spam folder if you do not receive an email from us.

The American Psychological Association is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected categories covered under local law.

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Head of Content Communications

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