Chief Communications Officer

Metropolitan Planning Council • Chicago, IL

37d • $150,000 - $160,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The CCO will lead a refresh of MPC’s communications, marketing, and brand strategy, positioning the organization as a leading policy voice for the future of Chicago and our region. The CCO will work closely with the CEO and leadership team to help craft and execute a strategy to evolve MPC into a locally-rooted, nationally-oriented platform by re-energizing MPC’s existing stakeholders and cultivating new audiences.

Requirements

• 7+years of progressive experience in communications, marketing, and public affairs.
• Proven ability to translate complex policy and research into accessible, engaging narratives for diverse audiences.
• Strong contextual knowledge of Chicagoland’s media ecosystem as well as state and national media outlets that cover MPC’s core issues
• Excellent written, visual, and verbal storytelling skills.
• Executive-level experience and comfort with advising senior leaders and working cross-functionally.
• Ability to listen, effectively communicate and engender buy-in among peers, staff, board, funders, and partners.
• Demonstrable emotional intelligence necessary for building, managing and motivating teams and building organizational goodwill
• Strong commitment to pursuing racial equity and inclusive civic engagement.

Nice To Haves

• Track record of leading brand or communications infrastructure overhauls.
• Proficiency with platforms such as Muck Rack/Cision/Meltwater, Mailchimp, WordPress, Google Analytics, Adobe Creative Suite, and CRM systems.
• Experience working with fundraising teams on donor cultivation & stewardship communications

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and actively contribute to MPC’s overall strategy, culture, and organizational development.
• Represent the communications functions on the senior team, guiding cross-functional collaboration and alignment.
• Develop and implement a multi-channel communications strategy that elevates the organization’s mission, programs, and policy impact across local, state, and national platforms and target audiences.
• Oversee all aspects of messaging, branding, and narrative development to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with organizational values and goals.
• Collaborate with the programs team to translate complex work into compelling stories and accessible content for a wide variety of audiences; Provide crisis communications counsel and support to leadership as needed.
• Cultivate and manage strong relationships with media, positioning MPC experts as go-to sources for MPC’s issue basket.
• Oversee earned media efforts, including the drafting and placing op-eds, managing media relations, overseeing media training as needed for all MPC spokespeople, and serving as a spokesperson as needed.
• Direct all digital communications platform and content.
• Collaborate on a convenings and events strategy for MPC that serves to re-engage existing audiences, connect with new stakeholders, and helps support MPC’s brand awareness and fundraising objectives.
• Ensure development of event-specific marketing strategies, incorporating programmatic, development and brand amplification needs
• Grow and manage MPC’s marketing and communications team, with responsibility for hiring, mentoring, and supporting additional staff as the team expands.
• Provide strategic guidance and support to the Development Team
• Develop and manage the communications budget, contracts with consultants, and relationships with external vendors and partners.
• Represent the organization at Board meetings, public events, and with key stakeholders to advance its reputation and influence as needed.

Benefits

• Metropolitan Planning Council’s robust and competitive compensation package for new full-time employees includes covering approximately 80% of the employee premium for health benefits, 100% of the employee premium for dental benefits, and Disability and Life insurance.
• MPC provides all full-time employees with a hybrid work environment, parental leave, up to five weeks of accrued vacation, transit benefits, a professional development stipend, and access to an onsite fitness center, among other benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees