Director, Marketing

Aspire of Illinois•Hillside, IL

29d•$88,000 - $93,000

About The Position

Aspire | Strategic Brand Leader Mission Storyteller Impact Amplifier Are you a brand visionary who believes marketing can change lives? Do you thrive at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and mission-driven impact? Aspire is seeking a Director of Marketing to serve as our senior brand steward—leading the way in elevating our mission, deepening donor and partner engagement, and connecting individuals and families to life-changing programs. This is more than a marketing role. It’s an opportunity to shape the organization’s public story, drive philanthropic and program growth, and ensure a consistent, inspiring, mission-centered voice across every channel. Join us, and help build a future where inclusion isn’t just a value—it’s a movement. What You’ll Do: Bring Aspire’s Story to Life Strategic Leadership & Vision Serve as Aspire’s senior marketing leader , translating vision into bold, actionable strategies. Lead marketing, PR, and external communications that advance philanthropy, outreach, enrollment , and brand reputation. Partner across departments to identify marketing opportunities and align efforts with organizational goals. Build scalable systems—workflows, calendars, processes, vendor networks—that keep marketing efforts organized and optimized. Brand, Storytelling & Public Relations Shape and steward Aspire’s brand voice, visual identity, and narrative across all channels. Create and oversee compelling content—copy, video, photography, design—that connects emotionally and drives action. Craft executive-level communications including speeches, op-eds, and messaging for the CEO and senior leaders. Pitch media with newsworthy, mission-centered stories that elevate Aspire’s visibility. Philanthropy & Mission Storytelling Partner closely with Philanthropy to engage donors through powerful storytelling, campaigns, and events. Ensure accurate, consistent donor-facing materials and digital communications. Highlight Aspire’s impact, inclusion work, and future vision through mission-aligned content. Outreach, Enrollment & Customer Journey Build and refine lead-generation systems, nurture pathways, and enrollment funnels. Develop targeted messaging for each stage of the customer journey—from awareness to intake. Create materials for families, caregivers, referral partners, employers, and community audiences. Use analytics and insights to continuously improve outreach and conversion strategies. Cross-Organizational Marketing Support Serve as an internal marketing partner to HR, Programs, Aspire CoffeeWorks, and other teams. Produce recruitment, internal communications, hiring, and training materials. Implement a prioritization process for internal requests ensuring alignment with organizational strategy. Analytics, Reporting & Budget Leadership Set, track, and report on marketing goals tied to fundraising, enrollment, and organizational growth. Present data on audience reach, campaign performance, and conversion metrics. Manage marketing budgets, vendor contracts, and grant-funded deliverables with financial responsibility. Team Leadership Manage and coach the Marketing Specialist to deliver high-impact content and community engagement. Build relationships with community leaders, families, business partners, and board members. Contribute to Philanthropy team goals and help maintain a positive, values-aligned culture. Engage in ongoing professional development to sharpen expertise.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, business, or related field required
5+ years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, or PR (7+ preferred)
Excellence in content creation, storytelling, digital communications, and social media
Experience managing campaigns, content workflows, and customer journeys
Experience managing staff, vendors, and cross-functional relationships
Strong writing, editing, and creative skills
Experience with CRM, marketing automation, pipelines (preferred)
PR/agency experience and fundraising communications experience (preferred)
Budget management and contract negotiation experience (preferred)
Valid driver’s license required
Certifications in digital marketing, SEO, social media, or nonprofit administration (preferred)
Exceptional communication across all audiences
Relationship builder with diverse stakeholders
Strong project management and prioritization skills
Leadership that inspires and retains talent
Strategic, critical thinker who navigates ambiguity with confidence
Achieves Results – delivers outcomes even in tough circumstances
Builds Effective Teams – embraces diversity of perspective and skill
Cultivates Innovation – pursues new and better ways to succeed
Makes Quality Decisions – moves the organization forward with clarity
Tackles Tough Issues – speaks up and steps up

Nice To Haves

7+ preferred
Experience with CRM, marketing automation, pipelines (preferred)
PR/agency experience and fundraising communications experience (preferred)
Budget management and contract negotiation experience (preferred)
Certifications in digital marketing, SEO, social media, or nonprofit administration (preferred)

Responsibilities

Serve as Aspire’s senior marketing leader , translating vision into bold, actionable strategies.
Lead marketing, PR, and external communications that advance philanthropy, outreach, enrollment , and brand reputation.
Partner across departments to identify marketing opportunities and align efforts with organizational goals.
Build scalable systems—workflows, calendars, processes, vendor networks—that keep marketing efforts organized and optimized.
Shape and steward Aspire’s brand voice, visual identity, and narrative across all channels.
Create and oversee compelling content—copy, video, photography, design—that connects emotionally and drives action.
Craft executive-level communications including speeches, op-eds, and messaging for the CEO and senior leaders.
Pitch media with newsworthy, mission-centered stories that elevate Aspire’s visibility.
Partner closely with Philanthropy to engage donors through powerful storytelling, campaigns, and events.
Ensure accurate, consistent donor-facing materials and digital communications.
Highlight Aspire’s impact, inclusion work, and future vision through mission-aligned content.
Build and refine lead-generation systems, nurture pathways, and enrollment funnels.
Develop targeted messaging for each stage of the customer journey—from awareness to intake.
Create materials for families, caregivers, referral partners, employers, and community audiences.
Use analytics and insights to continuously improve outreach and conversion strategies.
Serve as an internal marketing partner to HR, Programs, Aspire CoffeeWorks, and other teams.
Produce recruitment, internal communications, hiring, and training materials.
Implement a prioritization process for internal requests ensuring alignment with organizational strategy.
Set, track, and report on marketing goals tied to fundraising, enrollment, and organizational growth.
Present data on audience reach, campaign performance, and conversion metrics.
Manage marketing budgets, vendor contracts, and grant-funded deliverables with financial responsibility.
Manage and coach the Marketing Specialist to deliver high-impact content and community engagement.
Build relationships with community leaders, families, business partners, and board members.
Contribute to Philanthropy team goals and help maintain a positive, values-aligned culture.
Engage in ongoing professional development to sharpen expertise.