Head of Communications

Social Finance•Boston, MA

2h•Hybrid

About The Position

Social Finance seeks an innovative and strategic leader to serve as Head of Communications. In a dual reporting role to the CEO and Managing Director of the Social Finance Institute, this individual will be responsible for leading a high-performing 4-person communications team as well as communications efforts for the entire organization. The Head of Communications will play a crucial role in enhancing the visibility of Social Finance’s work and both shaping and executing our communications strategy, ensuring that our mission, impact, and initiatives are effectively communicated to diverse and new audiences. The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record of excellence in strategic communications, meaningful experience leading high-performing teams, and an ability to leverage their existing network to increase Social Finance’s influence. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Requirements

20+ years of experience in communications, including experience successfully leading and implementing an organization’s communications strategy
Strategic and visionary thinker with a creative mindset, proactive and energized by driving innovation and growth across communications activities
Recognized for excellence in the communications field, with a demonstrated ability to build and leverage influential networks
Willingness and ability to travel (approximately 10-15%) for cross-functional collaboration, network development, and in-person events; routine travel to Washington, D.C.
Meaningful experience leading high-performing teams, including: Developing talent, creating a culture of excellence, and coaching new skillsets needed to achieve ambitious strategic goals Demonstrated success in managing and mentoring diverse teams, with a focus on achieving strategic vision through collaborative leadership
Deep experience with public relations, including: Experience increasing and promoting brand visibility and reach to a range of audiences Demonstrated success in media relations at the national level, including broad range of media relationships, securing press coverage and managing media inquiries Understanding of digital marketing tools and media, including social media platforms, CRM platforms, content management systems, and analytics tools
Editorial communications skillset, including: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft and oversee creation of compelling narratives and messages that are engaging, accurate and accessible for diverse audiences Excellent quality control and maintainer of high editorial standards across all communications formats and channels
Commitment to bringing skillset to mission-oriented organization with strong values alignment, including: Exceptional collaborator with a high degree of emotional intelligence, maturity, and a commitment to supporting colleagues and advancing shared goals Experience convening and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders Commitment to enhancing a team culture of inclusion, belonging and equity

Nice To Haves

Policy communications experience desired, including: Translating and communicating research and findings to inform policy debate Demonstrated success with direct outreach and building trusted relationships with media contacts in policy, economics and financial industries
Some understanding of or connection to impact investing, social finance, or related fields highly desirable

Responsibilities

Strategic Visioning: Develop and implement a comprehensive communications vision and strategy that advances Social Finance's mission, values, and objectives. Develop a clear and compelling “voice” for the organization that engages key audiences and advances our impact. Leverage an established network of media and industry contacts to amplify Social Finance’s influence and thought leadership. Provide vision and intellectual leadership to roadmap the future of our communications efforts.
Leadership and Management: Lead and mentor the communications team, fostering a collaborative, efficient and innovative environment. Effectively engage and collaborate with other key stakeholders across the organization, including within the Institute, partnerships and programmatic teams. Model maturity and a service-oriented mindset, proactively supporting business teams. Oversee day-to-day operations, including budget management, resource allocation, and performance evaluation.
Media Relations: Leverage existing contacts and cultivate new relationships with journalists and media outlets to secure media placements and interviews, which may include speaking on the record on behalf of Social Finance. This will include contacts working on a range of issues, both nationally and regionally, such as: finance, labor markets, policy, and more. Develop effective media relations strategies to generate positive coverage and raise awareness of Social Finance's initiatives, impact, and thought leadership, including op-ed placement.
Content Development: In coordination with Social Finance programmatic colleagues, drive the creation of compelling content that translates the value of our work to existing and new audiences, including press releases, articles, op-eds, reports, blogs, social media posts, and multimedia materials. Ensure that all communications materials are accurate, engaging, and aligned with our brand voice and messaging.
Digital Marketing: Oversee digital marketing efforts, including website organization and management, email campaigns, and social media engagement. Leverage digital channels to reach and engage with new audiences and amplify our messaging.
Measurement and Evaluation: Establish metrics and KPIs to track the effectiveness of our communications efforts. Monitor and analyze data to continuously optimize strategies and tactics for maximum impact and reach.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care coverage: medical, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; Employee Healthy Actions programs and more
Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
Short-term, long-term and life insurance policies
Commuter benefits and cell phone reimbursements
Hybrid work model (in office a minimum of two days per week and on an ad-hoc basis as needed)
Dedicated budgets for team building and employee recognition
Annual budget for external professional development opportunities
Mentorship and onboarding programs
Collaborative and energizing workspaces in downtown Boston, San Francisco, Austin, TX; Washington, D.C.; and New York, NY. Please note that this position is based in Boston, MA.
Paid vacation and paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year)
Paid parental leave
A truly stellar team of high performing, values-driven and fun (!) professionals