Lifecycle Marketing & Communications Manager

Davis Phinney Foundation•Town of Massena, NY

1d•$75,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Lifecycle Marketing & Communications Manager develops audience strategies, lifecycle communications, and storytelling to deepen engagement, strengthen relationships, and inspire support for the Davis Phinney Foundation’s mission. The role builds and grows a lifecycle communications program by defining audience journeys, developing messaging strategies, and creating content. The manager leads marketing and communications strategy for fundraising initiatives, including mid-year and year-end campaigns, Make-A-Will Month, DAF Day, and the annual report. Working closely with the Development team and other stakeholders, the manager establishes campaign objectives, develops audience-focused messaging and content, coordinates deliverables, and oversees integrated plans across email, social media, print, web, and other relevant channels. This hands-on, collaborative role combines strategic planning, storytelling, campaign management, and performance optimization. It owns communications strategy, messaging, content, and campaign approach, while marketing operations owns systems, data, email platform administration, technical automation, and reporting infrastructure. The position does not own donor portfolios, major gifts, fundraising revenue goals, grants, gift processing, or development operations. The position has no travel and is primarily sedentary in an indoor office or remote work environment. Both hybrid and remote candidates will be considered. Occasional standing, walking, reaching, bending, and lifting up to 10 pounds may be required.

Requirements

At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in marketing communications, donor communications, fundraising communications, content marketing, constituent engagement, lifecycle marketing, or a related field.
Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated ability to create compelling content for different audiences, channels, and objectives.
Experience developing communications strategy and executing it through hands-on content development.
Experience planning and managing integrated communications or marketing campaigns from concept through completion.
Strong understanding of audience needs, messaging, storytelling, and calls to action.
Experience with email marketing, newsletters, and digital communications.
Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple campaigns and priorities simultaneously.
Comfort using performance data to improve communications.
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
Ability to think strategically, take ownership of initiatives, and follow through on execution.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a reliable approach to competing priorities and deadlines.
Sound judgment and ability to make independent decisions, seek input when appropriate, and navigate competing perspectives.
Ability to build effective working relationships across departments, collaborate constructively, and incorporate stakeholder feedback.
Creative and curious mindset, including ability to identify opportunities, ask thoughtful questions, and recommend new approaches.
Proactive, adaptable, and resourceful approach, including ability to take initiative and navigate ambiguity.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization is helpful but not required.
Experience in nonprofit or donor communications is valued but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead marketing and communications strategy for key fundraising campaigns, including mid-year, year-end, and other priority giving initiatives.
Work with Development to translate fundraising priorities into clear, compelling, audience-focused communications.
Develop campaign concepts, messaging, audience approaches, calls to action, and content for email, web, landing pages, social media, stewardship, and other channels.
Lead donor stewardship and impact communications, including communications and storytelling for the annual report.
Lead strategy, planning, and content development for the Foundation’s regular constituent newsletter.
Develop newsletter themes, select stories, shape messaging and calls to action, and manage editorial flow.
Identify and develop donor, constituent, and program stories that demonstrate the Foundation’s impact.
Partner with programs, Development, and other teams to turn organizational priorities and information into clear, audience-centered content.
Maintain a consistent voice and messaging approach across donor and constituent communications.
Develop communications that welcome, engage, retain, and re-engage constituents and build relationships with the Foundation over time.
Consider the full constituent communications journey when planning messaging and campaigns.
Identify opportunities to improve engagement, conversion pathways, and donor retention through stronger communications.
Recommend messaging and content approaches based on audience needs, behaviors, interests, and relationship with the Foundation.
Partner with marketing operations on audience segmentation, automation, tracking, reporting, and technical campaign execution.
Lead donor and constituent communications campaigns from planning through execution and evaluation.
Manage timelines and coordinate inputs, reviews, approvals, and deliverables across teams.
Establish campaign goals and success measures, monitor performance, and use results to improve messaging, content, cadence, audience strategy, and calls to action.
Own integrated marketing plans for fundraising initiatives, including the year-end campaign, mid-year campaign, Make-A-Will Month, DAF Day, and other fundraising-focused campaigns.
Develop campaign strategies, messaging frameworks, audience segmentation, communication calendars, and channel plans.
Own the marketing communications strategy, content development, and cross-functional coordination for the annual report.
Manage multiple campaign timelines, priorities, deliverables, and stakeholder relationships to support effective execution.
Evaluate campaign performance and engagement results, identify opportunities for improvement, and apply insights to future campaigns. (sic)