Senior Communications Manager

About the position

The Senior Communications Manager at GMHC plays a pivotal role in crafting and executing a robust communications strategy designed to effectively engage both new and existing audiences. This position is key to keeping internal and external stakeholders informed, engaged, and actively involved with GMHC's mission. The manager ensures that communication across all levels of staff is clear, consistent, and effectively aligned with the organization's core values and strategic initiatives. By positioning GMHC and its specialists as leading voices in LGBTQ+ and HIV civil rights arenas, the Senior Communications Manager significantly broadens the organization's impact and visibility. This role involves close collaboration with teams across the Communications, Policy, Program, and Development departments to enhance organizational capacity, produce impactful content, and expand GMHC's outreach across diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely and effective communication of organizational updates, initiatives, and key messages across all departments.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive social media strategy that supports the organization's communications, marketing, and fundraising goals.
• Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitor analytics to measure the success of social media initiatives, adjusting tactics as needed.
• Use storytelling to highlight staff achievements, program milestones, and organizational successes.
• Establish narratives and targets for extending our reach and deepening our engagement with supporters (subscribers, donors, activists, etc.) to amplify communications campaigns anchored in authentic voices.
• Partner with senior leadership and oversee the Communications Associate/Writer to draft messages, announcements, and speeches that reflect key priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Provide communications support for organizational events, town halls, and leadership meetings.
• Develop messages, materials, and communications vehicles for initiatives and campaigns that promote employee engagement, recognition, and morale, helping to cultivate a positive internal culture.
• Act as a liaison between leadership and staff, ensuring two-way communication and feedback are encouraged and addressed.
• Manage and curate content across various communication channels, including the intranet/internet, social media, employee newsletters, and internal platforms, ensuring all messaging is engaging and accessible.
• Regularly assess and enhance the effectiveness of communication tools, seeking innovative platforms and methods to optimize organizational communications.
• Collaborate with the Senior VP of Communications and Brand to lead and manage communications during crises or significant organizational changes, ensuring communications are timely, clear, and sensitively delivered to maintain transparency and trust among staff.
• Oversee the Communications Associate/Writer providing clear guidance, feedback, and mentorship.
• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and professional growth within the team.
• Work closely with People Operations, Operations, and other departments to align messaging with organizational priorities and initiatives.
• Support the rollout of new policies, programs, and initiatives by developing clear and concise communication plans.
• Work closely with the Communications, Development, and Program teams to ensure social media content aligns with broader organizational goals.
• Partner with internal departments to highlight programs, events, and campaigns through social media storytelling.
• Work closely with Policy and programmatic teams and key stakeholders to uplift and position them for media/community relations including OpEds, articles, and collaborating with the Digital Team to ensure their digital profiles are complete.
• Track and analyze the effectiveness of communications efforts through surveys, feedback mechanisms, and engagement metrics.
• Provide insights and recommendations for continuous improvement in communications practices.

Requirements

• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management capabilities, able to handle multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Proficiency in managing internal communication tools and developing strategies that effectively inform and engage employees.
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field; Advanced degree a plus.
• 3+ years of experience in communications, preferably in a non-profit or mission-driven organization.

Nice-to-haves

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills for data analysis and financial modeling.
• Proficient in PowerPoint for creating and delivering compelling presentations.
• Experienced in HTML and CSS for designing and maintaining websites.
• Proficient with WordPress and Elementor for managing site architecture and content updates.
• Skilled in using project management tools like Basecamp, Trello, and Asana.
• Experienced with email marketing systems such as Constant Contact and MailChimp for campaign execution.
• Proficient in managing and optimizing content across a variety of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.
• Experienced in using Canva for creating visually appealing graphic designs and multimedia content.
• Proficient in utilizing advanced social media management and analytics tools such as Meltwater or similar platforms.
• Adept in using video and photo editing software to produce professional-quality media.

Benefits

• Flexible work from home options.
• Participation in the annual AIDS Walk New York event is mandatory for all GMHC staff.