Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

CRADLES TO CRAYONS INC

4d • $120,000 - $135,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

This position has a flexible base location within any of our three Giving Factory markets – Greater Boston, Chicagoland or Philadelphia. This role is primarily remote but is expected to be in-person in one of our Giving Factories at least one day per week. The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications (SDMC) will be a critical member of the National Team, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer. The SDMC will be a data-driven, results-oriented leader who oversees the strategy, implementation, and management of Cradles to Crayons' marketing, public relations, and communications. This position is a lead strategist, steward, and champion for the advancement of C2C's mission and brand. This leader will join the organization on the heels of our strategic planning process and will be critical in leading the mindset shift to nationally aligned, local/market relevant execution and the associated change management work to support that shift. The SDMC will create the national-to-local marketing and communications architecture, building and leading the shared service model across the organization's markets, including developing and managing partnership agreements that enable efficient, aligned delivery at scale. All Cradles to Crayons team members contribute to a culture of shared mission by participating in one volunteer shift per month.

Requirements

• Passion for Cradles to Crayons’ mission
• 15+ years of experience in a series of progressively responsible marketing roles that span multiple facets of marketing and engagement. A blend of agency, corporate and non-profit experience is a plus.
• BA or higher in marketing, public relations or a related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing and story-telling skills.
• Experience overseeing the design and production of email and print materials and publications, website management, digital/social media content creation and management, and public relations.
• Demonstrated experience in having built and/or worked in lean, nimble and effective marketing teams.
• Strong budgeting and cost-management skills and ability to maximize impact with a limited budget.
• An ability to work independently and responsibly while managing numerous projects simultaneously in a mix of individual contribution and team-based execution.
• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of marketing and communications activities.
• High competence in Google analytics and other performance measurements.
• Excellent collaboration skills and an ability to work proactively and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong listening skills, combined with effective, articulate, and persuasive public speaking.
• Experience in building, mentoring, and coaching a team of marketing and communications specialists.
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Experience working with media outlets and handling crisis communications.
• Demonstrated experience and leadership in strategic thinking, and managing comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, and marketing programs to advance an organization's mission and goals.
• Strong computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook/Calendar), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.), marketing automation/email platforms, Salesforce or other CRM, Word Press or other CMS, social media, analytics tools, and App technologies.
• Strong analytic and reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Modeling and leading a positive "One Cradles" culture, underpinned by Cradles' Cultural Values and related behaviors
• Leading the mindset shift to nationally aligned, local/market relevant execution and associated change management
• Building and leading the shared service model across the organization's markets, including developing and managing partnership agreements that enable efficient, aligned marketing and communications delivery at scale
• Creating the national-to-local marketing and communications architecture with reasonable milestones and goals in collaboration with key stakeholders
• Supporting the CEO, VP Philanthropy, and other Senior Executive Team members in the development and implementation of departmental and organizational strategic goals and objectives
• Building strong relationships across the organization to stay current on our wide range of programs and to infuse an awareness of marketing and messaging in our work
• Developing and executing comprehensive marketing plans that advance Cradles to Crayons' goals in mission delivery, vision fulfillment, thought leadership, and growth
• Overseeing the planning, development, and implementation of all marketing functions including interactive media marketing, digital content, website, email marketing, collateral, and advertising
• Leading strategic brand placement, strategic partnerships, national sponsorship campaign support, and national fundraising support
• Collaborating with the VP of Philanthropy to create an annual calendar of communications with financial stakeholders across the organization, including a synchronized end-of-calendar-year campaign, event communications, and other cross-market initiatives
• Conducting market research and trend analysis to inform strategy
• Measuring, tracking, analyzing and communicating marketing results to inform effective decision-making
• Ensuring that brand identity, messaging, and marketing strategy are infused appropriately in organizational efforts
• Developing and managing an annual executive communications calendar, in partnership with the Chief of Staff, that coordinates stakeholder engagement, platform strategy, and content across multiple channels (quarterly external newsletters, LinkedIn and social media posts, media opportunities, PR placements, and conference engagements)
• Partnering closely with the Chief of Staff to draft and edit all-staff communications, ensuring coordination between internal and external messaging
• Developing and managing organizational frameworks for crisis communications, responses to external events, and messaging during periods of major organizational change
• Overseeing public relations, media relations, and all external communications
• Serving as the organization's lead writer and editor for a range of internal and external communications
• Developing organization-wide messaging, as well as plans and campaigns for particular programs, working closely with market and national executives and directors
• Crafting brand positioning and thought leadership papers
• Managing a team of 5 resources including digital media, designer, and public media relations resources; setting performance goals and conducting annual performance reviews
• Overseeing the daily activities of the Marketing Department including budgeting, planning, and staff development
• Promoting a culture of entrepreneurship, high performance, and continuous improvement, and developing staff using a supportive and collaborative approach
• Maintaining strong relationships with key internal and external partners, including board-level contacts

Benefits

• Health benefits including medical, dental, vision and a Health Reimbursement Arrangement.
• A monthly cell phone and internet usage stipend
• Employer-sponsored short- and long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Retirement plan matching
• Annual professional development stipend

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director