Sr Manager, Brand Content & Thought Leadership

Blackbaud

2d•$117,200 - $157,500•Remote

About The Position

Blackbaud is seeking a Senior Manager, Brand Content & Thought Leadership to lead its content and thought leadership function. The role develops and executes an integrated content strategy that strengthens Blackbaud’s brand reputation, advances market leadership, and supports corporate growth objectives. Reporting to the Head of Brand Marketing, this leader oversees a team responsible for thought leadership, Blackbaud Institute research and insights-based publications, customer storytelling, editorial content, and owned content channels. The role connects brand strategy, proprietary research, customer stories, thought leadership, and content activation to deliver differentiated content that drives influence and business impact. The position leads Blackbaud Institute priorities and works across marketing, product, customer success, data, executive leadership, and other teams. It also leads editorial strategy for ENGAGE, the ENGAGE Podcast, and future owned channels; partners with the digital team on discoverability, including GEO and AEO; and establishes content governance, performance measures, and practices for AI-enabled content development.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in content marketing, thought leadership, editorial strategy, communications, or related disciplines.
Experience leading content teams and cross-functional initiatives.
Demonstrated success building and executing integrated thought leadership programs.
Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
Understanding of content performance, SEO, GEO, AEO, and emerging AI-enabled content strategies.
Exceptional strategic thinking, prioritization, and team leadership capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in technology or social impact.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead Blackbaud’s integrated content and thought leadership strategy.
Establish content priorities supporting brand, marketing, communications, customer, and business objectives.
Build annual and quarterly content plans aligning research, thought leadership, customer stories, advocacy, and editorial initiatives.
Create connected thematic and editorial plans that bring research, expert perspectives, customer evidence, and advocate voices together around priority narratives, in partnership with vertical marketing teams.
Identify opportunities to strengthen Blackbaud’s brand-level authority on industry topics and emerging trends.
Provide strategic leadership for the Blackbaud Institute, including defining priorities, goals, roadmap, and success measures.
Manage stakeholder relationships across marketing, product, customer success, data, and executive leadership teams.
Ensure Institute research and insights support market needs and business priorities.
Align Blackbaud Institute initiatives with broader thought leadership programs, including the AI for Social Impact Coalition and other strategic partnerships.
Lead editorial strategy for ENGAGE, the ENGAGE Podcast, and future owned thought leadership channels.
Align content themes, publishing priorities, and editorial plans across the organization.
Establish content governance, standards, and editorial best practices.
Drive consistency, quality, and audience relevance across content types.
Partner with Blackbaud’s digital team to activate a brand-level discoverability strategy, including GEO and AEO.
Respond to evolving search behaviors and AI-driven content consumption trends in partnership with the digital team.
Support the team in applying best practices for AI-enabled content development and content engineering.
Drive innovation and shared standards across Global Marketing for content creation, distribution, and performance measurement.
Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for research- and insight-based content, customer storytelling, and editorial content.
Manage prioritization, resource allocation, budgets, and performance measurement.
Partner with Product Marketing, Vertical Marketing, Data Insights Center of Excellence, Digital Marketing, Corporate Communications, Customer Marketing, Customer Success, and Executive Leadership teams.
Establish KPIs and success metrics across content and thought leadership programs.
Assess content impact, audience engagement, influence, and contribution to business objectives.
Continuously optimize content investments based on performance insights.