Vice President of Marketing and Communications

YMCA of Central New York•Syracuse, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President of Marketing & Communications provides executive leadership for the YMCA of Central New York’s marketing, communications, public relations, brand management, digital engagement, and storytelling efforts. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, this leader develops and executes integrated strategies that strengthen the YMCA brand, support membership and program growth, advance philanthropy, elevate community impact, and align with the Association’s Strategic Plan. The Vice President serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and oversees a high-performing marketing and communications team. This role leads Association-wide strategy and brand stewardship, internal and external communications, public and media relations, digital marketing, campaigns, and storytelling. It supports membership, programs, childcare, healthy communities, housing, philanthropy, advocacy, grants, and capital campaigns. The Vice President also establishes marketing plans, calendars, workflows, and project management systems; manages the department budget and vendor relationships; develops staff; and represents the YMCA with community organizations, partners, and media. This position is based at the Association Office and is a full-time, non-exempt role.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business, or a related field.
8–10 years of progressive leadership experience.
Strong expertise in branding, digital marketing, media relations, storytelling, analytics, and project management.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Commitment to the YMCA mission and values.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Experience leading integrated marketing and communications in a multi-site organization.

Responsibilities

Model the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, and develop positive relationships and trust across the organization.
Develop and execute an Association-wide marketing and communications strategy aligned with the Strategic Plan.
Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and position the YMCA as a leading community voice and mission-driven organization.
Identify emerging trends and opportunities that support organizational growth.
Steward the YMCA brand across branches and departments, ensuring consistency in messaging, visual identity, and brand standards.
Oversee creative assets, campaigns, publications, and promotional materials.
Lead internal and external communications, including media relations, executive communications, crisis communications, and reputation management.
Develop speeches, presentations, talking points, annual reports, and board communications.
Lead integrated marketing campaigns supporting membership, programs, childcare, healthy communities, housing, philanthropy, advocacy, grants, and capital campaigns.
Oversee the website, social media, email marketing, digital advertising, SEO, and analytics.
Lead the collection and sharing of mission-impact stories.
Support fundraising, grant reporting, donor stewardship, and community engagement through compelling communications.
Establish annual marketing plans, campaign calendars, project management systems, and workflows.
Prioritize marketing initiatives based on strategic impact and deliver projects on time, within budget, and with measurable outcomes.
Provide strategic communications counsel to the CEO, Chief Advancement Officer, and Executive Leadership Team.
Recruit, coach, mentor, and evaluate marketing staff; foster collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Develop and manage the departmental budget and vendor relationships, and improve departmental processes and resource allocation.
Represent the YMCA with community organizations, partners, and media, and serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.