Position Summary: We seek to foster a culture of philanthropy within the organization that values our donors. We emphasize the lifetime value of our donors and invest in building long-term relationships. Our donor-centered approach recognizes the needs and priorities of our partners while remaining aligned to our organizational mission and strategic priorities. Under the leadership of the Chief Advancement Officer, the Marketing Director will lead a team responsible for implementing and evaluating the success of CCNY’s marketing, communications and brand efforts across our geographic location areas to ensure the CCNY brand is recognized both locally and nationally. Additionally, in alignment with the Development team, execute a successful integrated strategy to increase revenue and develop programs that achieve CCNY’s vision and strategic plan.

 

Location: 488 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022

 

The Director of Marketing and Communications will design, create and execute strategies and plans that will promote CCNY’s messaging and brand, and showcase the impact of its work. The Director will manage and lead multi-channel promotional strategies and integrated campaigns that tell the CCNY story, and drive engagement and fundraising. The Director will oversee advertising and branding, content creation, digital marketing communications, and social media. The position requires strategic thinking, leadership, innovative ideas, exceptional writing and editing skills, and the ability to convey complex ideas clearly using consistent messaging and storytelling tactics.

 

• Develop, guide and execute the communications strategy and the annual communications plan to advance CCNY’s strategic goals and brand identity.
• Close collaboration with the Development team to coordinate these efforts.
• Create and implement compelling campaigns and special initiatives with emotive and motivating stories and materials to strengthen CCNY’s brand, advocacy and fundraising efforts.
• Form strong relationships with program staff develop and implement integrated communications strategies.
• Closely collaborate with Development team on communications strategy for donor cultivation, acquisition, engagement, and retention.
• Create compelling campaigns across all channels to reach new audiences, increase the number of supporters and build loyalty and collaborate closely with Development team to coordinate the implementation of campaigns and content across channels and segments.

• Direct and develop a compelling annual report that tells the story of the organization and its programs and reflects the brand, voice and impact.
• Design and implement an internal content request and review/approval system for gathering and creating stories, photos, and other content required to support organizational-wide communications efforts.
• Develop creative concepts and oversee the production and distribution of multi-media content, including, but not limited to writing and designing ads, audio slide shows, blogs, emails, e-newsletters, issue briefs, reports, photo shoots, postcards, telemarketing scripts, social media posts and videos.
• Oversee the development of collateral and promotional materials, supporting CCNY’s presence at conferences, meetings, and events.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction to team members and office staff for multi-media content gathering trips.
• Oversee the development of standard operating procedures, templates and guidelines for these visits, to ensure consistency in gathering content across program sites and registering content into internal systems.
• Manage team to maintain all graphical and digital assets.

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to evolve and refresh the website. Strengthen CCNY’s SEO practices, including the development of SEO guidelines; train communications staff on SEO guidelines when writing content to improve SEO performance.
• Oversee content and design updates to the website, with input across departments.
  Provide direction on donor experience and fundraising campaigns across the website.
• Develop a social media and content strategy and plan to increase CCNY visibility and engagement among different audiences and across channels.

• Develop and refine the brand voice and maintain brand integrity; ensure the consistency of CCNY messaging and tone of voice among internal and external stakeholder groups and across platforms.
• Develop, lead and execute the organization’s advertising campaign, including digital ad promotions, to increase brand awareness. Track, measure and report on the impact of the advertising strategy.
• Create and distribute brand merchandising to staff and volunteers.

• Recruit, develop, manage and retain talent on the marketing team.
• Supervise three direct reports, as well as interns and volunteers, as needed.
• Effectively communicate organizational priorities, strategic direction and results with direct reports for continued commitment and active engagement.
• Assess and improve the processes and systems within the department to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of staff time.
• Develop a measurement and evaluation plan to assess the impact of the department’s work and to help inform strategy.
• Provide direction, performance goals and regular feedback to ensure department goals and targets are met.
• Select and manage agencies, consultants and vendors.
• Develop and manage budget to support the department’s plan.

• Remain in a stationary position at a workstation and use a computer at least 50% of the time. 
• Ambulate and/or remain in a stationary position at events, fundraisers, etc. 
• Travel for outreach, events and meetings at least 25% of the time using vehicle or public transportation, traverse city streets, ascend/descend stairs, and be exposed to outside weather conditions. 
• Move and transport documents, objects, and other event materials. 
• Engage with the public in social environments. 
• Work under demanding conditions such as deadlines and project challenges. 

• Bachelor's degree in communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, PR or a similar field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressive leadership and management experience required.
• 10+ years of well-rounded professional experience in branding and communications, preferably with a non-profit organization.
• Strong project management, interpersonal, organizational and communication skills. 
• Ability to manage projects involving multiple stakeholders through several rounds of review, from concept to execution.
• Experience developing and implementing comprehensive communications and marketing strategies.
• Ability to manage tasks and workflow and work with outside vendors to meet deadlines. Strong attention to detail.
• Passion for storytelling.
• Practical knowledge and hands-on experience with content management systems, graphic design programs, media and social media monitoring databases and project management software; understand trends in digital and social media; deep knowledge of marketing copywriting compliance and marketing trends across various platforms.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate these skills into impactful operational plans.
• Highly collaborative style; commitment to work jointly with the following stakeholder groups: staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, vendors, and other supporters.
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and launching new initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply social media strategies, trends, and technologies (e.g. Photoshop, InDesign) for digital publishing.
• Proven ability to create a climate of confidence and trust on the part of donors.
• Proven ability to work well with teams in complex situations and to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to travel locally 20% of the time.

• Proficiency of database programs and online research tools, such as Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge, RENXT, Luminate, other eCRM platforms and managing information systems with a multi-user environment is required.
• Experience in creating compelling presentation materials.
• A highly relational thinker with superior communication, interpersonal, relationship management and organizational skills. 
• Results-oriented strategist who thrives in a fast-paced complex marketing and fundraising environment and adapts easily to change.
• Excellent organizational skills, impeccable judgment, and the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities/projects and meet deadlines.
• A team-oriented, collaborative style and strong work ethic.
• Familiarity with a variety of resources related to social and peer-to-peer fundraising such as Facebook, twitter, mobile text-to-pledge. etc.
• Personal commitment to the mission of Catholic Charities and ability to participate in agency/community events.

 

Catholic Charities and Catholic Charities Community Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.