Reports to: Executive Director
Job Location: Cleveland office
Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision and Retirement, Paid Time Off, Holidays
Date Posted: December 2023
To Apply: Contact Diane McNally from McNally Consulting at diane@dmcnallyconsulting.com

Overview of Kinnect:

Kinnect is a private non-profit that was founded in 2005. Kinnect leverages its leadership expertise to
design programs, products and services that transform the child welfare system. Kinnect leads
innovation to reduce the time that children spend in the child welfare system and to prevent entry into
the child welfare system. Kinnect achieves this by partnering with organizations to transform beliefs,
values and actions to ensure permanent families for all children in the shortest time possible. We
believe that childhood is a fundamental human right and that all children deserve permanent families.
We believe that every day that a child is in foster care, separated from their kin and community is a day
in crisis. We embrace hope, possibility and innovation and we treat everyone with dignity and respect.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Marketing and Communications Director is accountable for facilitating the design and deployment
of the Kinnect Marketing and Communication plan. This person will support and strengthen the
marketing and communication infrastructure that plays a critical role in supporting the execution of
Kinnect’s mission and strategic plan. Responsibilities include planning, development, and
implementation of marketing strategies and communications, both external and internal. The Director
will also ensure that the organization's message is clearly defined and distributed across all channels
and targeted audiences, as well as the coordination of the organization's marketing budget. This vital
role contributes to and oversees the development of informational materials, communication
strategies for Kinnect’s various audiences, program support materials, website content, learning
management system (LMS) content, and social media content for the organization and individual
programs. Kinnect is seeking candidates that are highly motivated, organized, able to manage multiple
projects simultaneously, able to demonstrate working positively with others across the organization
and with outside consultants, be able to handle ambiguity, and be flexible. The ability to supervise and
coach others to achieve the mission, vision and values of the organization is critical.

Essential Functions:

Marketing and Communication

• Reflect, articulate, and promote the mission, vision, and identity of Kinnect, its strategic plan, and

• Develop and execute comprehensive marketing, communications, and public relations that will

• Lead marketing efforts for the organizations training offerings and consulting services that are

• Set the tone for messaging and portraying Kinnect’s mission and vision internally and externally.

• Establish relationships with media outlets that provide opportunities to learn about the mission of

• Support public relations activities including the creation and distribution of press releases.

• Direct and implement the organization’s advertising and promotional activities.

• Ensure articulation of Kinnect’s desired image and assure consistent communication throughout all

• Ensure the review of and support for the Crisis Communication Plan for Kinnect.

Social Media and Newsletter Design

• Design, develop and execute social media content as well as create and manage the social

• Support digital outreach and social media campaigns with donors as it relates to fundraising

Collaboration

• Develop and execute public relations campaigns.

• Ensure outreach, collaboration and engagement efforts with key stakeholders (local and state

• Develop and support internal communications as it relates to what key messages are

Strategy

• Analyze target market information and program data to identify and recommend effective

• Identify new market segments that will benefit from understanding Kinnect’s programs and

services.

• Drive the organization's brand strategy, including assistance redefining and reimagining the

organization's current brand strategy to ensure proper alignment with the organization's strategic

plan.

• Set and achieve strategic goals related to social media metrics, advertising, and marketing

• Manage marketing distribution channels including website, email, social media, and print.

• Lead special projects as assigned, such as special event support, re-branding/logo development,

• Provide expertise incorporating inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) approach into

• Lead communication, marketing, and awareness efforts to create a KinFirst culture with all internal

Guiding Principles and Competencies:

Partnership: Bringing our collective experience and skillsets to relationships that support our
connectedness and achievement of our mission.

• I build constructive and effective relationships to find common ground and solve problems

• When I participate in teamwork, I will ensure that I am giving everyone accurate and timely

information as needed to move forward on our common goals

• I reprioritize when needed and create focus to strengthen partnerships throughout times of

change

• I strive to help people feed included, respected, and valuable about being a member of the

team

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA): As a learning organization, we pledge to ongoing and

sustained work in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility through collaboration with families,

communities, Kinnect team members and our partners.

• I pause for self-reflection and to analyze my own assumptions, behaviors, and previous/current

experiences

• I take responsibility for my own growth and development in this space (i.e., self-education

through TED Talks, books, articles, and how new information can be applied in practice)

• I am willing to speak up if I witness exclusionary behaviors, bias, and discrimination

• I give other’s grace in our learning journeys, we give each other time to process, and we give

each other the space to circle back

• I strive to be a catalyst for change, thought partner and leader in bridging the work of systems

innovation and disruption, anti-racism, and transformation

• I foster belonging by committing to centering the voices of those who have been historically

and are presently marginalized

• As a learning organization I pledge to ongoing and sustained work in diversity, equity, inclusion

and accessibility through collaboration with families, youth, communities, Kinnect team

members and partners

Innovation: Continuous and dynamic process where creative ideas are valued, discussed, and

implemented to significantly disrupt routing and prevailing structures.

• I am willing to share my ideas, even the new and unique ones, when brainstorming, problem

solving and in my daily work

• I explore issues through a lens of equity and inclusion by co-creating solutions with people, not

for people. I am committed to centering and elevating the voice of those we serve, whether it

be families, youth, caregivers, team members or our partners. I am willing to design programs

and solutions for the future we want to have.

• When faced with challenges, I remain curious, look beyond the obvious and my own lens and

perspective to push myself to look for multiple solutions even though I might not have all the

answers. I am open to iterating and continuous learning

• I choose to view failure as an opportunity to learn

Integrity: Having the courage to live the Kinnect values of dignity, respect and honesty.

• I strive to be self-aware and open to feedback that allows for development and growth

• I stay aligned with Kinnect’s values while maintaining flexibility to incorporate new ideas and

perspectives

• During difficult times, I strive to maintain composure, self-regulate, maintain my sense of self-

awareness and stay in empathy when working through issues

• I take responsibility for contributing to high quality and inclusive end results, for the good of the

greater team

• I take responsibility for my own boundaries, self-care, and rest so that I am able to engage

meaningfully in my work at Kinnect

Outcome Focused: We strive to measure our work, to pivot, iterate, and improve to accomplish

desired results.

• I make time and space to assess process, progress, and results

• I work with my team to make sure we all have up-to-date information so we can make accurate

and informed decisions

• I ask for what I need to be able to contribute and perform to the best of my ability

• I keep families, youth, community partners and Kinnect team members in mind when creating

goals and throughout the course of the project

Communicate Effectively: Develop and deliver communications using various methods that conveys a

clear understanding of the unique needs of the different audiences we communicate with.

• Attentively listens to others

• Provides timely and helpful information to others across the organization

• Encourages the open expression of diverse ideas and opinions

• Ability to utilize multiples communication methods such as telephone, email, letters, reports, to

name a few to share information and to keep people informed of progress or what is needed

Leadership Acumen:

Understands the complexities involved in organizational functioning as it relates to people, to overall

strategy, and to policies/procedures. Is able to achieve high quality results through informed decision

making and applying knowledge from experience, education and through partnerships.

• Comfortably navigates through complex policies and processes

• Successfully manages team related dynamics

• Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity

• Understands the meaning and implications of key data indicators and decisions.

• Interprets and applies data analysis to generate, evaluate, and act on strategic options and

opportunities

Effective Team Development

Ability to build strong identity teams that are inclusive and can apply their diverse skills and

perspectives to achieve common goals.

• Creates a sense of belonging and strong team identity that allows members of the team to

apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals

• Develops people to meet both their professional goals and the organization’s goals through

coaching, feedback, exposure, and stretch assignments

• Fosters innovation and learning from mistakes to support individuals and the team in achieving

the mission and vision of the organization

• Demonstrates self-awareness and actively seeks new ways to grow and be challenged

Administers and Supports Efforts to Achieve Goals

Provides leadership and direction to the team to ensure success in achieving common goals. Is able to

provide appropriate support, guidance and accountabilities to achieving organizational goals.

• Provides direction and delegation by planning and prioritizing work

• Intervenes to remove obstacles when needed to achieve organizational goals

• Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments and results

• Focuses on continuous improvement by marshaling resources and orchestrating multiple

activities to accomplish goals

• Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives

Manages Complexity and Innovation

Understands and is skilled in making sense of complex situations and challenges to effectively resolve

issues. Has skills and an understanding on how to support the use of innovation and implementation

science to understand opportunities and challenges that arise at the organizational level and within

teams.

• Asks questions and acquires information to make quality decisions that effectively solve

problems

• Adapts approaches to match different situations and shifting demands

• Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization

to exchange ideas and resources

• Cultivates innovation and actively learns through using both successes and failures as growth

opportunities

Education/Qualification:

• A bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communication, business administration or a

• Prefer 5 years of experience in marketing, communications, or public relations with

• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, layout and design skills

• Experience overseeing the design and production of print materials and publications

• Communicates clearly and concisely through oral and written mediums

• Knowledge using social media and websites as effective communication devices including

• Commitment to working with shared leadership and in cross-functional teams

• Creativity and the ability to blend attractive design and high functionality in all projects

• Proficiency with HTML, content management systems, and design software

• Established roster of media and PR contacts

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, as well as experience working with customer

Inclusion Diversity, Equity, and Access:

Kinnect is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of inclusion diversity, equity,

and access. These commitments are not just part of our value system but are at the core of our

intentional actions to eliminate systemic barriers that have produced inequities based on differences.

We commit to a sustained investment of time, resources, and people to advance equitable realities for

our employees, and for the children, families, and communities that we serve. We do this by

intentional advocacy for social justice and the continuous scrutiny of the systems that we create and

those in which we operate.

Our employees are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences,

life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that our

employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation

and success, as well.

We embrace our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital

status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and intellectual or emotional

ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation or identity, socio-economic status, parental

or family status, medical or genetic status, veteran or disabled veteran status, and other characteristics

that make our employees unique.

Kinnect’s inclusion, diversity, equity, and access initiatives involve, but are not limited to, our practices

and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and

training; promotions; transfers; staffing decisions; terminations; and the ongoing development of an

inclusive work environment.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

Kinnect maintains a policy of nondiscrimination toward all employees and applicants for employment.

All aspects of employment with us will be governed on the basis of competence and qualifications and

will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, or gender identity or expression,

age, sexual orientation, sexual expression or identity, national origin, physical, intellectual or emotional

ability, marital or partnership status, parental or family status, medical or genetic status, veteran’s or

disabled veteran status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws governing

nondiscrimination in employment. Employment Posters stating current regulatory and legal

requirements are posted in Kinnect’s main office and on the intranet.

Working Conditions:

• Travel required, as needed. Must have access to own transportation.

• This job requires occasional overnight travel

• Kinnect as an organization has a Hybrid Work Model that combines remote and on-site work at

Kinnect, as well as routine on-site or in-person work with team members, partner sites,

community events, and direct service in the field.

• This role will utilize standard office equipment that will be provided by Kinnect

Hiring Process:

• Background Check Information: The final candidate selected for the position will be required to

undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an

applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior

criminal conviction(s) will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be
performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties
and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

Kinnect maintains a policy of nondiscrimination toward all employees and applicants for employment.
All employment decisions at Kinnect are based on organizational needs, job requirements and
individual qualifications, and will be governed on the basis of competence and qualifications and will
not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, or gender identity or expression, age,
sexual orientation, sexual expression or identity, national origin, physical, intellectual or emotional
ability, marital or partnership status, parental or family status, medical or genetic status, veteran’s or
disabled veteran status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws governing
nondiscrimination in employment. Employment Posters stating current regulatory and legal
requirements are posted in Kinnect’s main office and on the intranet.