Position Summary: The Senior Director of Communications serves as an integral member of the Development Department's senior management team. Responsible for maintaining and elevating The Salvation Army's visibility as a nonprofit leader in providing a vast array of programs and services to people in need across Michigan's Great Lakes Division, which encompasses all of Michigan with the exception of the Western Upper Peninsula (Marquette, Ishpeming, Escanaba).

The Senior Director of Communications will work alongside The Salvation Army's existing public relations agency and internal communications team to develop and implement a strategic, integrated communications plan to drive broader awareness and increased donor support for the organization and its leadership among its various internal and external audiences.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate an annual integrated communications plan that sets and guides the strategy and messaging for all public relations, marketing, advertising, and social media initiatives to consistently articulate and further The Salvation Army's mission.
• Consistently review national Salvation Army integrated communications plans and materials to ensure national/local messaging consistency and to implement those elements that best benefit metro Detroit and the Great Lakes Division.
• Identify challenges and emerging issues impacting the not-for-profit industry, in general, and The Salvation Army, specifically, and work with leadership and board and committee members to address opportunities and challenges and the solutions to strategically address them.
• Oversee all tactics detailed in the communications plan, including:
  • Messaging for all Salvation Army campaigns and initiatives.
  • Print collateral including, but not limited to, content development and design of newsletters, brochures, annual reports, news releases and other media materials, promotional flyers, etc.
  • Website and other electronic communications to ensure consistent messaging and timely posting of new and updated information such as event announcements, client testimonials, etc.
  • Media relations efforts - both proactive and reactive - as well as help strategize media responses in crisis situations.
  • Broadcast, digital and/or print advertising creative and placement, as well as video production.
  • Appropriate budgets for integrated communications initiatives.
• Provide counsel to the Director of Integrated Marketing on direct mail, e-mail marketing, telemarketing, e-commerce, data processing, and social media initiatives.
• Manage the Events team to enhance existing and create new public events to raise money and awareness.
• Work with the Director of Corporate Relations on brainstorming corporate partnership benefits and developing partnership proposals and support of public events.
• Provide content and direction to the Manager of Creative Services in developing print and electronic collateral materials and websites.
• Work with The Salvation Army's existing public relations agency in determining initiatives and tasks according to scope of work and budget agreements.
• Oversee and facilitate promotional requests/collaborations from the national and territorial Salvation Army offices and The Salvation Army ARC, as well as those from corps community centers throughout metro Detroit and the Great Lakes
• Track and measure the effectiveness of integrated communications efforts, providing recommendations for program adjustments, as necessary.
• Participate, as requested, in board and committee meetings and facilitate initiatives arising from these meetings, as assigned.
• Process requests from other development supervisors, which include but are not limited to the Senior Director of Development, Senior Director of Philanthropy, Directors of Gift and Estate Planning, and Donor Relations Directors.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Additional Responsibilities:

• Supervises the Director of Integrated Marketing & Mail who manages a direct mail and social media team.
• Oversees another four direct reports who handle many functions including, but not limited to, graphic design, video production, brand management, public relations, volunteer recruitment and management, annual Christmas/Red Kettle fundraising campaign, web content, event planning, writing, storytelling, advertising.

Qualifications:

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field is required, or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities
• 10 years of experience with a proven track record of progressively increasing responsibility.
• Experience in managing a team and developing and implementing strategic communication plans is also highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic, integrated communications programs to advance an organization's mission and goals.