POSITION SUMMARY:  As the Marketing & Communications Director at uAspire, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our organization's public image and facilitating effective communication with diverse target audiences. Reporting directly to the VP of External Relations and Alumni Affairs, you will spearhead the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies to promote uAspire, enhance our brand presence, and engage stakeholders. Your responsibilities will encompass strategic planning, brand management, digital marketing, content development, crisis communications, event management, team leadership, budget oversight, and performance analytics.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Planning (30%)

• Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing and communication strategy aligned with the organization's goals and objectives
• Create, manage, and execute integrated communication plans that support both existing and new program initiatives to strengthen and continue to build brand recognition
• Collaborate with the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) and the Advancement Team to develop initiatives for donor and partner engagement and oversee messaging to support fundraising and earned revenue efforts
• Work closely with the Impact and Knowledge teams to develop and implement marketing and media campaigns to communicate organizational impact 

• Oversee the development and maintenance of the organization's brand identity.
• Ensure consistent messaging, visual elements, and brand positioning across all external communication channels.

Market Research:

• Conduct market research to define target audiences, industry trends, and competitors.
• Use data and insights to inform marketing strategies and identify growth opportunities.

Digital Marketing:

• Oversee analysis of online traffic on the website and all social media platforms
• Utilize digital marketing tools and platforms to reach and engage the target audience.

Content Development:

• Manage the creation and distribution of compelling, relevant content for various channels, including websites, blogs, network and social media, and press releases.
• Develop collateral in collaboration with Impact & knowledge teams to meet grant deliverables
• Ensure that content aligns with the organization's messaging and brand guidelines.

Crisis Communications:

• Develop crisis communication plans to manage and mitigate potential reputational risks. 
• Deliver response protocol to effectively communicate challenges during crises.

Event Planning and Execution:

• Plan, oversee, and support events to promote and engage various target audiences.
• Oversee logistics, promotional materials, and collateral, with follow-up, as needed for events.

Team Leadership (30%)

• Hire and supervise the Advancement Coordinator 
• Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Work closely with leadership to provide strategic insights and recommendations.

• Develop, manage, and implement as needed, the marketing and communications budget.
• Ensure efficient allocation of resources to achieve maximum impact.

Metrics and Analytics:

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure department effectiveness
• Use analytics to assess campaign performance and make data-driven decisions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications below. If you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply.

The Marketing & Communications Director is an essential player in shaping the public perception of the organization and driving its success through effective communication and marketing strategies. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, creativity, flexibility, and adaptability are critical to success in this role.

Education, Experience & Skills:

• 7 years of marketing communication experience preferably in a nonprofit organization.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to function collaboratively and as a strategic and innovative thinker.
• Experience with developing, managing, and executing integrated communication plans.
• Ability to work rapidly and effectively under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work well within a team structure and with multiple departments 
• Proficiency with Salesforce, Meltwater, Hubspot, Mailchimp, or Constant Contact is a plus.
• Video editing and experience with alumni engagement are desirable
• Ensures compliance with legal and ethical standards.
• Uphold the organization's values and maintain high standards of professionalism.

• Strong people and/or project management experience required.
• Committed to working and participating in an organization dedicated to ensuring a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment and interest in building upon that culture.
• Advanced organizational and time management skills with a proven ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize in an efficient, deadline-focused, and effective manner. 

COMPETENCIES:

• Core Competencies
  • Excellence - Steps up and follows through to consistently deliver high-quality work.
  • Equity & Inclusion - Champion the values of diversity and the creation of inclusive spaces.
  • Growth Mindset - Embrace challenges and setbacks as the fuel for learning and development.
  • Teamwork - Contribute actively and collaboratively with colleagues to active shared goals.
• Equity and Inclusion
  • Equity Mindset - Identify and examine personal biases, stereotypes, prejudices and cultural norms in ways that consider their impact on persons with marginalized identities.
  • Awareness of Inequity - Recognize the social effects of race, ethnicity, class, gender and other identities and the systems of oppression which perpetuate these inequities.
  • Advance Diversity and Inclusion - Proactively seeks out diverse perspectives and relationships within the workplace and the broader community served.

ANTICIPATED START DATE: April 22,2024
COMPENSATION: The salary range for this position is $88K -94.5K. Salary commensurate with experience and education.
STATUS: Exempt, full time. Candidates must be based in the Continental United States.
REPORTS TO: Chief Advancement Officer

About uAspire:

Organization Vision: uAspire envisions a society where structural obstacles are removed from postsecondary pathways for systematically oppressed students so they can experience an improved quality of life for themselves and future generation

Organization Summary: Our mission is to improve the economic mobility of underrepresented communities by creating financial solutions to diverse educational pathways.

• Student Advising: We guide students, families, and communities to navigate complex financial aid systems in pursuit of equitable access to affordable postsecondary pathways through in-person and virtual advising. 
• Scholarship & Emergency Aid: We commit to placing money into the hands of students allowing them to use these funds to cover tuition bills and other unexpected expenses.
• Training & Technical Assistance: We equip partners with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the financial aid process with their students by curating engaging trainings and student-centered resources.
• Policy: We advocate for institutional, state, and federal policy change to transform financial aid and higher education systems, based on our students' lived experiences.
• Consulting: We collaborate with partners to assess their needs and offer uniquely designed solutions in the areas of content development, program improvement and systems change, by leveraging our financial aid expertise, student-advising experience, and student-centered research.