Director of Marketing & Communications

Nonprofit Director of Marketing and Communications

Houston, TX

Our client, a large mission-driven nonprofit organization in Houston, is hiring a Director of Marketing and Communications to oversee the development and execution of organization-wide marketing & communication strategies and to develop an effective transfer of information to various audiences (both internal and external). This position is responsible for elevating awareness of the organization’s services and activities and supporting the successful cultivation and acquisition of necessary resources. This Director leads inter-departmental, cross-functional teams, and acts as the departmental liaison throughout the organization, tracking and reporting departmental metrics and managing the department's annual budget.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assumes responsibility for developing, managing, and executing ongoing public relations, marketing strategies, and activities that safeguard and promote the reputation of the organization.
• Thoroughly understands the organization’s mission, vision, culture, values, history, key stakeholders, programs, strategic goals, and finances.
• Provides communications expertise (written and verbal) in the following categories: media relations, programmatic communications, community relations, advertising and marketing, social media, and related areas.
• Supports executive messaging, presentation opportunities, and spokesperson duties.
• Develops proactive media relations strategies.
• Prepares communications work plan that reflects year-round activities in media relations, web-based media, graphic design, print, and video production.
• Assumes primary responsibility for relationships with representatives from media outlets.
• Stays abreast of local, regional, and national coverage of issues affecting the Houston community.
• Serves as a thought leader and subject matter expert on external communication and industry trends and best practices.
• Researches, writes, and distributes press materials to promote fair and positive media coverage of the organization (e.g., backgrounders, press releases, tip sheets, and advisories).
• Leads the department in the development of strategies and execution of organizational website and social media initiatives.
• Ensures writing, editing, design, and production of public relations and marketing tools meet the expectations of the organization.
• Manages organizational photography and videography.
• Ensures excellent customer service in response to requests and through quality products.
• Creates opportunities to share organizational messages in the community at large.
• Develops and maintains crisis communication plans and protocols to ensure timely and effective communication during a crisis.
• Provides leadership to inter-departmental, cross-functional teams in identifying and securing implementation of communications strategy.
• Demonstrates a complete understanding of all policies and procedures concerning marketing and communications activities with emphasis on privacy and release of information.
• Responds to media-initiated inquiries and requests for information promptly.
• Assumes responsibility for accurate and timely tracking and reporting of departmental metrics.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages two or more team members, by providing direction, guidance and/or oversight.
• Develops and maintains roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Practices performance management in support of employee development and performs administrative duties associated with being a people manager.
• Interviewing, planning, assigning, directing work, and resolving problems.
• Sponsoring and participating in and/or supporting project teams sponsored by other management team members.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or another related field.
• 7-10 years of experience in marketing, branding, and/or communications.
• Have proven experience in a Director of Communications role, preferably within a complex organization.