Vice President of Communications

Employment Status: Full-time

Department: Executive

Reports to: President & CEO

Supervises: Senior Director of Communications

Salary: $117,000 – $140,000 based on experience and qualifications + benefits

To Apply: Send resume and letter of interest to humanresources@wfmn.org. Applications received by September 20, 2023, will be prioritized.  

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location:

Hybrid work environment. Office requirement is approximately 25%.  

As a community foundation with a statewide focus, community context is an integral aspect of creating effective strategies to achieve the Foundation’s mission. As such, the incumbent to this position must reside within the state of Minnesota and within commutable distance to the WFM office in Minneapolis. 

Access: The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota welcomes applicants to share with us if they have needs related to flexibility in the hiring process including alternate formats, accommodations, or any other type of modification.

Summary

The Vice President of Communications leads the communications team and integrates colleagues across the Foundation to amplify the impact of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM), increase brand awareness, interpret impact for various audiences, and advance systems change for gender and racial justice. The role is responsible for leading WFM’s strategic communications and marketing strategies, and manages the implementation of a plan to promote, enhance, and protect the Foundation’s brand, and amplify impact and leadership in community investments, policy change, and research.  

The ideal candidate will build upon a deep experience and understanding of intersectionality, gender and racial justice, narrative change and strategic communications to create, and implement marketing strategies and products that drive storytelling for social change, attract new and expanded investments, build bridges of understanding, and increase cross-sector partnerships. A priority for this position will be to translate the role and impact of WFM for multiple audiences, creating clarity and understanding. This position will work directly with the President & CEO and the Executive Team to deepen and expand transformational relationships with targeted stakeholders and partners, including organizational leaders, local and national funders, individual donors, elected and government officials, and with media and other core influencers.  

Primary Responsibilities

Strategy, Vision & Leadership (40%) 

• Lead strategy, development and implementation of an annual integrated strategic communications plan that is grounded in intersectionality and centers gender and racial justice, to advance brand identity and impact, showcase and claim impact, broaden awareness of programs and priorities, and increase visibility of programs across key stakeholders and targeted audiences. 
• Work in partnership with President & CEO to position, scale and claim the Foundation’s impact and leadership through articles, commentaries, speeches, direct outreach to key stakeholders, social media, and other communications products and mediums. 
• Serve as a WFM spokesperson at events, press conferences, interviews with media, and other outlets. 
• Ensure development and implementation of proactive media relations strategy that leverages paid and earned media and national and statewide events to position WFM as an expert and thought leader on issues impacting women, girls, and gender-expansive people that advance gender and racial equity. 
• Ensure development of effective marketing and public relations strategies that enable WFM to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers. 

Marketing and Brand Awareness (40%) 

• Lead marketing outreach, brand awareness, and narrative shifting objectives that are aligned and in support of WFM’s mission, vision and strategic goals; analyzing and interpreting information, sociopolitical conditions, stakeholder positions, and other variables to create and implement effective strategies. 
• Manage conception, development, and implementation of marketing plan and strategies, product concepts, and promotional programs to amplify impact, inspire engagement, and drive investment aligned with the voice of WFM: 
  • Work collaboratively with the Executive Team to identify priorities, assess data, brainstorm and identify needs to integrate in branding, marketing and narrative shifting projects 
  • Create and implement systems to measure the impact and effectiveness of all marketing, brand awareness and narrative shifting activities. 
  • Advance marketing goals aligned with Executive Team priorities and operating plan 
  • Effectively translate the work of Foundation to increase accessibility for key audiences, aligned with Operating Plan 
  • Partners with Senior Director of Communications, Communications Manager, and others within an integrated team framework, to create sequential implementation plans of all communications, marketing and narrative shifting strategies. 
  • Identify and implement strategies to increase Foundation’s brand awareness and impact while amplifying the work of, and sharing credit with, grantee-partners and other community-led organizations.  
  • Develop work plans to map work and deliverables for time-bound projects and initiatives 
• Responsible for integrating and advancing WFM’s position and driving broader awareness and donor support.  
  • Spearhead efforts to increase the WFM’s visibility. 
  • Create a public relations strategy to cultivate and enhance relationships with targeted external audiences for impact and investment 
  • Actively engage thought leadership strategy to position and elevate Executive Team in external media
  • Support and coach WFM’s team as spokespeople. 
  • Engage, cultivate, and manage media relationships to pitch stories and ensure coverage surrounding Foundation programs, impact, investments, and events, public announcements, and other projects. 
  • Direct and manage paid and earned media and sponsorships 
• Manage brand design and vision across products and partnerships 
  • Direct branding of external marketing materials (white papers, one pagers, research, campaign collateral, policy advocacy, brochures, presentations, videos, signage)  
  • Evaluate, manage, and direct branding of external sponsorships  
  • Build brand awareness and elevate brand experience 
  • Develop digital and traditional marketing campaigns across multiple platforms 
  • Manage branding of event experiences 
  • Develop products across media channels to communicate impact 
  • Update and maintain the Foundation’s brand style guide 
• Use research to develop, implement, and measure marketing and narrative change strategies.  

Narrative Change Strategy and Engagement (15%) 

• Develop and lead narrative engagement plans to advance gender and racial justice in key areas of impact. 
• Create and drive narratives about the systemic changes needed to drive access for women, girls and gender-expansive people across Minnesota to lead safe, prosperous lives with WFM policy agenda, annual operating plan, and signature campaigns.  
• Leverage knowledge of issues, landscape, narrative change campaigns, and ethics to develop strategies that amplify the work of grantee-partners and connect with stakeholders to maximize transformative investment in systems change for gender and racial equity. 
• Work in partnership across staff teams to lead and maximize engagement of strategic communications and narrative change goals. 

Team Leadership and Development (5%) 

• Continuously explore new and creative strategies to expand WFM’s base of support and connections across all Minnesota communities, and to enhance the image and brand of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. 
• Partner with the Executive Team and support the Board of Trustees in strategic communications strategy and narrative change. 
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality. 
• Serve as a mentor to staff and work to develop talent and leverage resources. 
• Hire, manage, and grow a strong and effective communications team. 
• Ensure the communications team meets organizational needs and maximizes resources and budgets. 
• Lead the Communications team to support the development and execution of the annual strategic communication and narrative change strategies. 
• Mentor and coach communications staff using a supportive and collaborative approach.  
• Establish and monitor communications staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, conduct annual performance appraisals, and recommend salary adjustments. 

Secondary Responsibilities

• Participate as an active member of the Foundation staff by working collaboratively with other staff members; and by communicating openly with staff and volunteers.  
• Attend WFM events, as required and/or as requested by the President & CEO. 
• Perform all other projects and tasks as assigned by the President and CEO.

Job Specifications

Desired Education and Experience

• Seven or more years of experience in a senior communications management role; successful experience managing marketing, brand, and product development with a proven track record of increasing and deepening reach and name recognition. 
• Expertise using multichannel storytelling and narrative engagement strategies to influence and move audiences to greater understanding of gender and racial justice. 
• Demonstrated ability leading strategic communications to make complex gender and racial justice topics accessible and actionable, in ways that resonate with broad and differing stakeholder groups.  
• Innovative and creative thinker, with a track record for translating complex strategies into action plans and executing them. 
• Excellent management skills; ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reports and peers. Expertise in leading a team and collaborating across departments as an integrated team. 
• Skilled in media pitching, placement, and amplification. Proven record of landing pitches in competitive outlets. 
• Deep understanding and practical experience with systems change approaches, intersectionality, community power, and equity and justice frameworks. 
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to working with diverse community stakeholders to elevate awareness and attract investment. 
• Innovative in developing, executing, and adapting marketing and narrative strategies for impact.  
• Experience using research and public opinion polling to inform messaging and campaigns.  
• Practical work experience and/or interest in philanthropy, grantmaking, fundraising, event management, policy, and research. 
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; an advanced degree or equivalent education and experience in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Narrative Change, Media is preferred. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to apply and integrate an intersectional justice lens (gender, race, geography, equity, and other identities) to every initiative and project to ensure WFM commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Demonstrates initiative and a solution-focused attitude while positively contributing to a team work environment.  
• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements. 
• Commitment to gender and racial equity, including actively participating in WFM’s learning culture in diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications plan, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization’s mission and goals. 
• Creative, thoughtful implementation of innovation and new media technologies. 
• Innovative and strategic thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans with effective tactics and output.  
• Sense of humor, excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution.  
• Self-motivated and results oriented. Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs. 
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical finance, and administration initiatives. 
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, Foundation Board of Trustees and staff. Excellent and persuasive communicator. 
• Harnesses the power of storytelling to drive narrative change for gender and racial justice. 
• Passion for the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota’s mission and values. 

Physical Requirements Necessary to Perform This Job

• Hear and speak in order to use telephone and communicate with people both in and out of the office environment. 
• Sit at desk for extended periods, as well as move around office area repeatedly throughout the day. 
• Apply manual dexterity for computer keyboarding and office equipment use. 
• Visual ability to review detailed reports and information. 
• Flexible work hours requiring work in excess of 40 hours/week when necessary.   
• Must be willing and able to work and attend events on evenings and weekends as needed. 

Tools and Equipment Used

• Candidate must be able to use computers, multi-line telephone, calculator, copy machines, and other office equipment. 
• Proficient in MS Office Suite and Adobe software as well as fundraising, design, publishing software and tools. 

EVerify Disclosure: Please note that WFM participates in E-Verify, which is a service to confirm employment eligibility. This process will occur after an offer of employment is extended.