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Director Of Communications

Employer
Center for Community Progress
Location
Arlington, VA
Closing date
Jul 22, 2019

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ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW The mission of Center for Community Progress is to foster strong, equitable communities where vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties are transformed into assets for neighbors and neighborhoods. Founded in 2010, Community Progress is the leading national, nonprofit resource for urban, suburban, and rural communities seeking to address the full cycle of property revitalization. The organization fulfills its mission by nurturing strong leadership and supporting systemic reforms. Community Progress works to ensure that public, private, and community leaders have the knowledge and capacity to create and sustain change. It also works to ensure that all communities have the policies, tools, and resources they need to support the effective, equitable reuse of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties. More information is available at www.communityprogress.net. JOB SUMMARY The Communications Director works in partnership with Community Progress' President and CEO and senior staff to fulfill the organization's mission. This senior director wears multiple "hats" in a small, mission-driven nonprofit context and is responsible for ensuring the highest possible quality in all of the organization's external communications. The ideal candidate will have a well-rounded range of communications skills, ideally in the context of community development, housing, land use, or related fields. This position has one full-time direct report who is responsible for significant project management of day-to-day communications functions. DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Provide strategic communications counsel to Community Progress President and senior staff, and occasionally to external partners;Manage communications staff and relationships with multiple external consultants, including web developers, graphic designers, photographers, and videographers;Develop and manage communications budget and data-informed work plan in alignment with organization's strategic plan;Use communications tools to support program goals, raise the visibility of the core issues and work in the field, and enhance Community Progress' image and identity as a leader in advancing neighborhood stabilization and revitalization strategies;Maintain and strengthen the organization's "voice" through message development, issue framing, and exceptional, detail-oriented writing and/or editing of the organization's external communications, including event marketing copy, social media posts, press releases, technical reports, blog posts, op-eds, and major publications, with an eye toward style, substance, and political or other sensitivities;Develop comprehensive communications campaigns for new programs, major publications, and other major initiatives;Manage media relations, including fielding press inquiries, building relationships with reporters, and identifying media hooks for proactive press outreach based on current policy developments, and growing the organization's media list;Oversee and maintain the integrity of the organization's visual brand, namely the implementation and evolution of its style guide across all contexts, from written publications to in-person events;Oversee management of Community Progress' websites;Oversee marketing for an array of training and other programs to drive attendance, including a robust calendar of email communications;Oversee organization's social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn);Oversee constituent list maintenance through Salsa CRM;Oversee all marketing, communications, and messaging for the national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference to ensure high attendance and high-quality content, including email marketing, advertising, design, media relations, web/social, and providing general strategic input;Participate, as appropriate, in conferences and other events by providing communication support and possibly developing and presenting panels or training; andServe on the senior management team, providing strategic input on organization-wide planning and related activities. QUALIFICATIONS The Director of Communications should:Be a strategic thinker, able to connect communications strategies to programmatic objectives and identify synergies across program areas;Possess exceptional, versatile writing skills-the sort of top-tier, detail-oriented writer and editor others turn to eagerly for advice;Possess a diverse range of communications skillsets, including marketing, communications campaign management, media relations, visual branding, editing, website management, and social media management; graphic design experience is a plus;Have experience developing and managing budgets and managing consultants;Have experience in using key performance indicators to evaluate communications campaigns and overall impact;Have a demonstrated commitment to public service and racial equity, with an enthusiasm for Community Progress' mission;Be able to adapt to a range of work styles, professional contexts, and project types;Be an effective project manager, able to successfully oversee multiple simultaneous projects with competing deadlines;Possess excellent oral communication skills;Possess interpersonal skills that embody collaboration and a team-oriented approach;Be willing to travel approximately 4-6 times/year; andPossess basic HTML/CSS knowledge. In addition, experience with events or conferences is a plus;Familiarity with WordPress, Salsa Engage, Salesforce, and/or Adobe InDesign is a plus;Due to cross-team collaborations, past exposure to nonprofit fundraising is a plus; andSpanish fluency is a plus. REQUIREDBachelor's degree, and a minimum five (5) years of relevant communications experience, including management experience. Experience in housing and community development, urban planning, land use policy, neighborhood revitalization, vacant properties, or related fields, is desired. SALARY AND BENEFITS The Center for Community Progress provides a highly competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and excellent employee benefits package. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and two (2) communications examples (long-form, infographics, op-eds, web pages, etc.) that demonstrate the applicant's versatility. All materials should be sent in a single PDF by Monday, August 19, 2019, to mbochnovic@communityprogress.net EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT The Center for Community Progress is an equal opportunity employer.

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