Summary Description: Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Director of Communications & Marketing is responsible for establishing AAUW as a leading public voice on the organization’s highest-priority equity issues and for driving progress towards organizational outcomes through strategic communications. The Senior Director builds and maintains strong internal and external relationships and oversees the design and execution of innovative external and internal communications strategies. As part of the Senior Leadership team, the Senior Director has expert-level knowledge of strategic communications, strong expertise in audience analysis and segmentation, and ability to lead implementation of an integrated communications strategy.
Essential Duties:
Strategy Development- 50%
- Oversee strategic, integrated communication and marketing campaigns, including positioning, branding, media relations, social and digital media, and development and execution of external-facing materials and reports.
- Identify and classify key internal/external audiences and appropriate channels and platforms for delivery to those audiences.
- Build advisory relationships with peers and leaders and manage internal and external communications to drive strategic outcomes.
- Develop, recommend, implement, and maintain communications and external relations strategies with a focus on equity, inclusion, and diversity.
- Represent communications on and collaborate with AAUW’s senior leadership team, ensuring that communications strategy is fully reflected in strategic plans.
- Oversee an editorial calendar that anticipates and capitalizes on outreach opportunities and makes high-value communications a core benefit of AAUW membership.
- Leverage the CEO as AAUW’s primary spokesperson within broader communications strategies.
- Develop rapid response plans that mobilize communications resources to proactively address emerging and evolving events at the national and regional levels.
- Work with leaders across AAUW to develop core messaging that ensures consistency in communications to all primary audiences, including members, funders, partners, and legislators/regulators and staff.
- Develop and review high quality written materials, including messaging, press statements/releases, talking points, strategic memos and planning documents.
Communications Operations- 30%
- Oversee comprehensive digital, media and member relations strategies to increase engagement and mobilize constituents in measurable calls to action.
- Make AAUW an incubator of innovative digital content including unique storytelling and engagement ideas that employs a creative mix of technologies, formats, and media.
- Ensure AAUW’s digital program is designed to identify, track, and convert a pipeline of prospective supporters.
- Provide strategic direction for all inbound and outbound media relations, ensuring that outreach embodies AAUW’s core values, is consistent with efforts to diversify the organization’s supporter base, and promotes positive earned media coverage of AAUW.
- Identify opportunities to integrate AAUW’s initiatives and accomplishments into breaking and enterprise news coverage; review/assess industry trends to identify opportunities.
- Manage all channels of communications (publications, websites, newsletter, videos, presentations), and regularly evaluate those channels to determine effectiveness.
- Proactively develop and manage crisis response plans and provide counsel to the c-suite.
- Ensure that AAUW’s member relations communications emphasize diverse topics to support the engagement of AAUW’s current and prospective members.
- Oversee the development and production of high-quality member-facing collateral.
Management & Budgeting- 20%
- Manage and coach a team by assessing individual and team strengths, identifying skills gaps, and cultivating leadership and relationship building skills to strengthen AAUW’s internal capacity.
- Foster a culture of inclusive decision-making in which multiple perspectives are solicited and considered.
- Model a high standard of collegiality within the communications and external relations team and in its collaborations with all other departments within AAUW, ensuring that communications are responsive, agile, and forward thinking.
- Design and oversee the execution of internal quality control processes that guarantee the highest levels of accuracy and clarity in AAUW’s external and internal communications.
- Manage the budget for the communications team, aligning financial resources with critical strategic goals and objectives.
- Set a high standard for the efficient and responsible use of resources consistent with respect for AAUW’s donors, funding recipients, and mission.
- Other duties as assigned.
Skills/Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; minimum of 10 years relevant experience, including at least 5 years in senior communications roles in a complex national or regional nonprofit organization, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been attained also provides the necessary components to perform the Senior Director of Communications role.
- Supervisory experience and a record of fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment among staff.
- Expertise in audience analyses, including demographic, psychographic, and behavioral segmentation.
- Demonstrated experience driving organizational outcomes through strategic communications.
- Exceptional critical and creative thinking and policy judgement, and ability to translate issues across a range of general, member, supporter, and policymaker audiences.
- Exceptional project management skills – able to implement a strategy that aligns with goals and activities across an organization and able to manage multiple aspects of projects with staff and consultants while maintaining deadlines and high quality.
- Demonstrated budget and project management skills in running complex, multifaceted projects.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, collaborate and establish effective cross-functional relationships organizationally.
- Experience developing a high-performance, collaborative and results-driven team.
- Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to inclusion and equity.
- Clear understanding and commitment to AAUW mission and values.
Compensation and Location
The salary range for this position is $136,200 to $170,300 (commensurate with experience) and it is offered along with a competitive benefits package. The position is based in Washington, DC.
AAUW is a non-profit organization whose headquarters and staff are based in Washington, D.C. This is an in-office position with the option of working remotely up to three days per week. In keeping with AAUW's commitment to a safe working environment, AAUW may require selected candidates to submit proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 prior to extending a job offer. If a candidate has a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a covid-19 vaccination, a medical exemption form should be requested from Human Resources.
