Director of Marketing and Communications

Summary of Position:

• Department: Marketing and Communications 
• Supervised By: Chief Executive Officer 
• Supervises: Marketing Manager, Interns, and Volunteers 
• Status: Full Time, salaried, exempt
• Hours: 40 hours per week 
• Location: Hybrid - Remote or on-site at main location in Hinsdale and partner locations 

The Director of Marketing and Communications is responsible for the development, execution, and optimization of the marketing and communication strategy that will position Wellness House as a leader and support our awareness, acquisition, participation, engagement, and retention goals.The Director of Marketing and Communications will ensure Wellness House presents a consistent and compelling marketing message with a particular emphasis on new participants, current participants, and donors. The Director of Marketing and Communications will lead brand strategy, public relations, creative/message development, marketing, and media strategy. As a senior leader at Wellness House, this individual will collaborate closely with fellow directors to translate the organization’s vision and strategic plan into achievable annual goals and objectives, ensuring the fulfillment of our mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Marketing and Communications Leadership:

• Maintain an understanding of the status of oncology, knowing the trends in diagnoses and survivorship, as well as the field of psycho-oncology. 
• Knowledgeable about the mission and impact of Wellness House and able to translate it into compelling content for diverse audiences. 
• With the CEO, translate the organization’s vision and strategic plan into achievable steps. 
• Participate in strategic planning and monitoring. 
• Develop and implement comprehensive, data-driven marketing, communications, media strategy and associated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). 
• Lead the team in the development of an annual work plan with measurable goals. 
• Track progress towards goals and make mid-course adjustments as necessary. 
• Utilize data analytics to set and perform against KPIs, including the annual number of new participants. 
• Report on KPIs regularly to CEO. 
• Identify opportunities for and develop projects to grow awareness with potential participants. 
• Ensure Wellness House’s brand and messaging are consistent through all channels and provide training, guidance, and leadership to staff, volunteers, and third-party partners as needed. 
• Ensure strong and relevant on-line and off-line presence and consistency across all channels including, but not limited to, search, website, email, and social media, newsletters, direct mail, annual reports. 
• Direct and participate in content creation to drive engagement. This may include graphics and/or copywriting. 
• Make final approval on all external marketing and communication publications.
• Prepare speeches and key talking points for senior staff as requested. 
• Ensure that a Crisis Communications plan is written and followed. 
• Serve as a media contact and a crisis communications point person (along with the CEO or Director of Programs). Support proposal writing as needed.

Managerial:

• Model for staff, and actively engage and contribute to, a healthy, stimulating, productive work environment where all constituents, participants, staff, volunteers, and donors can “feel better inside.” 
• With other Managers, participate in ongoing evaluation; utilize evaluation feedback to inform future planning. 
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Marketing and Communications Department personnel and consultants. 
• Identify and execute opportunities that maximize team efficiency. 
• Provide professional development opportunities and guidance to each team member to help strengthen their skill sets and job satisfaction. 
• Meet regularly with the team to identify priorities, discuss strategies, and review ongoing projects. 
• Identify and develop new policies and procedures for Marketing and Communications. 
• Develop and monitor the Marketing and Communications expense budget. 
• Approve departmental expenditures. 
• Manage relationships and negotiate contracts with vendors to fill marketing needs. 
• Report to the Office Manager, in a timely manner any observations of malfunction or inadequacy of the Wellness House facility such that it would compromise the safety of staff and/or participants, as well have a negative impact on the delivery of Wellness House programs.

Other:

• Protect the organization's value by keeping information confidential. 
• Perform general tasks and other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree, advanced degree preferred. 
• Prior non-profit marketing and communications experience preferred. 
• Prior experience managing team members required. 
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, problem-solver who can manage multiple deadlines and priorities, is flexible, and adapts easily to new situations. 
• A strategic thinker who also enjoys doing the work. 
• Must be comfortable with and have strong experience evaluating and developing creative while also utilizing data to identify audiences (participants, donors, etc.), inform paid and own targeting, and assessing impact to drive program optimization. 
• Must be PC proficient including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Experience leveraging social media, blogs, websites, search, SEO, and programmatic media. 
• Knowledge of Constant Contact, Canva, Google Analytics, and all social media platforms needed. 
• Excellent copyediting, proofreading, and creative writing skills. 
• Solid organization and planning skills; ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written; results orientation; innovative thinker; initiative; highly ethical. 
• Access to transportation for local travel needed. 
• Commitment to cancer health equity and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) 
• Commitment to the mission of Wellness House; ability to communicate the mission and philosophy of Wellness House.