Communications Director position w/Fundraising /Marketing exp. for Methodist Children's Home - East Atlanta/Decatur
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The United Methodist Children’s Home
of the North Georgia Conference
“Healing Children, Uniting Families, Saving Lives”
Position Opening
Position: Communications Director
Department: Fundraising and Marketing
Reports to: Vice President of Income Development
Location: Decatur, GA
Are you ready to fully utilize your communications skills and experience to help transform an organization and make a real difference in the lives of others?
Come join our dynamic and growing organization with a strong legacy of organizational and financial stability. We provide meaningful, positive change that dramatically impacts the lives of children and families within the North Georgia community. Maximize your strategic communications skills and experience to help us design and develop our communication strategy and rebrand and communicate the United Methodist Children’s Home (UMCH) message to internal and external constituents. Work with executive leadership and share your vision and creative, innovative approach. Utilize your expertise to help us develop and share our compelling story, build UMCH brand awareness and grow volunteer, partner and donor support and participation. Become part of our team and experience the true joy of helping us effectively fulfill our mission: to help children to heal emotionally and spiritually, to unite families and to bring the wholeness of God’s love to each of them through Jesus Christ.
Organization
The United Methodist Children’s Home - An Exciting and Important Ministry
The United Methodist Children’s Home is a safe haven for children, youth and their families, and we have been since the founding of the organization in 1871. Our stable, resilient organization has a strong foundation and legacy as a steadfast source of hope and healing to those whom we serve.
We provide a loving and safe home for abused and neglected children in the state foster care system. Our service offerings include Foster Care and Adoption for children of all ages, Independent and Transitional Living for older youth, and Higher Education assistance.
We also work to prevent abuse and strengthen families and believe that the best way to provide a safe and loving home for a child is to help create that same safe and loving experience in his or her own family. Our family preservation services – Family Counseling, Parenting Classes, Financial Aid and residential Family Housing – help families stay together and become stronger. Whether through adoption, reunification, staying together or standing independently, we help our children, teens and families find their permanent home.
History:
The United Methodist Children’s Home has a rich history of serving children and families in our area. The Home was originally established in 1871 to care for children orphaned during the Civil War. Originally called the Methodist Orphans’ Home and located in Norcross, the Home moved in 1873 to our present location in Decatur. By the early 1930s, the Home was serving large numbers of children who could not be termed “orphans”; therefore, in 1934 the trustees approved changing the name to Methodist Children’s Home. Elementary students continued in the on-campus school until about 1950, when they were absorbed into the DeKalb County system.
In 1977, the United Methodist Children’s Home opened the first district office in Augusta to better serve children and families throughout north Georgia. The district office in Dalton opened in 1984, the office in Rome opened in 1996, and the office in Gainesville opened in 2006. Over the years, the Children’s Home began offering additional programs and services to children, teens and families.
In 2010, the United Methodist Children’s Home made significant changes to the program offerings, including the Family Housing program on our campus. We also serve increasing numbers of older youth in our Independent Living and Transitional Living programs, and children and youth of all ages in Foster Care.
Today, we are again in the midst of exciting organizational change! UMCH is working to build increased awareness in the community for our programs and services and to increase funding designed to help us strengthen existing programs and services and provide new offerings to serve even more children and families in our area.
Mission:
To provide redemptive, healing services that bring meaningful change to the lives of children and families. Grounded by scripture and the tradition of the church, we seek to bring the wholeness of God’s love to persons through Christ.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Vice President of Income Development, the Communications Director will help set the direction and help design, develop and guide the strategy for all internal and external communications to consistently articulate, enable and fulfill the United Methodist Children's Home's (UMCH) mission. This individual will be a creative, innovative, strategic thinker and results-driven team member. Strong communications strategy, design and execution experience, combined with strong passion for the vision, mission and goals of the United Methodist Children's Home (UMCH) are critical to success in this role.
Key responsibilities include working with executive leaders on the internal/external communication strategy; assisting with organizational rebranding; and developing and implementing results-driven marketing and communications campaigns that align with overall UMCH organizational goals and objectives. The Communications Director will also partner cross-functionally with other UMCH staff and provide leadership in developing and implementing all messaging and communication content to support those areas.
This is a full-time opportunity working onsite in the offices at the UMCH headquarters in Decatur, Georgia.
No relocation assistance is available for this opportunity.
Duties and Responsibilities
Communications Strategy, Development and Execution
· Work directly with the CEO and VP of Income Development to design, develop and build a strategic communications plan for all UMCH internal and external communications
· Present fresh, creative, innovative ideas for unique, cost-effective, results-oriented strategic communication campaigns and activities aligned with UMCH vision, mission and goals
· Develop, implement and execute communications activities across the organization in collaboration with the UMCH team and constituents.
- Design, write, execute and manage the development and distribution of all print and electronic content including, but not limited to, social media, newsletters, brochures, online reports, e-newsletters, printed magazines, audio/video products, the UMCH website, media and public relations and other related online and print communications
· Manage and maintain the UMCH website and social media (such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) – ensure that content is regularly and consistently updated and posted with new information (articles, links, stories, events, pictures, audio, video, etc.).
· Develop, build and maintain strong public brand and image for UMCH built through various media channels, communications plans and activities.
- Continually develop and manage media contacts and build strong relationships with media representatives
- Utilize data gathering and analysis tools, including social media and UMCH website analytics, to track, measure and report on the level of engagement and results from various communications campaigns, plans and events.
- Interact with UMCH residents, volunteers, staff, donors, supporters and other constituents to gather information and create, design and write appropriate stories for publication and manage video/audio production projects.
- Manage the UMCH communications budget
- Set performance objectives and metrics for UMCH communications; gauge progress toward goals by reviewing monthly and annual reporting; monitor and provide periodic progress reports to CEO and senior leadership
Team Leadership
· Work with the VP of Income Development to establish annual goals and performance objectives for the Communications Department.
· Work with all UMCH staff to develop their communications skills.
· Provide leadership in strengthening internal communications with staff at all levels throughout the organization; create and promote a positive and supportive work environment.
- Individual contributor
Other Functions
- Perform other duties and ad hoc assignments as may be assigned by the VP of Income Development or the Executive Team
Qualifications
· Bachelor's degree or equivalent, relevant work experience.
· Minimum of 5 years’ experience in communications, public relations, graphic design, journalism or related field, ideally in an in-house leadership role within a complex nonprofit entity
· Proven ability, experience and success in running, managing and measuring nonprofit communications campaign development initiatives and results
· Previous experience providing and implementing creative, innovative approaches from inception toward rebranding and rebuilding communication campaigns and new media technologies
· Demonstrated experience in evaluating and working with various types of social media to build strong brand awareness and positive public relations with various audiences
- Extensive experience designing, writing, executing and managing the development and distribution of all print and electronic content including, but not limited to, social media, newsletters, brochures, online reports, e-newsletters, printed magazines, video/audio products, the UMCH website, media and public relations and other related online and print communications
· Track record of production and editing of publications (magazine, periodicals, websites, blogs, online publications, etc.)
· Strong analytical skills combined with ability to measure and track social media utilizing analysis tools (such as Google Analytics, click through rates, etc.); experienced in analyzing data to consider, evaluate, prioritize and recommend various courses of cost-effective, action plans and measureable results results-oriented outcomes, based on actionable data
· Ability to interact with, influence and engage key leadership, staff, peers and volunteers; comfort in proactively cultivating, developing and building strong relationships across all functions and at all levels
· Experience in cultivating and developing strong relationships with media; current media connections and relationships a strong plus
· Prior budget management experience
· Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation communication skills (both internally and externally)
· Experience and ability to effectively communicate complex ideas and influence key leadership as well as interface with all other constituents, stakeholders, volunteers, partners and donors
· Ability to make decisions and exercise good judgment in a changing environment with ability to anticipate future needs
Computer skills:
· Microsoft Office – strong proficiency and experience in working with Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
· Expert level experience in graphic design and utilizing desktop publishing software
· Experience and proficiency with CMS (Content Management Systems) for website design, updates and maintenance intermediate level experience and proficiency – WordPress preferred.
· High level of efficiency and expertise in utilization of various Internet applications and social media programs such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Desired Experience
· Prior knowledge and experience with website layout and design utilizing Adobe Illustrator or similar program
· Knowledge and experience utilizing HTML a strong plus
· Established relationships and media contacts preferred
Ideal Candidate Attributes include
· Strong passion and affinity for UMCH’s vision and mission and constituents
· Self-directed problem solver who is effective at solving problems and reducing waste
· Innovative and change oriented leader, highly professional with ability and organizational expertise to effectively inspire staff and volunteers
· Relationship builder with flexibility and finesse to “manage by influence”
· Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants and other supporters
· Influential, credible, confident persona with strong personal stature and authenticity
· Hands-on, detailed oriented leader who will work shoulder to shoulder with staff
· Strong analytical skills with the ability to investigate, uncover, analyze and translate data into meaningful format that can be used to drive solutions
· Ability to make decisions and exercise good judgment with limited direction in a changing environment and bring order to chaos.
· Balanced approach to work
SUPERVISION RECEIVED/GIVEN
Direct Supervision Received: The Communications Director will report to the VP of Income Development
Direct Supervision Given: N/A
CONTACTS
Internal Contacts: Executive leadership, Board of Trustees, Fundraising & Marketing staff, Administration & Program staff, Program Participants
External Contacts: Clients, Program Staff, Donors, Volunteers, Media, and Vendors
LOCATION AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position is located at UMCH headquarters in Decatur, Georgia, and the work is conducted in/out of an office setting.
Local or regional travel will be required from time to time.
The ability to maintain a flexible work schedule which will include evenings and weekends is required.
Compensation
United Methodist Children’s Home offers a competitive salary plus benefits package including:
· Major medical, dental and vision coverage
· Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
· Paid company holidays
· Defined contribution retirement plan
· 403b plan
How to apply
Click on the link below OR cut and paste the link into your browser to visit the Online Career Center website to view this and a listing of our other current positions.
Select this specific position, register by filling in the requested information and apply by submitting a copy of your most current resume and cover letter including salary history and salary requirements.
Additional Information
**Please, NO phone calls or third party recruiting agency submittals or inquiries.
Due to the volume of applicant submissions, we regret that we are unable to respond to each inquiry. If you are selected to move forward in the process, we will reach out to you concerning details and next steps in the process.
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