Director of Communications

The Director, Communications sets and guides the strategy for all AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) and Center for Housing and Health (CHH) communications in collaboration with AFC leadership, including but not limited to, digital media, public relations, messaging, annual reports, strategic communication and collateral development to consistently articulate AFC and CHH’s missions, visions and connect with key audiences. This includes programmatic, policy, fundraising, organizational-wide communications, among other areas. This role leads an editorial, digital and design team at AFC that produces a variety of award-winning communications to publicize AFC’s work and impact. This leader pursues opportunities to build relationships between AFC and strategic partners to create collaborative strength to achieve health equity and justice. They also provide occasional capacity-building, training and thought-leadership to organizations.

The salary range for this role is $66,000 to $77,700.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate campaign strategy to connect with the organization's audiences, in collaboration with AFC’s leadership team and constituents

• Lead and supervise a four-person Communications team

• Implement and oversee communication strategies to advance AFC’s policy, development, and programmatic goals from branding and marketing to social media/marketing campaigns with a focus on AFC’s priority communities (communities most impacted by HIV)

• Maintain AFC’s brand standards and organizational identity

• Oversee and contribute to the conceptualization and creation of influential and compelling content (written, designed, video, etc.) that convey the impact of AFC’s work

• Interview individuals and attend meetings to obtain information and data, verify facts, research, or seek technical advice

• Manage numerous deadline-driven projects simultaneously, at varying stages of production

• Draft articles, edits, and proofreads the final drafts; authenticates and corrects data

• Oversee design, videography, and photography projects

• Serve as project manager and executive editor on production of AFC’s print and electronic newsletters, annual report, and direct mail letters

• Oversee content updates on AFC websites as well as the agency’s social media accounts

• Oversee updates made to AFC and CHH’s websites

• Oversee development and maintenance of AFC’s branding and style guides

• Seek guidance for complex problems from the Chief Officer of External Relations and the President/CEO

• Independently work on other projects or assignments that present AFC’s work via print and Web venues

• Provides communications leadership and guidance with HIV related work throughout the state of Illinois

• Serving as the primary relationship manager between 10+ different teams including the Center for Housing and Health

• Develop workflows and best practices around communications operations and executing creative work

• Primary manager of vendor relationships including creative and other services

• Builds relationships with stakeholders at AFC current or prospective partner organizations in order to strengthen ties, build collaborative opportunities, and mobilize communities

• Serves as a thought leader and strategist within the digital marketing and communications realm at organization-wide, local and/or national levels

• Support the implementation and communication about AFC’s Race Equity Action Plan

• Provides guidance and direction to AFC departments, project leads and Senior Leadership Team related to digital marketing and engagement, and community engagement overall

Staff Supervision

• Hire, train, mentor and supervise assigned staff; including assisting with recruitment, selection, scheduling and job assignments, mentoring/coaching, staff development and training, performance evaluation, and recommending salary, disciplinary and other personnel actions in accord with personnel procedures

• Provide professional development opportunities and guidance to each team member to strengthen their skill sets and job satisfaction

• Meet regularly with assigned staff to identify priorities, discuss strategies, and review ongoing projects

Other

• Assist with agency-wide activities as directed, including Annual Meeting, AIDS Run & Walk Chicago, World of Chocolate and others

• Assist with other AFC activities as requested

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in this class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assignment of duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Graphic Design Specialist, Digital Communications Specialist, Communications Manager and indirectly Policy Communications Specialists and interns.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• A Master’s Degree with 7 years of experience, a Bachelor’s Degree in English, Journalism or Communications with at least 8 years of communications leadership/management experience,

• or high school diploma with 10 years of experience, ideally in an “in-house” leadership role (manager of multiple full-time staff members) within a complex (number and variety of constituents and departments) nonprofit entity.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills coupled with presentation skills

• Solid ability to prioritize, plan, and coordinate work activities, and manage resources so that work

• objectives are accomplished efficiently, in addition to having strong time management skills.

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to make reasoned judgments that are logical and well thought out

• Strong coaching and development skills as a supervisor of multiple individuals including the ability to train, coach, and develop employees

• Strong leadership skills working with Senior Leadership Teams, Boards and Committees

• Digital organizing and community mobilization skills

• Understanding of communications innovations, particularly on the digital front

• Understanding of policy, advocacy, programmatic work and revenue generation

• Solid interpersonal skills along with the ability and willingness to respect and value the differences and perceptions of different groups/individuals to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships internally and externally

• Ability to effectively, accurately, and articulately present AFC information and respond to questions from groups of funders, staff, and the general public on a variety of issues related to agency programs, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

• Understanding of nonprofit accounting issues on a system basis, and the ability to effectively manage multiple funding areas.

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

None.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands are representative of those found in a general office environment. Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (20-25 pounds.) Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

https://aids-foundation-chicago.breezy.hr/p/c5c5153057a8-director-of-communications?state=published