Vice President of Communications and Marketing

Posted 02/12/2024

Organizational Summary

Equal Measure is a national professional services firm headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, and remotely across the U.S. With more than 40 years in the social justice field, we strengthen the knowledge and capacity of our partners to transform systems, eliminate racial disparities, and build equitable communities. Our current and recent clients include: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Boston Foundation, The BUILD Health Challenge, the City of Philadelphia, Comcast, de Beaumont Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, Lumina Foundation, the National Science Foundation, New America, PolicyLink, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Robin Hood, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

At Equal Measure, we believe that people and communities deserve to thrive–and can only do so when race is not a predictor of life outcomes. To realize that vision, we are combining evaluation with an approach to advancing racial equity that emphasizes shared learning to power sustainable systems change. Four pillars drive our mission:

  • Knowledge Building: We help clients understand the root causes and disparities in outcomes.
  • Narrative Change: We rewrite the narratives to center communities as co-creators of solutions.
  • Convening: We create a space for dialogue, mutual learning, and collective action.
  • Capacity Building: We supercharge our clients with the tools and training they need to become advocates for racial equity.

Executive Overview of Position

The Vice President of Communications and Marketing plays an overall strategic role at Equal Measure and serves as a member of the Executive Team. The primary area of focus includes leading all organizational communications (both internal and external), public relations and marketing functions, and organizational branding. The Vice President of Communications and Marketing is also an ambassador for the organization, demonstrating, communicating and promoting its mission and core values to stakeholders and the public at large and playing an integral and strategic role on the executive and senior leadership teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Communications Leadership (Internal and External Focus)

  • Oversee and develop multiple communication strategies to help identify and amplify all voices in support of racial equity understandings and authentic narratives.
  • Provide oversight on all internal and external communications, branding, positioning, and ensuring communications quality assurance on all aspects of project work, including strategic dissemination/presentation responsibilities for projects across EqM’s service lines.
  • Provide communications support in collaboration with the organization’s project leadership teams to ensure communication quality controls and measures on all aspects of project work across all service lines.
  • Oversee and provide direct leadership, mentorship and guidance to the internal communications team in an effort to enhance and refine EqM’s messaging and branding connected to our strategic plan and overall communications strategy.
  • Lead and contribute to assigned client and partner projects.
  • In partnership with senior leadership, ensure continued connections are made to past and current projects identifying ways to re-purpose content and creation of aggregated publications.
  • In partnership with senior leadership, identify and monitor relevant field trends and thought leadership outlets and positioning opportunities to advance EqM’s market position in line with strategic plan.

Communications (Expanding Service)

  • Develop a business development plan and strategy to support the growth of communications as a primary service line offering for the organization.
  • Create a strategic business plan that looks to explore and identify appropriate clients and partnerships in support of the expansion of the communications service line offerings.
  • In partnership with the executive team, create a foundation and structure in support of building capacity in the development of communications as a primary service offering for the organization.

Communications (Operations)

  • Oversee the organizational plan for media outreach and external communications that amplify the organization’s voice in multiple channels.
  • In collaboration with the senior leadership, continuously work to assess the organizations’ communications, marketing and branding needs making recommendations to identify and amplify strong messages, compelling stories, and key audiences.
  • Reinforce a culture of excellence, innovation, and creativity that is proactive and quick to mobilize around important issues facing the field in advancement of the organization’s mission and vision.
  • Work with senior leadership to assess the organization’s communications and marketing needs and identify strong messages, compelling stories, and key audiences.
  • Work with Foundation senior leaders to assess The Foundation’s communications and marketing needs and identify strong messages, compelling stories, and key audiences.
  • Oversight of the day-to-day operations of the department inclusive of staff supervision and mentorship, workflow efficiencies, budgeting, and planning.

Marketing and Branding

  • Formulate and manage a comprehensive media relations strategy and program encompassing print, digital, and social media. Engage with key print, broadcast, digital, and social media entities proactively and reactively.
  • Identify appropriate dissemination platforms and networks for Equal Measure products, knowledge content and staff presentation.
  • Working collaboratively with Executive Team and business development leads, to develop marketing and promotional campaigns and plans supporting the development of new business services across all service lines consistent with the organization’s strategic direction.
  • Represent Equal Measure to clients, foundation and nonprofit partners, and the general public.
  • Contribute to industry-related publications; and leverage project work into publishable pieces.
  • Market new business products and services through networks and formal business development processes.

Organizational Leadership (Internal Focus)

  • Engage as an active member of the Executive Team to support the strategic position of Equal Measure, including by ensuring organizational and project alignment and excellence with stated organizational goals and growth priorities.
  • Develop quality guides and communications procedures and processes.
  • Support training opportunities to ensure adoption and adherence to and codification of branding and style guides.
  • Co-develop internal review systems within the project management and proposal submission process in collaboration with project leads.

Education and Experience

  • Advanced, post-graduate degree is required. Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field is required.
  • At least 10–15 years of executive experience in nonprofit and or higher education or research organizations.
  • Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization’s mission and goals.
  • Experience in building, mentoring, and coaching a multi-diverse team of communications specialists.
  • Experience leading and creating multiple levels of communication channels across a variety of dissemination platforms (e.g., websites, published articles, scholarly forums, blogs, etc.).
  • Superior management skills; ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reports and peers.

Work Environment/Physical Demands/Travel Requirements

  • Remote position (within the United States)
  • Occasional domestic travel (up to 30%)

Salary and Position Details

  • This is a full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible position.
  • Salary range: $150,000–$175,000

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Equal Measure is deeply interested in and committed to diversity along racial, ethnic, and gender lines, and we are actively seeking an individual who can offer broader perspectives to our organizational thinking and culture. Racial minorities are highly encouraged to apply.

As part of our organizational commitment to public and personal health, Equal Measure requires that all employees be vaccinated against COVID-19, per the latest CDC recommendations (including updates to status, booster shots, etc.). Any individuals who choose to decline vaccination due to medical, religious, or other concerns must discuss this with HR prior to hiring and will be required to present negative COVID-19 test results within 24 hours of any in-person meetings or work-related travel.

Equal Measure offers a comprehensive employee benefits package designed to increase employee health, security, and wellness. Our benefit program includes: medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage; fully paid life insurance; short- and long-term disability; a very competitive retirement plan (403b); financial counseling; and remote work flexibility, among other offerings.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to careers@equalmeasure.org.

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