Dir. Marketing & Public Relations

Director, Marketing & Public Relations

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank offers a diverse workplace with professionals that work together to fulfill our mission in the fight to end hunger. We are seeking individuals who share and believe in our core values – compassion, collaboration, service, integrity, inclusion and innovation.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute integrated marketing, communications and public relations strategies that advance the organization's mission and goals.
• Direct content strategy and production for print and digital channels, including newsletters, annual reports, promotional materials, website, social media, etc.
• Own the full content lifecycle from planning through delivery, including strategy, messaging, editorial calendars, creative direction and production oversight to ensure accurate, consistent and timely execution.
• Write and edit high-impact organizational communications, including speeches, talking points, donor messaging, media materials and mission-driven storytelling content.
• Oversee public relations efforts, including media outreach and story pitching, news releases, interviews, crisis communications and reputation management.
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with media outlets, vendors and community partners, including negotiating in-kind media agreements and event sponsor ships.
• Lead brand management efforts, ensuring consistent messaging, visual identity and voice across all internal and external communications.
• Serve as the organization's communications advisor to executive leadership by collaborating on agendas, key messaging, talking points and scripts for events, speaking engagements and public presentations.
• Serve as organizational spokesperson in media interviews, public appearances and community relations activities when needed.
• Supervise marketing staff responsible for the creation and production of all marketing collateral, including newsletters, quarterly and annual reports, brochures, flyers, event materials and special projects.
• Lead the organization's social media strategy by managing and guiding the staff responsible for day-to-day execution and audience engagement efforts that increase awareness, advocacy and community participation.
• Oversee the organization's website content by making regular updates, including a website audit on a regular basis to identify opportunities for ongoing optimization.
• Manage media planning and buying and creative services, including all vendors involved in such work.
• Manage all expenses and budgets for advertising supporting annual campaigns and events
• Collaborate with fundraising team to create marketing campaigns and materials that support donor acquisition, stewardship, sponsor ships and special events.
• Partner cross-functionally with programs, operations and fundraising teams to ensure alignment and consistency in organizational messaging.
• Develop and track communications metrics and performance benchmarks to evaluate effectiveness of campaigns, media relations, digital engagement and brand awareness initiatives.
• Independently manage special projects as assigned and perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, marketing or nonprofit communications leadership required
• Minimum of 5 years of experience supervising support staff and/or external vendors/agencies
• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, marketing or related field
• Experience managing media relations, crisis communications and organizational messaging strategies
• A high degree of commitment, reliability and flexibility is essential for success in this position, along with strong time and project management skills and the ability to independently plan, prioritize and execute work with a high degree of autonomy
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling abilities, with demonstrated experience developing compelling content for diverse audiences across print, digital, executive and media communications channels
• Demonstrated ability to function in a fast-paced, high performance, team environment
• Commitment to communicating with empathy, inclusivity and cultural awareness across diverse audiences
• Proficient with business use of social media tools
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products
• Experience with software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign) is a plus, not required
• Experience with HTML and CSS coding for email layout and website design is a plus, not required
• Available outside of business hours for communications of all kinds
• Must be able to follow all American Institute of Baking, Feeding America, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Occupational Safety Hazard Administration, and Foodbank (standard operating procedures and employee handbook) safety regulations.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear and/or use hands to finger,…