Vice President, Strategic Communications

ABOUT UNITED WAY:

For over 90 years, United Way of Massachusetts Bay has brought people, partners and communities together to solve our region's toughest challenges. Our work is centered on scaling safe and stable housing, strengthening educational opportunities, building economic mobility, centering youth and young adults, and stabilizing the safety net. United Way is advancing transformational impact through investing in communities and organizations, elevating community voice, sharing expertise and knowledge, convening partnerships across sectors and advocating for changes in public policy that scale what works.

We believe real, transformative change only happens when people work together. We bring together community-based organizations, businesses, government, philanthropy, and neighbors to respond to today's challenges while building long-term solutions that help everyone thrive.

We offer excellent benefits including a BCBS PPO plan, dental, 401k retirement savings with company match and a discretionary employer base contribution. Our PTO policy offers summer hours and a three-day closure for Thanksgiving. We also offer a hybrid work schedule, with a minimum of 2 fixed days in office per week. Additional in person work will be required based on the needs of the position and the organization.

Vice President of Strategic Communications is responsible for shaping and driving the organization's external voice, visibility, and influence. This role will lead an integrated communications function that connects storytelling, media, digital, and campaigns to advance organizational priorities and policy impact. Reporting to the Chief of External Affairs, the Vice President of Strategic Communications serves as a senior strategic partner, translating organizational goals into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with key audiences, elevate leadership voice, and drive measurable outcomes.

Operating as a strategist, integrator, and decision-maker, this role will ensure our communications and messaging are a proactive force in advancing mission and impact. The Vice President for Strategic Communications will lead efforts to develop a clear, consistent, and differentiated organizational narrative and increased visibility and influence in media and public discourse through thought leadership positioning. This role will ensure strong alignment between communications, policy, and organizational priorities and be responsible for high-quality, timely, and strategic execution across all channels.

The Vice President for Strategic Communications provides leadership on organization-wide culture and performance standards and input to policy development and implementation, along with playing a leadership role in staff resource and succession planning providing insights into risk management for the business function.

• Partner with the Chief of External Affairs to create UWMB's strategic communications and marketing strategy and lead its implementation;
• Work in close partnership with the Chief of External Affairs to set and drive narrative strategy, including but not limited to defining and/or evolving the organization's overarching narrative and positioning, translating complex work (policy, research, programs) into clear, compelling stories, and ensuring consistency across all external and partner/donor-facing communications
• Oversee the integration of external affairs communications with proactive communications planning and yearly development of an editorial content calendar to ensure all channels are aligned to shared priorities and outcomes.
• Elevate the executive and organizational voice by shaping and managing CEO/executive communications (op-eds, speeches, thought leadership), positioning UWMB's leadership team as credible, visible voices on key issues, and ensuring readiness for high-profile moments and external engagement.
• In partnership with the Community Impact and Development teams, shape and execute integrated campaigns tied to organizational priorities, ensuring communications support major initiatives, fundraising efforts and donor stewardship, research…