Digital Communications & Marketing, Manager

Digital Communications & Marketing Manager

Reports to:

Sr. Director of Communications and Marketing for Fourth Church and Chicago Lights with strong oversight, day-to-day alignment, and collaboration with the Chicago Lights Executive Director and program team.

The Digital Communications & Marketing Manager for Chicago Lights leads the development and execution of content and communications across digital, website, print, social, and event platforms; supports donor communications and fundraising initiatives; and ensures consistent brand voice and visual identity. This role also leads communications and creative production for Chicago Lights events, from invitations and promotional campaigns through onsite visual communications, video storytelling, and speaker materials.

This role sits inside the central Communications/Marketing team but operates as an embedded program partner to elevate the stories and impact of Chicago Lights under the shared strategic leadership of central Communications and the Chicago Lights Executive Director.

• Create and maintain a year-round editorial calendar aligned with program, volunteer recruitment, fundraising, event, and Board priorities.
• Write and edit newsletters, appeals, annual reports, website copy, stewardship materials, and other communications.
• Manage, capture content for, and populate Chicago Lights on social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, You Tube) and the Chicago Lights website.
• Collaborate closely with Chicago Lights program staff to collect stories, quotes, observations, and images that reflect program impact, maintaining a consistent presence on-site across all program locations.
• Lead the Chicago Lights digital storytelling pipeline using asset-based, dignity-first messaging; ensure that participants and Program Directors review and formally approve any individual participant content prior to publication or print.
• Support all Chicago Lights programs with appropriately branded, localized collateral (flyers, informational materials) to support participation and volunteer recruitment, engaging external freelance designers when extensive design work is required.
• Ensure strict consistency of tone, messaging, and visual identity across all platforms, materials, and events.

• Partner with the Associate Director of Development and other Development staff on campaign and donor communications, including strategy, project management of appeals, and targeted mail/email/video/social initiatives.
• Produce donor-focused content for stewardship, recognition, and regular touchpoint updates, including donor stories, gift acknowledgments, and initiative-specific proposals.
• Collaborate with the Evaluation and Impact team to track communication outcomes, segmentation, and outreach success metrics within Salesforce and other data platforms.
• Collaborate with Fourth Church communications staff to share stories that maximize visibility and highlight Chicago Lights across Fourth Church communications.
• Coordinate directly with the Senior Director of Communications, Executive Director, and Program Directors to pitch stories for earned media; ensure leadership alignment before media outreach and provide on-site Communications staff accompaniment for media visits.
• Support internal communications for staff, volunteers, and the Board of Directors, including drafting remarks and preparing presentations for board meetings.

• Lead communications and creative production for Chicago Lights events and fundraising initiatives from planning through execution, ensuring a cohesive and compelling experience across pre-event, onsite, and post-event communications.
• Develop and manage event communications, including invitations, promotional campaigns, email and social communications, website content, event programs, auction and fundraising materials, and other audience-facing collateral.
• Manage onsite visual communications and event materials, including signage, way finding, presentation slides, screens, displays, and other branded environmental elements.
• Deve…