Senior Communications Officer, Communications; MF

Senior Communications Officer, Communications (MF)

Posted on August 13, 2020

The John

D. and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. Mac Arthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including over-incarceration , global climate change , nuclear risk , and significantly increasing financial capital for the social sector .

In addition to the Mac Arthur Fellows Program , the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsible and responsive democracy, as well as the strength and vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago .

Mac Arthur is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. Organizations supported by the Foundation work in about 50 countries. In addition to Chicago, Mac Arthur has offices in India , Mexico , and Nigeria .

The People and Culture team is responsible for the Foundation's strategic efforts to design, implement and manage innovative human resources practices and initiatives that attract, develop, engage, support and retain an energized, high-performing, diverse staff in a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

The Communications team collaborates with program teams and other colleagues across the Foundation to create and implement strategic communications plans that enhance the impact of Mac Arthur’s work and the work of grantees. The team is responsible for the Foundation's strategic efforts to communicate with the press, public, and policymakers, including media relations, web and social media efforts, printed materials, and events.

The team also provides communications support and advice to Mac Arthur’s leadership, staff, and grantees.

Team members are:
Managing Director, two Senior Communications Officers, Communications Officer, Content Manager, Senior Online Communications Specialist, Social & Digital Media Associate, Department Administrator, Communications Associate, and outside consultants/firms, as needed.

The Senior Communications Officer is an experienced strategist who manages communications for a portfolio of Mac Arthur’s programmatic work; an entrepreneurial and collaborative colleague who helps program teams build and execute strategic communications plans that contribute to program goals and overall impact; and is a results-oriented team player who gets things done. He/She will also work with the Managing Director on special projects that benefit communications across the Foundation’s programs.

• Leads projects to meet Foundation needs related to communications, creating new tools, approaches, and protocols (e.g., create and institutionalize best practices for program team and communications officer collaboration, design approach for program-communications evaluation/reflection activities, design protocol for representing past work on our website)
• Participates in Foundation working groups and other initiatives, representing the Communications Department and function (e.g., strategy lifecycle development, team structure development)
• Designs and helps execute initiatives to raise awareness internally of the support and services Communications can provide and to help train colleagues in strategic communications
• Spearheads partnerships and projects with other Foundation departments (e.g., Evaluation) to address mutual concerns and achieve shared needs
• Establishes and strengthens partnerships and working relationships in the communications and nonprofit sectors to benefit the Foundation
• Helps ensure the work of the Foundation is successful and…