At the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, we are committed to creating a future without hunger where access to healthy food by all is recognized as fundamental to the well-being and success of individuals and the foundation of a strong, vibrant society. We are striving to be a client-focused, engaged, high-performing team, leading a collaborative effort across our region to ensure equitable access to nutritious food through our values of Integrity, Learning, Inclusion, Caring, Respect, and Abundance.
Who are we looking for?
The Director of Communications role demands a visionary leader with strategic thinking, exceptional communication skills, and a deep commitment to social justice. If you’re passionate about storytelling, community engagement, and driving positive change, we encourage you to apply!
Salary: Starting at $83,000-$88,000 based on experience
Primary Functions:
The Director of Communications plays a pivotal role in advancing the organization's success by formulating a comprehensive communications strategy across various channels, connecting its mission with its message. This involves amplifying the narrative, increasing awareness about hunger, and driving meaningful change with an equity-based approach. In addition to storytelling, the Director of Communications oversees a team of both internal staff and external vendors, utilizing effective project management to achieve marketing and fundraising objectives. This role also entails cultivating positive relationships with the media and the public, serving as the primary contact for external communications, including press releases, media inquiries, and any other tasks that contribute to the organization’s public image. As a member of the Leadership Team, this position involves shaping and sharing the Food Bank's narrative, utilizing messaging that educates the public about the organization and addresses the challenges of hunger. Furthermore, the Director of Communications oversees the recruitment and engagement of a robust Volunteer Program.
Specific Duties:
Strategy & Planning
- Develops and executes a comprehensive annual communications plan driving PR, media, engagement, fundraising, donor stewardship, operations & program support, and internal communications while strengthening the Food Bank’s overall narrative and driving real change.
- Develop inclusive communication strategies and implementation plans that center equity, ensuring diverse voices are heard and represented throughout all messaging.
- Drives the integration of an equity lens across all communication channels, crafting strategies and rollout plans that foster understanding and address systemic issues.
- Oversees creation and implementation of a high-performing digital fundraising program, providing strategic direction and collaborating with the Digital Communications Manager to implement effective campaigns that drive revenue and engagement, maximizing online donations.
- Oversees the development of compelling narratives and educational programs that foster public engagement and support for the Food Bank's mission led by the Community Engagement Manager.
- Establishes and upholds consistent messaging frameworks for leadership communications, ensuring clarity and alignment across internal and external channels.
- Drives positive cultural change by creating internal communication tools and systems that empower employees to feel seen, heard, and valued, fostering a transparent, inclusive, and celebratory work environment.
- Works collaboratively across departments to analyze the effectiveness of communication strategies, driving continuous improvements based on regular reporting and shared insights.
- Creates content and manages project development, including editing, writing, organizing stories, and seeking locations for placement.
- Creates strategic communication plans for each program area and initiative, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and maximizing reach and engagement.
- Creates and oversees budgets for paid advertising, contractors, vendors, printing, and other communication needs, maximizing return on investment.
Management Brand
- Manages tone, voice, and visual elements of communication materials, ensuring alignment with the Food Bank's established brand guidelines and messaging framework.
- Maintains a consistent voice that resonates with diverse audiences across all communications channels, ensuring alignment with the Food Bank’s values and strategic communication objectives.
- Oversees the creation of content that sheds light on the realities of hunger, utilizing various communication channels to reach diverse audiences effectively.
- Establishes and promotes clear guidelines for production, brand identity, and core messaging, ensuring consistency and effectiveness across all communication efforts.
Fundraising & Outreach
- Develops and oversees the production of Food Bank materials, including newsletters, annual reports, major gift proposals and reports, and other outreach materials, ensuring quality and brand alignment.
- Directs all print and digital production aspects, leveraging negotiation skills to secure cost-effective solutions and strategically manage vendor partnerships.
- Manages Volunteer Coordinator to effectively and efficiently coordinate a successful Volunteer Program of volunteer recruitment, engagement, stewardship, and management that feeds into the donor pipeline.
Media & Public Relations
- Anticipates, strategizes, and oversees all facets of the Food Bank's public relations endeavors, encompassing various media channels such as traditional, social, paid, and in-kind media.
- Implements public relations activities to support all organizational campaigns, collaborating with Senior Leadership Team members to ensure comprehensive support for all Food Bank initiatives.
- Manages media and public relations strategies aimed at increasing awareness about the realities of hunger and increasing the visibility of the Food Bank across our six-county service area.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key media contacts and Feeding America staff, fostering collaboration and securing strategic partnerships.
- Develops and executes a comprehensive annual media plan aligned with organizational goals, leveraging advertising, media alerts, press releases, and press conferences to maximize impact and awareness.
- Leads the management of public speaking engagements and media interviews for staff, fostering a collaborative and strategic approach that amplifies the Food Bank's message, builds credibility, and drives impactful outcomes.
- Manage marketing logistics, outreach materials, and signage for annual Food Bank special events, cause marketing, program outreach, and digital fundraising campaigns.
- Develops and implements crisis communication plans, proactively preparing the organization to respond effectively to potential issues with collaboration from the Senior Leadership Team.
- Identifies opportunities for additional media coverage and engages in professional video and photography initiatives. Documents, analyzes, and recommends changes to all public relations efforts, media coverage, and investments in paid media.
Supervision
- Establish relationships based on trust and mutual accountability.
- Ensures workforce members are familiar with and adhere to organizational values, policies, and procedures.
- Engages staff in the development of annual goals and objectives.
- Meets regularly with staff to track progress toward goals and provide regular feedback on performance in addition to formal annual performance evaluations.
- Ensures the ongoing development and effectiveness of the team by making available adequate tools, systems, and training consistently to carry out work effectively.
- Hires, trains, schedules, motivates, evaluates, supports, and directs employees to optimize workplace productivity and promote professional growth.
Leadership
- Serves as a member of the Food Bank's Leadership Team and works collaboratively with colleagues throughout the organization to ensure alignment with the broader goals of the Food Bank.
- Identifies opportunities to break down silos and ensure transparent and effective communication and partnership across departments.
- Fosters collaboration across departments and contributes positively to the organization's culture.
General
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree required.
- Minimum of five (5) years in communications and marketing.
- Minimum of two (2) years in a supervisory role.
- Strong strategic thinking and communication skills.
- Proven ability to manage teams and projects effectively.
- Non-profit development and fundraising environment are preferred.
- Proficiency in Windows and Microsoft Office programs.
- Experience in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva) is a plus.
- Copywriting and editing experience are essential; specific experience in drafting measurably effective solicitation and stewardship materials is preferred.
- Experience in marketing, fundraising, media relations, digital and social analytic tools.
- Internet connectivity is the responsibility of workforce members working off-site. Bandwidth requirements to be at least 50Mbps (7.5M/Bs) download x 8Mbps (1.25 M/Bs) upload at all times to support software applications adequately.
What you will get:
- Food Bank of the Southern Tier offers a well-rounded and comprehensive benefits program.
- Salary: Starting at $83,000-$88,000, based on experience.
- Full-time, Exempt position. We believe in work-life balance!
- Paid Time Off, 10 days to start, 15 days after 1st Anniversary.
- Holidays 12-14 paid holidays and a flexible, family-friendly schedule.
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
- Supplemental Insurances
- Flexible Spending Account
- Health Savings Account
- Legal & Identity Shield Programs
- Employee Assistance Program
- 403(b) Plan
- My Better Benefits – provides discounts and savings on thousands of products and services.
The Food Bank of the Southern Tier is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Individuals who bring that perspective and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in all forms are strongly encouraged to apply.
Our hiring process and timeline:
- Applications will be reviewed regularly until the position is filled.
- Phone screenings will be conducted with qualified candidates.
- In-person interviews will be conducted with candidates who advance after the phone screening
- In-person interviews are typically with 2-5 Interviewers
- Selected candidate(s) to start ASAP.