Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Communications

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

Founded in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) is a non-profit organization focused on eliminating disparities within the global Black community by developing leaders, informing public policy, and educating the public.  Our primary focus areas are education, public health, economic empowerment, and the environment.  Applicants may visit the website at www.cbcfinc.org, to learn more information about CBCF programs and initiatives.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the President and CEO and serving as the most senior integrated marketing and communications leader, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications (Vice President) is a member of the senior management team and will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of all marketing, branding, and communications strategies designed to protect, promote, and build the identity and reputation of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF).  The Vice President will serve as a thought leader to the President to shape the future of the organization by providing innovative ideas and measurable results; and also contribute to CBCF’s organizational strategy to help grow and expand CBCF’s visibility and influence.

The Vice President will develop a world-class communications and marketing strategy, building a plan for the CBCF and awareness around the work it undertakes to eliminate disparities in the global Black community. This leader will be responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of a broad range of public relations and marketing activities to drive the strategic direction and positioning of the organization and its leadership while showcasing CBCF’s brand, impact, and contributions. The Vice President will contribute to CBCF’s revenue and funding potential by serving as a key spokesperson for the organization and championing new ideas as a member of the senior management team.

This individual will be an ambassador for the organization and will need to have and cultivate relationships with national, regional and local media. The goal is to advance the organization’s mission with relevant constituents inside and outside the Washington, D.C. Beltway in order to drive broader program awareness and donor support for the organization. The Vice President will be responsible for CBCF’s integrated communications deliverables and services including: annual report, newsletters, sponsorship brochures, and other print publications; platform and digital strategy; all stakeholder communication; media (traditional and digital,) public relations; marketing and social networking/engagement.  The Vice President will direct communication policies (internal and external) and all digital and platform strategies necessary to maintain quality control for all written and published materials as well as the public positioning of CBCF’s initiatives. 

The Vice President will be responsible for ensuring high levels of social campaign effectiveness and efficiency. In addition to the overarching marketing and communications plan, this leader will build out a content strategy and connected stories that tie back to the CBCF’s central narrative as an educational institute and public policy research hub. This plan should create awareness, educate the public, and compel audiences to engage and participate in CBCF programs and initiatives. Each platform should activate its own strategy with the targeted personas and the tone and voice of the individual platforms should ladder up to the CBCF brand in a synchronized vision.

In addition, the Vice President will oversee the strategic communications planning, branding, promotion, and execution of major events including the Annual Legislative Conference (ALC); the Mervyn L. and Stephanie Tubbs Jones Scholarship Classic; and the Sojourner Truth Legacy Project Virtual Summit.  This includes oversight for planning event marketing; as well as oversight of contract negotiations; barter agreements; event branding, under the management of multi-functional teams and partners. They will focus on increasing attendance and engagement to drive events to the next level while controlling the operating budget.  The successful candidate will be a visionary leader with exceptional planning and decision-making abilities; and clear direction to motivate and drive engagement.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

1. Reports to: President and CEO.
2. Directly Supervises: one Director, Marketing and Communications
   • Indirectly Supervises:  one Graphic Designer; and one Digital Media Specialist
   • Consultants: Supervision – marketing firm, talent management firm, consultants, vendors, and suppliers.
3. Type of Supervision Received:  minimal to none.
4. Internal Relationships:  Close coordination specifically with the Vice Presidents of Resource Development, Strategic Events,  and the Center for Policy Analysis and Research department heads to establish and direct public relations; and marketing and communication opportunities related to our events, conferences, public policy forums, and programs and initiatives to effect maximum exposure for the CBCFs work in the areas of Health, Education, Economic Empowerment and the Environment as a key hub of thought leadership.
5. External Relationships:  CBCF Board of Directors, CBCF Donors and Supporters, Executives and key staff of partnering organizations, and other stakeholders as defined by CBCF priorities.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Functions

Marketing and Communications Strategy, Vision and Leadership

1. Develop and implement an integrated strategic marketing and communications plan to advance CBCFs brand identity, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities; and increase the visibility of its programs and research across key stakeholder audiences.
2. Develop and implement a strategic social media and engagement strategy in order to facilitate an effective CBCF presence across all mediums to include CBCF website, affiliated sites, blogs, electronic newsletters and all social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Smartphone Apps, and other innovate technologies.
3. Create a marketing/public relations strategy which will allow CBCF leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including mainstream and Black niche media as well as key influencers in the academic, health, racial justice and business communities.
4. Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization.  Work with the senior management team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions, and develop and execute strategies to support them.
5. Serve as communications counselor to CBCF President and CEO.

Communications Operations

1. Oversee development of all CBCF print communications including the annual report, marketing collateral materials, and electronic communications including CBCF website and social media; manage the relationship with associated vendors.
2. Serve as a spokesperson and lead point person with journalists and bloggers on behalf of CBCF to help promote and positively position the organization.
3. Exercise strategic judgment to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations, and other supporting material as required.
4. Lead all earned, owned, and paid social and digital strategy by creating an editorial calendar and playbook.
5. Actively engage, cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding CBCF research, programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.
6. Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications department including budgeting, planning, and staff development.
7. Develop and implement monitoring and tracking systems to ensure CBCF is able to monitor trends that may positively or negatively impact the CBCF and its stakeholders as well as the global Black community.
8. Develop approaches to help measure communications strategy and challenges and opportunities related to CBCF’s marketing positioning.  Make necessary changes to facilitate improvements.
9. Oversee design and visual imagery used in communications and marketing materials to ensure proper positioning of CBCF brand identity and reputation.

Strategic Event Marketing & Promotion

1. Oversee and help define, plan, and manage all promotional and branding logistics for the Annual Legislative Conference; Scholarship Classic; and Sojourner Truth Legacy Project Virtual Summit in partnership with the Vice President of Strategic Events.  Ensure PCEO and Management Team (MT) is kept abreast of key decisions necessary to ensure a strong CBCF presence, partnership, and flawless marketing execution.
2. Provide leadership for negotiation and acquisition of talent for CBCF signature events. Oversee proposals, contracts, and consultant agreements, for various events and/or annual conference sessions to ensure compliance with CBCF policies, protocols; and fiduciary responsibilities.
3. Monitor, measure, and define the success of event marketing against organizational goals. Create key performance indicators to develop a successful benchmarking system for measuring event promotion efficacy and reach.  Assess and optimize by implementing strategies to maximize impact and reach to CBCF’s audiences, increase registration, and attendee engagement.  
4. Provide excellent customer service, critical thinking and problem-solving ability; and stakeholder engagement opportunities.    

Team Development

1. Manage one director with the responsibilities of implementing and executing marketing and communication strategies.  Demonstrate strong interpersonal, leadership skills, program management, and tactical support to the team.
2. Promote a culture of high performance, quality, values, and professional development.
3. Mentor and develop staff using a consistent, supportive, and collaborative approach.
4. Establish, supervise, and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities; conduct annual performance reviews.

Additional Functions

1. Represent CBCF on important committees and task forces (internal and external).
2. Create an environment supportive of equal employment opportunity.
3. Effectively collaborate with staff and consultants in connection with large-scale events and projects.
4. Manage and balance administrative responsibilities to deliver against organizational goals and objectives.
5. Complete all responsibilities, duties, and other projects as assigned.

Required Special Skills

1. Effective communication of Marketing and Communications deliverables to a variety of constituents and stakeholders across a variety of mediums (internal and external).
2. Ability to effectively negotiate contracts and proposals, with consultants and vendors, for the maximum benefit of the CBCF.
3. Proven project management skills and experience in designing, managing, and delivering high-quality projects on time.
4. Superb oral and written communication and presentation skills in a range of formats, to include briefings, reports, media, articles, and blogs.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCURACY/ACCOUNTABILITY

Incumbent must communicate with stakeholders on a national and local level to positively influence the effectiveness of CBCF in achieving its objectives.  The Vice President, Marketing and Communications must follow and adhere to federal, state, and local ethics laws, as well as CBCF policies governing conduct, in addition to performing his/her duties in an ethical, professional, and objective manner. Failure to comply may result in penalties for CBCF and the Vice President, Marketing and Communications.

SPECIFICATIONS

Knowledge: A Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations, English literature, or a related field of study is required.  The candidate must have a minimum of 10-12 years of communications and writing experience and skills dealing with diverse issues, managing high-profile principals; high-performance teams; and compelling events. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of success in leading executive communications and managing media campaigns in a corporate, agency, or nonprofit setting. The Vice President must be a confident, strategic thinker who can deliver and produce planned initiatives with maturity and professionalism and demonstrate a commitment to the mission of the CBCF. Incumbent will be extremely resourceful to get things done; and be flexible and highly responsive to business needs, opportunities and challenges. Prior Capitol Hill or corporate communications experience is strongly preferred. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent must perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

1. Computer and Technical Proficiencies: Proficient skills in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).  Experience with marketing and project management software such as Meltwater, Cision, Constant Contact, Luminate, Monday.com, and Smartsheet are a plus.
2. Skills and Abilities: This position requires exceptional writing, editing, media relations, research and interpersonal skills. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, including perfect grammar and composition rules required for creating, editing and proofreading materials. The candidate must be able to manage shifting short-term and long-term priorities at the same time. They must also possess superb project and program management skills with the ability to manage multi-phased projects with precision and flexibility. Experience in managing high-performance teams, high-profile events and/or conferences are required. 
   
   Additionally, the successful candidate must be skilled at influencing and engaging senior-level executives on marketing and communications goals; have a commitment to working at a mission—driven organization, must be a confident decision-maker with sound judgment with an eye towards the most important drivers of success, be a self-starter and drive to achieve results. Ability to design team structures, division of labor, new systems, and workflows is required. 
3. Physical Requirements: The candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demanding deadline schedules, long hours, some evenings, and weekends during peak times. The candidate must work well under pressure, exercising tact and diplomacy while producing favorable results. 

CBCF is an equal opportunity employer and offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits package including health, dental, vision, 403(b), paid vacation and sick time  No phone calls accepted.