Seattle Foundation has partnered with Chaloner on their search for a Director, Marketing & Communications.

Department: Marketing & Communications (MarComm)

Reports to: Chief Marketing Officer 

Classification: Full-time/Annual | Salary/Exempt

Salary Range: $150,000 - $165,000

Grade Range: Grade 37

Benefits:

• 100% Paid by employer: medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, LTD 403(b) Retirement matched at 5%, increasing to 10% over time, 100% immediate vesting
• PTO: 15 days of vacation, 10 days of sick leave, 4 wellness days, and 13 holidays
• $1,200 annual remote work benefit, $750 annual wellness benefit, $1,200 annual transit benefit
• Optional Flex plan and dependent coverage

Work location: Candidates must live in WA state. We have a flexible work environment; can be fully in-person or hybrid (remote and in-person). This position is expected to be in-person for some required team and organization-wide meetings (e.g. monthly All-Hands meetings). Our office is located in downtown Seattle. 

Who We Are:

With a vision of a joyful region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice, Seattle Foundation works to support and sustain the ecosystem of community organizations who are most proximate to the issues we are trying to change. Through our work as a philanthropic advisor, grant maker, and convener, we invest in community-led solutions and ignite powerful and rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all. 

Position Overview:

Seattle Foundation is seeking a Director, Marketing & Communications (MarComm) to oversee the day-to-day leadership and management of our marketing and communications function and team. This position will leverage strategic and creative thinking to focus on the big picture while maintaining integrity in the details of the day-to-day operations of the marketing and communications team. 

This role reports to the Chief Marketing Officer. As the owner of the strategic marketing plan, the Director of Marketing and Communications drives team performance and accountability, ensuring all initiatives deliver against established targets and advance the organization's marketing goals. We are seeking a strong thought partner for the CMO who brings critical thinking and who will independently build trust across the organization. 

The Director, Marketing Communications will execute strategy with a focus on the following key bodies of work:

• Sharpening Seattle Foundation’s overall storytelling and narrative work.
• Bolstering our marketing acumen to drive revenue goals.
• Inspiring current and future donors, community organizations, employees, and board members to rally around our cause through effective brand, marketing, and communications practices.

As a leader on the MarComm team, the Director will support and drive marketing and communications goals in partnership with teams across the Foundation.

Above all the Director must be an excellent and strategic marketing operations leader who excels at high-level project management. They will build and maintain strong internal relationships across the organization, providing thought partnership to the Foundation’s executive team. The ideal candidate has demonstrated leadership experience across marketing strategies, with emphasis on digital platform and event strategies to support audience engagement and revenue goals. They have exceptional experience in creative content development (including narrative campaigns and storytelling) and a track record of successfully designing and implementing external and internal communication strategies. This candidate is ambitious and will lead with knowledge and expertise, warmth and joy, and a belief that they are a partner in creating the change that will strengthen our community.   

Primary responsibilities:

Leadership

• Act as a thought partner to the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) on strategic decisions (e.g. decisions regarding budget allocation and marketing and brand strategies), and own the execution of Seattle Foundation's marketing and communications strategy, translating high-level vision into actional plans, timelines, and measurable results.
• Establish and manage measurable quarterly and annual goals with clear KPIs and success metrics to support alignment with organizational priorities while maintaining regular alignment with the CMO.
• Lead, develop, and mentor the [Senior] Brand Manager and Digital Marketing Manager to develop individual capabilities and support a high-performing team that consistently delivers results. 
• Contribute to the creation and development of an inclusive, joyful, results-oriented culture to retain and attract talent (lead on vendor procurement and hiring process).
• In partnership with the CMO, manage the MarComm team’s budget, ensuring optimal resource distribution across priorities and goals while maintaining rigorous tracking systems to measure and drive positive return on investment. Develop quarterly board reports.
• Develop and implement evaluation and reporting strategies for the MarComm team in collaboration with leaders across the organization. 
• Source and manage marketing and communications consultants and vendors to drive high-quality content development and storytelling.
• Resource and manage the appropriate tools to support MarComms operational excellence, including platform subscriptions, project and business intelligence supports.

Communications & Marketing Operations 

• Oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the MarComm team.
• Design and implement internal communications plans, processes, and procedures, leveraging cross-team learning and collaboration to drive organizational priorities.  
• Strategically manage and prioritize marketing and communications requests to optimize resources and deliver impactful results. 
• Develop and oversee rapid response and crisis communication strategies to ensure the organization is prepared to address urgent situations effectively.
• Partner with the CMO and PR agency partners on public and media relations. Track earned media opportunities and placements – locally, regionally, and nationally – to increase brand awareness and engage with diverse audiences. 
• Ensure consistency in brand and messaging across all platforms (e.g. social media, website, e-newsletter, blogs, paid and earned media, etc.) both internal and external.

Digital Marketing Strategies and Engagement

• Guide the development of the digital marketing strategy, with an emphasis on content development across all platforms (social media, website, e-newsletter, e-campaigns, paid ads, and performance marketing tracking, etc.).
• Oversee the development of comprehensive digital marketing strategies to enhance audience engagement and drive revenue growth; supervise the Digital Marketing Manager in implementing marketing strategies.
• Guide the marketing integration across digital strategy and events/brand activations, ensuring that events are integrated into the overall marketing strategy to strengthen connections with stakeholders and support fundraising objectives; partner with the Digital Marketing Manager to leverage data insights to refine digital campaigns and improve audience targeting for maximum impact.
• Collaborate across teams to align digital and event initiatives with broader organizational goals.

Brand Management and Strategic Growth

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for the Foundation's brand identity, ensuring consistency and alignment with organizational mission across all platforms and communications channels. 
• Lead the development of integrated content strategies that amplify the Foundation's narrative, value proposition, and community impact, leveraging business intelligence to shape marketing and communications strategies.
• Supervise the Brand Manager in the planning and execution of the events strategy, including brand activation opportunities involving sponsorships, strategic integration involving go-to-market and field marketing, and signature events.
• Set the vision for narrative campaigns that advance organizational goals, guiding the Brand Manager in execution while maintaining accountability for message alignment and brand integrity. 
• Partner with the CEO on executive communications strategy, including positioning, thought leadership, and high-visibility opportunities that elevate the Foundation's profile. 
• In partnership with the CEO, Brand Manager, and PR agency partners, support strategic media planning to maximize visibility and engagement, leveraging both paid and earned channels to expand reach and deepen stakeholder connections.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of professional experience.
• 7+ years of experience working in marketing and communications. 
• 5+ years of direct people management experience, leading and developing a high-performing team, or previous experience leading, or capability to lead, a small team as well as external consultants. 
• Creative thinker with a proven track record of driving successful end-to-end marketing and communications strategies with the use of analytics and KPIs to demonstrate impact and effectiveness. 
• Exceptional writer, copy editor, and creative content creator across multimedia modalities (e.g. the Foundation’s blog, social media, newsletters, donor- and community-facing collateral, video, etc.). 
• Proven experience driving projects and deliverables across teams with an ability to connect with and influence stakeholders through effective project and change management strategies. Chief of staff experience for a CMO is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience translating complex ideas into clear and compelling narratives for diverse audiences from philanthropists to community grantee partners, civic leaders, policymakers, corporate leaders, and more.  
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills with an ability to keep multiple projects on track, anticipate obstacles, adapt to change, and communicate expectations along the way.
• An orientation toward organizing and smart political judgement, including an ability to consider a variety of diverse stakeholder interests and perspectives. 
• Experience leveraging marketing and communications technologies to improve processes, outcomes, and relationships. 
• Proven track record in clearly driving strategy from design to execution. 
• Multimedia experience, including a track record of managing different forms of media and communications platforms to drive greater impact. 
• Successful track record of securing positive, substantive media stories and working with journalists. Established relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets are a plus. 
• Demonstrated commitment to DEI principles and approaches, especially racial and economic justice. 
• Passion for philanthropy and a commitment to the Foundation's mission.
• Ability to thrive in a complex, fast-paced, culturally diverse environment as well as under pressure and during periods of change. 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: 

Seattle Foundation envisions a thriving region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice, where all individuals and communities have equitable access and outcomes, regardless of race, place, or identity. We are committed to advancing racial equity using an intersectional lens, and integrate our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts into all that we do. We hold ourselves accountable to uphold our organizational values and strive to do better every day. 

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: 

The work is performed in an office setting, or hybrid (remote and in-person). This position will require a monthly in-office presence. All positions require the capability of working at a PC for extended periods. Team efforts with event support may require periods of physical activity involving standing, walking, and moderate lifting. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary functions of the role. 

We seek individuals to join our 50+ team who are committed to our vision of a stronger, more vibrant community for all; collaboratively finding solutions; continually improving; and going above and beyond in service of our philanthropic partners and the broader community. 

We’re in the midst of an exciting evolution in our work. While the Seattle region is undergoing major economic growth, systemic failures across sectors continue to leave Black, Indigenous, and communities of color behind, placing our whole community at risk. Seattle Foundation is creating a dynamic path for philanthropy through the Blueprint for Impact. The Blueprint details a regional vision to engage a wide range of partners to address racial and economic inequities. The Blueprint takes shape in three core areas: a just democracy, an equitable economy, and a resilient environment (further description included here).  

As an equal opportunity employer, Seattle Foundation does not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, creed, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. We welcome all candidates from a wide range of backgrounds who have the skills and are passionate about our work, and we strongly encourage applicants of color to apply. 

More information about the Foundation can be found at www.seattlefoundation.org.

Interested candidates should apply by using the application form. Chaloner will review all applicants and, upon qualification, contact you to determine next steps.