Senior Manager, Strategic Communications

Job Title: Senior Manager, Strategic Communications 

Internal Job Level: Senior Manager

Supervisory Responsibilities: None 

Reporting to Title: Director, Communications 

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Bainum Family Foundation is working to create a society where all children thrive. Centuries of racist policies and practices continue to disrupt every aspect of development and well-being for Black and brown children throughout the United States. At the Bainum Family Foundation, we aim to change these unjust conditions. That’s why our work revolves around supporting key partners. There is tremendous power, expertise and lived experience within every community. We seek to build on these strengths by working alongside communities experiencing racial and economic disparities to create lasting systems change for the well-being of children and families.

The work of both the Foundation and our 501(c)4 sister organization, the Children’s Equity Fund (CEF), is structured through a portfolio of interconnected initiatives, this person may be assigned to any of the Foundation or CEF’s initiatives based on initiative cycles and evolving organizational needs. All staff play a role in learning and purposefully managing knowledge to further both organizations’ Missions and Visions. Therefore, we expect all staff to gather, care for, use and openly share knowledge in ways that advance equity, support shared learning, and amplify community expertise. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Manager, Strategic Communications works under the guidance and direction of the Director of Communications to help define, enhance and execute consistent communications strategies and related deliverables for both the Bainum Family Foundation and the Children’s Equity Fund (CEF) ─ its sister 501(c)(4) organization ─ across internal and external audiences. This includes but is not limited to developing content, writing talking points, assisting with media outreach, developing visuals, overseeing internal communications, and contributing to digital and print strategies with other members of the team. Additionally, the ability to develop content across programmatic areas through close collaboration with staff is required and includes editing, proofreading, and the production of a variety of communications materials. The Senior Communications Manager works to ensure that all communication products developed by the team are accurate, clear, and complete; correct in terms of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and editorial style; and that they maintain a tone and voice that is consistent with the overall brand of the organizations. The Senior Communications Manager will serve as the backup lead for the communications team during the absence of the Director of Communications. This person will play a key role in co-developing strategy and will help to navigate the complexities, and many moving parts involved in executing cohesive strategies. 

The work of both the foundation and CEF is structured through a portfolio of interconnected initiatives. This role will help connect and synthesize knowledge across teams to further both organizations’ Missions and Visions. Therefore, this person may be assigned to any of the foundation or CEF’s initiatives based on initiative cycles and evolving organizational needs. 

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is who we are and what we do. It is not separate but at the heart of our work. We are committed to driving change that centers communities and results in equitable societies, starting with a commitment to equity and inclusion for our staff. Specifically, we have committed to center racial equity and become an antiracist organization. Our team is expected to demonstrate and uphold our core values, our organizational culture expectations, and our commitment to DEI in every facet of their work. The organizations strongly encourage and seek applications from all qualified individuals whose racial, socioeconomic, ability status, and other individual dimensions allow them to bring unique and diverse perspectives. As part of this commitment, we expect all staff to gather, care for, use and openly share knowledge in ways that advance equity, support shared learning, and amplify community expertise. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Strategy 

• Works under the direction of the Director of Communications to implement and execute communications strategies and plans to promote the organizations’ goals and mission. 
• Serves as the backup lead for the communications team during the absence of the Director of Communications. 
• Collaborates with the Director of Communications to oversee a team of consultants, guiding their efforts and ensuring the effective and responsible allocation of resources. 

Media Relations and Public Affairs 

• Works with the Director of Communications to manage media requests and outreach to journalists. 
• Develops, edits, and proofreads articles, press releases, thought pieces, blogs, etc. for external publication.

Programmatic and Strategic Business Partner Support 

• Develops a contextual understanding of the organizations’ core programmatic areas and applies this knowledge to recommend strategies and tactics that advance programmatic efforts. 
• Provides communications support (i.e. deck development/editing, messaging development, etc.) to programmatic and functional partners, as guided by the Director of Communications. 

Content Creation and Management 

• Contributes to the production of the annual report, including collaborating with key stakeholders to determine theme, content, and format.  
• Drives the research, writing, design, editing, and production of a variety of communications materials. Includes newsletters and employee communications; speeches and executive communications, etc. (where relevant). 
• Develops, designs, and produces print and electronic collateral including brochures, conference materials, newsletters, internal messaging, and the like. 
• Ensures that all communications align with consistent themes and messages in all organizational collateral. 
• Edits and proofreads various communications for the organization, ensuring that communications are accurate, clear, and complete; correct in terms of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and editorial style; and that they maintain a consistent tone and voice. 

Internal Strategy and Communications 

• Collaborates with the team to develop communications objectives and key results (OKRs). 
• Participates in annual budget planning and ensures responsible stewardship of foundation resources. 
• Leads internal communications efforts, providing input into the optimization of our information flow that achieves greater organizational connection and cohesion. 

Brand Management 

• Takes a leading role in maintaining and refining the foundation and fund’s brands and sub-brands. This includes managing templates and style guides that reinforce the brand, and training staff on appropriate use of materials. 

FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, and/or skill required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Equivalent combinations of work experience and training that provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities will also be considered. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Marketing or a related field preferred. 
• Experience in media relations and editorial content is strongly preferred. 
• 6-10 years of external communications/media relations experience. 
• Ability to implement a communications strategy using research, analysis, segmentation, trends, and past results. 
• Strong eye for design and visual aesthetics, with the ability to create and curate visually compelling content that aligns with the organizations’ brand identity. Proficiency in design tools (such as Adobe Creative Suite or Canva) is a plus. 
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills; the ability to produce compelling copy for print and online media. Experience with AP style preferred. 
• Highly collaborative with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Excellent problem-solving, negotiation, and time-management skills. 
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion. 
• Experience drafting and posting social media on various platforms (e.g. X, LinkedIn, Facebook).  
• Ability to complete projects accurately and within deadlines. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described below are representative of the requirements for an employee’s successful performance of the essential functions of this job. Accommodation is made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform this role. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may regularly be required to talk and listen. The employee is frequently required to sit and use their hands. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee may be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: This position is designated as “Local ” and the employee will be expected to regularly commute to the Washington, D.C. Central Workplace location – or alternative meeting locations in the DMV – to attend in-person Bainum Family Foundation and Children’s Equity Fund monthly staff meetings and quarterly learning sessions, as well as other scheduled ad-hoc in-person meetings. The Foundation reserves the right to adopt different hybrid operating practices in the future that make sense for the evolution of our work and could require more in-person work. Telework requires logging onto your computer at home during work hours, responding to emails, and participating in video calls and meetings throughout the day; therefore, access to high-speed, reliable internet is crucial. The Foundation provides all required equipment and supplies to undertake the tasks of the job at home, including laptop, monitors, and other accessories, which are shipped to the employee’s home.