Job details
Salary $118,000 - $148,000 a year job type full-time
Full job description
Communications director
Reports to (title): president
Department: communications
Full-time and remote
Salary: $118,000-$148,000
About borealis philanthropy
As a philanthropic intermediary, borealis philanthropy builds bridges between funders and organizers by creating opportunities for impact-driven investment in movements building a future that serves all of usWe connect grantmakers to organizations that share their missionWe team with philanthropy to conceive, develop, and implement grantmaking initiatives that resource the many innovative organizations within each of our respective grantmaking fundsThrough our collaborative funds, we create opportunities for donors to learn from the organizers on the ground and provide resources to leaders, organizations, and movements pursuing transformational changeIn partnering with philanthropy, we remove barriers to funding for grassroots organizations and invest in intersectional movement work across communities so that they have the resources they need to thrive.
Our values
Responsiveness, racial equity, trust, people-centered, curiosity boldness
Job overview
Borealis philanthropy seeks a visionary, experienced, and values-based director of communications (director) with a commitment to racial and social justiceThe director will develop and lead borealis’ strategic communications work, amplifying our donor collaborative funds and telling the story of our unique approach to people-powered philanthropyThe ideal candidate has experience across disciplines, including some combination of strategic communications, media, journalism, data, and visual design, as well as experience in social movements and philanthropyThey are a natural connector - of people, issues, stories, and learnings, and will use this super power to elevate the voices and visions of borealis’ grantee partnersWe are looking for a strong team player who is excited to dream, build, and sustain with us, and who brings a low-ego, high-impact approach to the work.
The director will have the opportunity to build and manage a small communications department, as well as external vendors, to support borealis’ strategic communications goalsThe ideal candidate has 10+ years of communications and high-level strategy experience and will be a senior member of the borealis team.
Essential job functions / key job outcomes
Hold the vision, strategy, and leadership for communications across the organization
Strengthen borealis’ brand and messaging in service of deepening and expanding donor partnerships, amplifying grantees’ work and stories, and influencing the philanthropic field to center the experiences of those most impacted by injustices
Oversee press strategy and expand borealis’ national presence to reflect our growth and the outsized impact our grantees have had across movements
Serve as a strategic thinker, content creator, and thought partner to borealis’ program staff and leadership
Be a partner to organizational leadership in managing internal communications across departments
Lead communications work across borealis’ collaborative funds, including messaging, collateral, video, etc(note: the director will build a team, including a new role who will eventually take over as the lead to supporting fund-specific communications)
Hire and manage a stellar, values- and impact-driven communications team, as well as a team of communications consultants
Develop a dynamic mission-focused communications strategy and identify opportunities to expand and communicate borealis’ grantmaking initiatives
Support the president in representing the organization as needed to existing and potential funders, foundations, government officials, media relations, etc.
Consult with program staff to identify goals and monitoring plans to strengthen impact of communications
Manage resources, remove barriers, provide creative solutions to staff to achieve goals and objectives for effective communication
Coach, manage performance, influence, and leverage staff to execute programs/projects within parameters including quality, timelines, and cost
Support borealis’ culture and values; align outcomes, practices, and communications within organizational culture
Other duties as assigned
Education & experience
Bachelor’s degree in related field such as communications marketing journalism, english, business, or public relations
Five (5) years of previous supervisory experience
Ten (10) years of experience in content development, managing multiple media platforms including social media, website, blogs, etc.
Competencies (knowledge, skills & personal/behavioral attributes)
Exceptional written and verbal skills, writing and editing skills and the ability to translate messaging from multidisciplinary teams into compelling stories and targeting diverse audiences
Ability to manage change, work under pressure, manage multiple projects simultaneously both strategic and tactical
Ability to work collaboratively and execute strategies
Ability to conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis using software tools
Strong interpersonal skills and experience training and mentoring diverse participants
Experience with and a deep commitment to racial and social justice
Management experience, including creating a professional environment with team members that is collaborative, values-driven, and results-oriented
Excellent project management skills - from the visioning phase, to clarifying roles and timelines, to execution
Creative thinker who is, at the core, a communicator, but who is influenced and knowledgeable of a variety of disciplines including graphic design, learning and evaluation, and digital media
Working environment/conditions & physical demands
This job operates in a virtual office environment with frequent national travelThis role routinely uses standard office equipment, and the employee is generally subjected to long periods of sitting, typing, and working at a computerMay require the ability to occasionally lift and transport items.
Commitment to disability, diversity, equity, & inclusion: borealis is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individualsAs part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodationsIf reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [hr@borealisphilanthropy.org]Borealis is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other category protected by local, state, or federal lawsWe are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive staff teamWe strongly encourage applicants who are people of color, lgbtq, women, trans and gender non-conforming people, people with disabilities; and/or formerly incarcerated people.
