Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing

Job Details

Level
Management

Job Location
Main Office - Brooklyn, NY

Position Type
Full Time

Education Level
Bachelor's + combination of work exp.

Salary Range
$70,000.00 - $80,000.00 Salary/year

Travel Percentage
Less than 10%

Job Shift
Day (8-4pm or 9-5pm)

Job Category
Nonprofit - Social Services

Description

With community residents leading the way, the mission of Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) is to build a strong, sustainable Cypress Hills/East New York, where youth and adults achieve educational and economic success, secure healthy and affordable housing, and develop leadership skills to transform their lives and community. We actively promote policies that advance racial equity.

Organization:
Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC), a nonprofit community development organization and settlement house based in East New York, Brooklyn, is seeking a full-time Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing. With an annual budget exceeding $23 million, CHLDC serves 20,000 residents through programs delivered at 21 public schools in Community School District 19, three urban farms, two storefronts, and two community centers.

The Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing will oversee CHLDC's internal and external communications to elevate the organization's public profile, amplify its impact, influence policy positions and engage diverse audiences-including funders, policymakers, community partners, residents, and small businesses.

This role will work closely with the Director of Fund Development & Strategic Initiatives, the Executive Director, Senior Leadership, and Program Directors to create and execute comprehensive communication strategies that advance CHLDC's mission, showcase its programs and events, and attract resources and support for its initiatives.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Communications Strategy & Management:

• Develop and implement a cohesive communications strategy that amplifies the organization's mission, key initiatives, values, policy positions and achievements across all platforms (website, social media, email, newsletter, print, etc.).
• Oversee the production and distribution of CHLDC's marketing collateral, including brochures, newsletters, press releases, and annual reports.
• Leverage communications and marketing strategies to enhance the agency's public profile and increase awareness of its mission and impact.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for media relations, including drafting media releases, preparing leadership for media interviews, and cultivating relationships with media outlets.
• Identify and highlight agency initiatives and successes that merit media attention, ensuring positive representation of the organization.
• Manage and update the organization's website to ensure timely, accurate, and relevant content.
• Lead digital communication efforts, including maintaining and growing CHLDC's social media presence, creating engaging content, and overseeing analytics to measure impact.
• Develop and manage a communications calendar to streamline content production and publication.
• Collaborate with the Fund Development team on donor communication strategies, including donor appeals, stewardship materials, and crowdfunding campaigns.
• Strategize and tailor targeted communications for funders, individual donors, and key stakeholders to enhance engagement and drive donations.
• Develop personalized messaging and materials for different donor segments, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and donor interests.
• Create compelling impact reports, case studies, and success stories that demonstrate the organization's effectiveness and appeal to funder priorities.
• Collaborate with program directors and senior staff to craft tailored proposals and communication materials that resonate with potential funders.
• Develop and implement internal communications strategies to ensure consistent messaging across departments and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Support agency's External Relations Committee of staff who coordinate efforts to build strong relationships with houses of worship, public schools, community based organizations and other neighborhood stakeholders.
• Facilitate cross-departmental communications to streamline updates, increase transparency, and improve team collaboration.
• Coordinate internal newsletters, memos, and updates to keep staff informed of organizational developments, fundraising progress, and upcoming initiatives.
• Support leadership in crafting internal messages for staff to reinforce the organization's mission, vision, and key priorities.

Fundraising & Events Support:

• Partner with the Director of Fund Development & Strategic Initiatives to create compelling marketing material and messaging for fundraising initiatives (e.g. capital campaigns) and priorities.
• Support fundraising events by developing event promotion materials, managing event communication strategies, and providing on-site media support.

Content Development:

• Create and curate multimedia content (written, graphic, and video) to engage the community and key stakeholders.
• Train and mentor program staff in basic communication skills, including video production and storytelling.
• Maintain and enhance CHLDC's visual and brand identity across all communication materials.
• Lead efforts to integrate data, stories, infographics and testimonials to demonstrate program impact and effectiveness.

Advocacy and Community Building:

• Identify and respond to opportunities to advance CHLDC's mission and amplify its voice on local, State and national issues.
• Support community organizing and advocacy work of CHLDC.
• Represent CHLDC at public events, community meetings, and with external partners to communicate organizational priorities and advocate for policy changes and budget justice issues.
• Demonstrate commitment to leadership development, community organizing, and advocacy as strategies for social justice and change.

Position Requirements:
Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience in communications, public relations, or marketing, preferably in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic communications plans that advance organizational goals.
• Exceptional writing and public speaking skills, with experience producing high quality content across multiple platforms (social media, newsletters, website, and reports).
• Strong understanding of social media trends and digital marketing strategies.
• Experience with media relations, public speaking, and crisis communication.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, work independently, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Flexibility in schedule for evening/weekend events.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) is strongly preferred.

Preferred:

• Experience in donor communications, crowdfunding, or managing fundraising campaigns.
• Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and content management systems (WordPress preferred).
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud, including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premier Pro.
• Experience with Constant Contact or similar email marketing platforms.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing racial equity, community building, and social justice.

The ideal candidate is a proactive and innovative thinker who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about storytelling, equity, and amplifying the voice of underserved communities.

Supervision:

• Reports directly to the Director of Fund Development & Strategic Initiatives.

Compensation:

• $70,000-$80,000 annually, based on experience, plus a competitive benefits package.

To Apply:

• Send your resume, cover letter, and two (2) writing samples (1-3 pages total) to Tania Rivera, Director of Fund Development & Strategic Initiatives, at taniar@cypresshills.org.
• Writing samples should reflect versatility in style and format (e.g., a blog post, social media content, or a proposal).

CYPRESS HILLS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND IS COMMITTED TO WORKPLACE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We promote recognition and respect for individual and cultural differences, and we work to make our employees feel valued and appreciated, whatever their race, gender, background, or sexual orientation.

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a pleasant working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience.

EOE Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans