Director of Marketing, Development & Communications

The Director of Marketing Development & Communications is a key leadership role responsible for executing WRTP BIG STEPs strategic communication priorities and fund development efforts in support of the organizations mission and vision. This position provides strategic oversight of fund development grants marketing and communications public relations and public policy engagement by ensuring advocacy messaging aligns with the organizations brand and tone public statements do not conflict with policy strategy and fundraising appeals support. As a member of the leadership team the Director ensures the organization is positioned to respond to funding workforce and policy trends while strengthening brand credibility stakeholder relationships and long-term financial health.

Scope and Impact

Advises on public and private fundraising strategy.

• Executes public and private fundraising strategy in alignment with CEO COO and Board of Directors vision.
• Oversees organizational marketing communications and brand management including direct management of the marketing department team.
• Drives policy and partnership strategies that expand funding access and program opportunities.
• Informs organizational strategy through funding intelligence research and performance data.
• Serves as a primary external liaison with funders policymakers media and partners.

Key Responsibilities

Fund Development and Financial Sustainability

• Assist executive management in developing implementing and continuously refining a diversified fund development strategy aligned with organizational priorities and growth objectives.
• Consult with executive management and proper team members on grant strategy proposal development submission contract negotiation compliance and reporting across public and private funding streams.
• Identify emerging funding opportunities and present to CEO and COO to assess strategic fit risk and return on investment.
• Lead and as needed directly write or cowrite grant proposals narratives and supporting materials across public and private funding sources.
• Cultivate steward and retain relationships with foundations corporate partners government agencies and individual donors.
• Ensure clear and effective communication with finance program and data teams to promote accurate budgeting performance monitoring and outcome reporting tied to funding.
• Collaborate with executive management to establish fundraising benchmarks monitor performance and implement corrective strategies as needed.
• Support the CEO and COO in major gift cultivation strategic partnerships and highvalue funding opportunities.

Marketing Communications and Brand Leadership

• Set and oversee the organizations marketing communications and public relations strategy to support fundraising partnerships and public engagement.
• Lead supervise and develop the marketing department team establishing clear goals priorities and performance expectations.
• Provide executive oversight and direction for marketing deliverables; the marketing team or external partners primarily perform tactical execution.
• Oversee content strategy messaging and storytelling across print digital media and stakeholder communications.
• Ensure consistent professional brand identity and voice across all platforms and audiences.
• Guide media relations thought leadership and external communications during both planned initiatives and emerging issues.
• Align marketing and communications strategies with program outcomes research findings and organizational priorities.

Leadership Collaboration

• Advise executive leadership on funding trends external risks reputational considerations and strategic positioning.
• Collaborate across departments to align development marketing policy and program strategies.
• Support organizational planning efforts by providing external intelligence stakeholder feedback and performance insights.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of systems processes and tools related to development communications and external affairs.
• Ensure ethical standards transparency and accountability in all externalfacing activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelors degree or a combination of related education certifications and experience in marketing communications or development.
• Must have a valid drivers license and reliable transportation with proof of insurance.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of standard computer programs including Microsoft Office and ability to learn new systems.
• Project management experience is favorable utilizing planning and organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize tasks to ensure projects get to completion.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• The ability to work comfortably with a wide range of participants partners stakeholders or community members in both group and individual settings in a calm respectful and professional manner always.
• The ability to establish rapport and relate sensitively to a multiracial and multicultural group of participants partners stakeholders or community members.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience collaborating in a multi-disciplinary diverse and dynamic team is necessary.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities proposing new ways of creating efficiencies.
• Self-starter: able to multi-task while also being highly detail oriented.
• Some knowledge of implementing urban programs and training.
• Knowledge of construction industry and State of Wisconsin Apprenticeship system helpful but not required.
• This position requires the ability to regularly sit and write at a computer stand and lift less than 20 pounds to stock office supplies frequently move from room to room to accommodate guests use a telephone and use a computer equipment to generate input and output and transmit data.

Personal Attributes

• Follow the WRTPBIG STEP Code of Conduct.
• Resourcefulness in setting priorities proposing new ways of creating efficiencies.
• Adhere to established policies and procedures of the program agency and of all funding sources.
• Conduct self in an ethical manner.
• Ability to work effectively with youth while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Role model a positive attitude and provide affirming feedback and positive reinforcement to participants.
• Must be grounded and organized and yet flexible and open to the changing demands of a small organization.
• Willing to step into tasks as needed and requested by WRTPBIG STEP leadership.
• Maintain professional respectful inclusive and equitable treatment and relationships with staff participants and all external persons and agencies involved with WRTPBIG STEP and its partnering agencies.
• Demonstrates commitment to the WRTPBIG STEP mission vision and values.

Work Relationship

• Reports to Chief Operating Officer.
• Has contact with a wide variety of individuals including but not limited to staff partnering agencies federal and state-based contractors/vendors unions employers and members of the community and must have the ability to develop and support collaborative partnerships engaging others to leverage resources to achieve goals and an entrepreneurial approach.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a direct service environment on and off site.
• A valid drivers license and reliable transportation are required for travel related to meetings events or offsite responsibilities.
• Fulltime position (approximately 40 hours per week). Schedule may vary based on organizational needs and may include evenings Saturdays and additional hours as required.
• This position involves regular use of a computer and phone and occasional movement within office and offsite environments to attend meetings and events. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as required.

WRTP/BIG STEP is an equal opportunity/ADA employer. All federal state and local and other fair employment standards including EEO and ADA requirements in race gender gender identification religion national origin disability political affiliation veteran status veterans or disabled veterans status as found in 41CFR 60-1.4 60-250.4 and 60-741.4 are herein incorporated by reference. Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. WRTP/BIG STEP encourages applications from all the above referenced protected and unprotected status groups.

• Health Insurance - Employer pays 85% health premium
• Dental and Vision Insurance (single or family) 100% Employer paid
• Life Insurance Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance 100% Employer paid
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance 100% Employer paid
• 10 vacation days after 90 days of employment and up to 9 personal days annually
• 14 Paid Holidays annually
• 10% of monthly salary contributed to retirement accounts
• Position Description: Non-Represented Exempt
• Hours: Full time 40 hours/week
• $80000 - $83000 annually based on experience

Required Experience:

Director