Vice President of Communications
?The Vice President is an integral member of the Executive Leadership Team, Leadership Community and ABS Brand Council.?Reporting to the President & CEO,?with a dotted line reporting relationship to the SVP of Ministry Advancement, the Vice President is responsible for the strategic planning and daily implementation of brand management, external multiple channel audience engagement messaging, marketing-driven advocacy, internal ABS communications and public relations. This role regularly consults with and aligns all departments on communication strategies and organizational communication needs.?
The Vice President will conceive and collaboratively implement innovative communications and marketing strategies across all media platforms to continue elevating American Bible Society brand awareness nationally and globally through strategic collaboration with United Bible Society. The Vice President will articulate a clear vision for how to communicate the essence of ABS’s vision, mission, and brand by guiding the creation of compelling stories and compelling and aligned messaging about the work the organization performs. This vision will convey the passion and unique niche of the organization and deliver a cohesive sense of the organization’s identity to both external and internal constituents. The Vice President will serve as a strategic partner within ABS in helping ABS execute its community relations in a way that is so central to the organization’s mission work that it optimizes key audience engagement and advances advocacy and integrated fundraising efforts.
The Vice President will work closely with the Senior Executive and Executive Leadership Teams to create integrated, strategic plans and corresponding goals for Communications reflecting the larger strategic goals of the organization. The Vice President must be a solutions-based leader who champions strategic, data-informed decision making, industry best practices, and an ethos of continuous improvement and transparency. The Vice President will supervise a staff, as well as external, strategic consultants for public relations.?
The Vice President will be empowered to optimize the organizational design/functional alignment of the team in consultation with the Senior Executive Team.
STRATEGY, VISION AND LEADERSHIP:
- Develop and implement an integrated communications and marketing-driven advocacy plan to advance American Bible Society's brand identity, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities, develop innovative resources, and increase the visibility of its work across key stakeholder audiences leading to increasing levels of key audience engagement.
- Collaboratively create marketing, branding, and public relations strategy that will allow American Bible Society leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level partners.
- Develop and implement an internal communications plan that keeps staff and leadership well-informed and aligned in its communications.
- Serve as communications counselor to American Bible Society Executive and Board level leadership.
- Collaborate with all enterprises/departments to develop and manage brand standards across web, digital, print, and organizational culture.?
- Align and integrate all available channels of digital, web, print, video, content development, PR, and social media to extend the reach of American Bible Society in order to meet or exceed ministry and fundraising goals.?
- Manage innovation of and access to best-in-class ministry communication resources that incorporate latest technology, impact-focused content, viable media channels, and available life-change measurement tools.?
- Ensure strategic alignment and effective integration of organizational messaging, creative services, digital technology, public relations, content development and marketing/branding.?
- Build strategic relationships with ministry and financial partners in order to develop awareness of primary ABS audience.?
COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS:
- Ensure development of all American Bible Society print communications including the annual report, fundraising materials, and electronic communications such as American Bible Society’s website, social media, and digital media is aligned with organizational brand and messaging in partnership with Ministry Advancement and Ministry Impact leadership
- Develop organizational standards across various channels including brand, social media, and digital technology.
- Serve as media spokesperson for American Bible Society and equip staff and leadership as media spokespeople as needed.
- Exercise judgment to prioritize media opportunities and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting materials for ABS leadership as needed.
- Actively engage, cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding American Bible Society programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.
- Provide communications leadership for internal events such as staff meetings, staff conferences, board meetings, and general communications.?
- Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications function including budgeting, planning and staff development
TEAM DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT
- Recruit and manage a best-in-class communications team to support the development and execution of the communications strategy.
- Promote a collaborative, metrics-based culture of high performance, shared accountability, strategic creativity, continuous improvement, and deep passion for God’s Word.
QUALIFICATIONS SKILLS, & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:?
The ideal candidate will have the following personal and professional skills, qualities, and competencies:
- Fervent belief in the mission of American Bible Society
- Passion for the Bible cause and its ability to impact lives, and the mission and core values of ABS
- Ability to communicate and generate excitement about mission, history, vision, programs, and fundamental strengths. A commitment to and understanding of the mission and strategy(s) of ABS, UBS and the Bible cause.
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or a related field is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
- A minimum of 10 years of experience in progressively responsible leadership positions in communications and marketing, preferably within a faith-based, nonprofit organization(s) related to social outreach, organizational capacity building, or human services on a regional, national, or international scale. Other relevant backgrounds will be considered.
- Demonstrated ability to provide management oversight, leadership, and direction with at least five years of significant supervisory experience, including experience creating and managing a budget.?
- A strong record of recruiting and developing exceptional people and fostering a transparent work environment where collegiality is a key to success. Ability to effectively manage contractors and vendors.
- Must be steeped in modern communications and marketing best practices and able to effectively integrate related functions. Must have the breadth of skills required to devise communications and external relations strategies, inclusive of organizational branding, communications, campaign marketing, compelling story-based messaging, advocacy, and marketing, as well as knowledge and support of fundraising.
- An innovative thinker with a track record of translating strategic thinking into successfully executed, integrated action plans for strategic communications, media relations, and marketing in support of mission and programmatic, fundraising, event, and institution-
- wide goals. Experience identifying and coaching project spokespeople. A nuanced, sophisticated understanding of how to strategically leverage various communication mediums and distribution channels for optimal exposure and impact. Deep experience in leveraging emerging trends and technology, crafting effective digital strategies, and architecting an engaging user experience online and within social media platforms.
- Extensive, successful writing experience with a variety of externally focused print and online communications media.
- Demonstrated business acumen, including the ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about strategy and process.
- Experienced in organizational risk management and crisis communications.?
- Ability to work collaboratively with the president, management team, staff, and key members of the board?
- Open, supportive, and encouraging leadership style with the ability to create and maintain a collegial, positive, and productive work environment and to motivate and mentor staff
- ?Experience interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds
- Unquestionable integrity and commitment to professional ethics, and the ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
Headquarters based
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Background check required after a conditional job offer is made.?Type of background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
- Salary:?A competitive salary commensurate with the size of the organization, scope of the role, and experience of the candidate is offered. Specifics will be discussed in a personal interview.
- Benefits: An attractive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, FSA, AD&D, STD, LTD, life insurance and 403(b) contributions.
- Vacation: 30 days per year
- Relocation:?A relocation package will be provided in accordance with the ABS Executive Relocation Policy.