Cuyahoga Land Bank

Associate Director – Communications and Advancement

The Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity for a talented communications professional to help shape the narrative of one of the nation's most innovative and respected land banks. Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Engagement, the Associate Director of Communications and Advancement will serve as the primary strategist and developer of high-profile communications that support philanthropic, civic, governmental, and community audiences. Working closely with senior leadership, this individual will help translate complex initiatives and measurable community impact into compelling stories that advance the organization's mission and strengthen key stakeholder relationships.

The Organization

The real estate crisis of 2008 brought widespread abandonment and neighborhood blight and plummeted home values. A collaborative group of city and county leaders set out to overcome these enormous obstacles. Their efforts resulted in innovative approaches and policies and the formation of Cuyahoga Land Bank, a nonprofit corporation, following the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 353, which granted county land banks the special community development powers needed to improve communities.

The Cuyahoga Land Bank’s mission is to strategically acquire properties, return them to productive use, reduce blight, increase property values, support community goals, and improve the quality of life for County residents.

The Position - Essential Functions/Duties and Responsibilities

The Associate Director of Communications and Advancement reports to the Senior Director of Engagement of the Cuyahoga Land Bank and will be the primary strategist and developer of the high-stakes communications work of the organization. This position will also support the organization more broadly with functional responsibilities in advancement and grants management.

This is a highly cross-functional role that requires strong writing and communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously.

Strategic Communications (50%)

• Develop high-stakes, audience-specific communications materials for influential stakeholders across the organization, including presentations, legislative one-pagers, and complex marketing collateral.
• Translate complex organizational priorities and program outcomes into clear, compelling narratives tailored to specific audiences.
• Support senior leadership in preparing for high-profile meetings, events, and public-facing engagements.
• Collaborate across departments to understand organizational needs and ensure communications materials are accurate, timely, and aligned with the Land Bank's mission and brand.
• Manage multiple communications projects simultaneously, balancing competing deadlines and stakeholder expectations.

Stewardship (25%)

• Drive donor stewardship activities, including developing donor communications, acknowledgment letters, and impact updates that reflect the Land Bank's mission and outcomes.
• Maintain accurate and current records in the donor database, ensuring data integrity and timely entry.
• Coordinate fundraising events and cultivation activities, managing logistics and partner relationships.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Engagement on major funding conversations, including preparing materials and background research for high-stakes donor meetings.

Grant Making (25%)

• Manage the full cycle of a limited portfolio of community grants distributed through the Community Impact Foundation, the Land Bank's 501(c)(3) arm, including application processes, grant agreements, reporting, compliance, and tracking of timelines and deliverables. The Land Bank anticipates awarding approximately 5 grants per year, with a total annual grantmaking budget of $50,000-$75,000.
• Collaborate with the Engagement Manager, who will identify and bring prospective grantees into the pipeline.
• Support the development and refinement of grantmaking processes, policies, and materials as needed.

Quality and Quantity Expectations

• Produce polished, high-stakes communications materials that reflect the sophistication of the audiences they are intended for, with minimal need for revision.
• Exercise independent judgment in prioritizing and managing a complex, multi-faceted workload across communications, fundraising, and grantmaking.
• Proactively identify and address gaps in donor pipelines, grant timelines, and communications projects without waiting for direction.
• Hold themselves and others accountable to deadlines, compliance requirements, and documentation standards across all workstreams.
• Represent the Land Bank with a high degree of professionalism and credibility in all external-facing interactions, including donors, legislators, and grant recipients.
• Maintain rigorous accuracy in donor records, grant agreements, and reporting, recognizing that errors in these areas carry real organizational and reputational risk.

Qualifications:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of communications best practices for high-stakes, audience-specific materials, including legislative and executive audiences.
• Knowledge of fundraising and development principles, including donor cultivation, stewardship, and pipeline management.
• Knowledge of grantmaking practices, grant agreements, and compliance requirements in a nonprofit or public sector context.

Skills

• Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to produce polished, compelling materials for a wide range of audiences.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously.
• Proficiency with donor or grant management platforms and presentation tools.

Abilities

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and work with a high degree of autonomy.
• Ability to build credible, professional relationships with donors, legislators, grant recipients, and internal partners.
• Ability to handle sensitive donor and financial information with discretion and confidentiality.

Education and Experience

• We welcome candidates from a wide range of educational backgrounds. A bachelor's degree in any field is required; a master's degree is preferred.
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience, primarily in communications and external affairs, with additional experience in advancement operations, donor relations, and grants management.
• Demonstrated experience producing high-quality written materials for influential or executive audiences is required. Experience with donor databases and grants management platforms is a plus.
• Strong ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver high-quality work products across multiple workstreams simultaneously.

People Architects is conducting the search for this position on behalf of the Cuyahoga Land Bank and will review all applications and resumes submitted. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. People Architects and our clients are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.