Vice President of Marketing and Communication

Responsibilities

• Assess and build upon Founding Forward’s existing brand work, clarifying institutional positioning, differentiators, priority audiences, and messaging to support its mission and growth.
• Lead a comprehensive brand positioning exercise that clarifies Founding Forward’s identity, differentiators, audiences, and institutional voice in service of its mission, vision, and values.
• Translate the outcomes of that work into an integrated marketing strategy that supports organizational growth, strengthens reputation, and expands regional and national reach.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership on communications, messaging, institutional positioning, and brand risk.
• Develop and manage an annual marketing and communications plan, including campaign priorities, resource allocation, budget, and measurable objectives; report progress to executive leadership and adjust strategies based on results.
• Steward the Founding Forward brand to ensure consistency in messaging, voice, and visual identity across the organization and all channels.
• Guide institutional messaging and storytelling so the organization’s mission, values, work, and impact are communicated clearly to donors, educators, program participants, Union League members, volunteers, community partners, media, and the public.
• Lead public relations and media strategy, identifying opportunities to strengthen Founding Forward’s visibility and reputation as a leader in immersive, non-partisan civic education.
• Lead executive and institutional communications, including announcements, leadership remarks, and organizational messages; advise the CEO on crisis communications and emerging issues.
• Partner with Education staff and executive leadership to develop thought leadership opportunities, including expert commentary, articles, interviews, and speaking engagements that strengthen Founding Forward’s standing in civic education.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in marketing and communications, including leadership of brand, strategy, and staff.
• Demonstrated experience leading a brand positioning or brand strategy process and converting it into an executable marketing plan.
• Proven ability to develop and execute integrated communications and marketing strategies across digital, print, media, social, and other channels.
• Exceptional writing, editing, messaging, and storytelling skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with varied audiences.
• Strong understanding of brand management, audience development, digital marketing, public relations, content strategy, and social media.
• Experience designing or leading marketing support for multiple internal clients or divisions, ideally within a shared services, matrix, or enterprise model.
• Demonstrated results translating organizational priorities into marketing and communications strategies that increase awareness, attract and engage priority audiences, and support participation or revenue growth.
• Strong leadership and project management skills, with the ability to establish priorities, manage multiple initiatives, and empower a team to execute effectively.
• Collaborative approach and demonstrated ability to work effectively with a CEO, executive leadership, and colleagues across departments.

Preferred

• Experience in a nonprofit, educational, cultural, membership, hospitality, agency, or mission-driven organization.
• Familiarity with CRM, email marketing, analytics, content management, and digital marketing platforms.
• Experience supporting fundraising, program enrollment, or audience growth through integrated marketing.

Benefits

• Founding Forward offers a competitive salary and a benefits package commensurate with a full-time salaried role.
• Compensated time off is provided when evening or weekend work is required to support programs.
• Competitive salary with discretionary bonus potential
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Opportunity to play a pivotal coordination role in a growing 501(c)(3)
• Collaborative work environment with direct access to executive leadership