Director Of Development & Communications

UNITED WAY OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Job Opportunity: Director of Development & Communications

Who We Are

United Way of Snohomish County’s mission is to improve lives for families in Snohomish County by bringing people, resources, and strategy together. We envision a world where families in Snohomish County live to their fullest potential for generations to come regardless of race, place, and ability.

We have been a part of the Snohomish County community for almost 85 years and continue to be invested in the well-being of the people around us. The rapid changes in our region have required that we adapt our strategies to meet emerging needs, especially in the areas of Youth Opportunity, Financial Stability, Healthy Community and Community Resiliency. We are partnering in new ways and supporting innovative programs to address these disparities in our region. Join Us!

Candidate Description

We are searching for our next Director of Development and Communications to build on the legacy of strong corporate partnership while strengthening efforts to attract individual and foundational support. This position leads the organization’s fundraising, external communications, and marketing initiatives. The preferred candidate is a dynamic individual who will work collaboratively with staff and volunteers to diversifying our revenue portfolio. This position will serve as a presence in the community promoting our mission and bringing together corporations, individuals, foundations, and government partners to support long-term solutions so that families can live to their fullest potential regardless of race, place, and ability.

UWSC’s next Director of Development and Communications must be a proven and successful fundraiser with the presence and confidence to close five-figure gifts. We are looking for an individual whose passion and understanding of our mission will inspire, engage, and educate current and prospective donors to make significant and meaningful financial contributions. The ideal candidate will possess a strategic mindset and an entrepreneurial spirit. They will work with key staff, board, and volunteer partners to create and implement a dynamic resource development model to sustain and grow UWSC’s revenue.

The Director of Development and Communications will be willing to learn about, or will have experience in, equitable fundraising practices and will be able to create and implement strategies that are grounded in racial and social justice. The Director must be willing to communicate our values of equity and integrity while navigating complex relationships with donors, funders, and community leadership.

The Director will also develop communications and marketing strategies for the organization to help further our mission and vision, including developing strategies around social media, newsletters and community outreach. The success of the director will depend in large part on their ability to communicate and collaborate internally and externally.

We welcome candidates who:

Demonstrate the skills, abilities, and experience needed for this role regardless of education and compensation history.
Are inspired by our values of integrity, collaboration, innovation, equity, and outcome oriented.
Are willing to grow in personal and professional learnings of social and racial justice.
Demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for young children and their families with low-income.

Key Responsibilities

Resource Development (70%)

Oversee the design and implementation of resource development strategies, including donor outreach and events, corporate giving, grant opportunities and corporate/program sponsorship opportunities.
Manage and oversee annual campaign efforts including GiveBig, Year-End, and workplace giving campaigns, ensuring timely communication and meeting campaign needs of external partners.
Work with the Director of Finance to develop and monitor revenue streams to better understand and communicate cash flow. Additionally, work together to set financial milestones that establish achievements for celebration and opportunities for course correction.
Maintain a portfolio of top corporate, foundation, and major donors and prospects; develop and implement strategies for engagement in UWSC activities and increased giving.
Provide the Executive Director and UWSC board of directors with regular updates on data relevant to tracking fundraising progress and planning.
Steward the UWSC board of directors’ giving to UWSC and support the board’s understanding of fundraising efforts.
Represent UWSC in the community on boards, panels and commissions and events that support UWSC’s community and fundraising goals.
Stay informed and up to date on community, state and national issues that have a bearing on the work of UWSC.
Develop a thorough knowledge of the United Way nationally and build positive relationships across the United Way system.
Create and monitor the resource development budget; work with the Executive Director and Finance Director in creating the organization’s overall budget by providing accurate information and the best forecasts possible. Create accurate projections to report regular progress to the leadership team and board of directors.

Marketing and Communications (30%)

Set the overall strategic direction for marketing and communications activities, including branding, public relations, crisis communications, advertising, email newsletters, and print and electronic materials development.
Oversee the development of a comprehensive, year-round marketing plan that supports the engagement strategy.
Ensure that communications are capable of achieving desired response by recipients while telling stories that are respectful and empathetic of individuals experiencing hardship.
Drive digital innovation by overseeing and creating content for social media strategies and tactics, the UWSC website, annual report, collateral videos, etc.
Identify key target audiences and develop messaging plans to engage each of these audiences to reach desired actions.
Oversee and consult on messaging in all written and verbal communications for the organization; write and edit content, as needed.
Act as United Way’s media contact.
Represent United Way in the community at public events, and on boards and committees, as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

5+ years related experience and progressive leadership with a proven history of high level, high return fundraising or business development results based on building strong, lasting relationships with donors/customers, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience with securing foundation and/or government grants.
Experience with Little Green Light or other similar CRM programs.
Experience with Adobe products, including InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, as well as experience with online platform Canva.
Experience with Drupal or similar web-based programs a plus.
Knowledge of and experience working in Snohomish County a plus.
History of working effectively with all people across a wide range of economic status, ability, race, gender, educational level, or sexual orientation; can speak passionately to the importance of equity as a key factor for improving lives through our mission.
Exceptional planning and execution skills with a results-oriented record of achievement; the ability to set goals, meet deadlines and evaluate results.
Strong collaborator within and outside of an organization. Collaborative cross-sector experience and a demonstrated competence in public, private and philanthropic partnerships. Open minded, entrepreneurial, and willing to learn from others.
Excellent written and oral communication and networking skills with the ability to engage, inspire and educate in personal meetings, group settings and in the written form.
Brings humility and a deep commitment to philanthropy and empathy for those who struggle to maintain self-sufficiency, personal well-being, and hope.
General marketing and communications acumen: Takes a strategic, long-range view. Sees the big picture and identifies the wants and needs of United Way’s diverse partners (donors, volunteers, advocates, community partners, news media and others).
Utilizes integrated storytelling techniques to tell stories, shares keys messages, and engages and influences key partners in a compelling and influential way.
Project management: Ability to brand and promote United Way by framing and packaging mission-focused, community-building strategies as products that current and new supporters and donors are eager to buy.
Create accessible brand experience: Ability to bring the United Way brands to life so that everyone who interacts with United Way experiences the power of our mission. Attentive and responsive to the needs of external and internal customers. Focus on building sustainable relationships with donors through a brand experience designed to create positive sentiment and behavior change, and to increase brand commitment.
Effective and engaging communicator: Passionately articulate the United Way message in a way that inspires others to act in service to the organization and the community. Through our unique brand strategy, oversees a comprehensive, multi-faceted marketing plan that supports the organization’s strategy and objectives; builds relationships with key audiences, and works to position United Way as the leader in the community impact.

Other Requirements

Current, valid driver’s license; use of private vehicle and valid automobile insurance.
Offer of employment is contingent upon meeting a criminal history check review standard.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefit package: medical, dental, vision, life, ADD & LTD, a 403(b) plan with both base and employer matching contributions, leave and holiday pay, 37.5-hour work week, flexible work schedule, free parking and more. If you live in Snohomish County, no need to drive in traffic to Seattle or Bellevue. If you live in north King County enjoy a reverse commute. We are located one block from Everett Transit & Train Station.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:

Engage in ongoing communication in-person as well as through electronic means.
Regularly use computer laptop, tablet, keyboard, screens, webcam, desk phone and photocopier.
Frequently sit and/or move throughout the office.
Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Work in a business setting of cubicles and offices.
Work full time (37.5 hrs./wk.), some weekends and evenings as needed.

UNITED WAY OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY

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Director Of Development & Communications