Communications Manager

Job Description

Job DescriptionPOSITION SUMMARYThe Communications Manager will bring a sincere passion for the health and well-being of Illinois’ children and families, and a commitment to ensure every child in Illinois grows up healthy. Under the supervision of the Chief Operating Officer, the Communications Manager will manage all of ILCHF’s communications strategies designed to drive effective and engaging messages through a multimedia lens. The Communications Manager will amplify community voice, presence, and commitment to healthy children and families. This position will develop best practices for content development and dissemination, lead internal and external communications, ensure brand and messaging alignment, and oversee ILCHF’s website and social media presence. In addition, the Communications Manager will work closely with the entire ILCHF team and interact with both potential and current grantee recipients and other stakeholders including funders, research partners, the ILCHF Board of Directors, etc. building and enhancing relationships that heighten the visibility of the impact made through partnerships and advances the mission of Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy Development and Brand Management

• Implement and Annually Develop a communications plan that identifies strategic priorities, amplifies core messages, and conveys compelling content and stories through a multimedia lens.
• Enhance ILCHF’s brand to center grantee partners’ voices across various platforms and engage diverse community audiences.
• Maintain and evolve procedures, guidelines, and other marketing-related processes to ensure brand and messaging alignment internally and externally.
• Assess and evaluate ILCHF’s marketing and communication strategies periodically to ensure delivery of results.
• Monitor market trends and interpret results to inform grantmaking and communication strategies.
• Develop awareness and knowledge of inclusive language best practices and principles and implement them consistently across all communications.

Website & Digital Communication Strategies

• Ensure ILCHF’s website aligns with the organizational priorities, brand, tone, and messaging and is updated accordingly regarding revisions, additions to Request for Proposals (RFP) descriptions, document links, images, and content reflecting RFP opportunities.
• Design and Manage ILCHF’s social media plan and presence increasing visibility of the vital work of ILCHF’s grantee partners.
• Create communication materials across various channels, including email, web, print, presentations, and social media.
• Gather data from various sources such as website analytics, social media insights and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to help inform communications optimizations.
• Public Relations
• Cultivate and manage relationships with multimedia contacts, serve as point person for media inquiries, and act on opportunities for earned media.

Internal & External Communications

• Assist and collaborate with graphic designer to prepare ILCHF’s Annual Report summarizing key report findings and strategic implications for internal and external audiences.
• Provide copy editing for both internal and external ILCHF’s documents, including white papers, articles, research reports and other documents.
• Design event promotional and supporting materials, such as brochures, flyers, agendas, presentations, email campaigns, website content, and social media campaigns to effectively reach target audiences.
• Collaborate and develop all external communications including, not limited to, one-pagers, bi-monthly newsletters, briefs, presentations, closed grants report, grant initiatives reports, press releases, speeches, etc.

Special Project – Event Coordination

• Provide support for a minimum of 3 convenings hosted by or participated in by the Foundation, including attending events to capture multimedia content for communication/media outlets.
• Coordinate with the event lead or team to understand key objectives, metrics, content, and timelines. Ensure timely and successful execution of communication tactics.
• Capture ILCHF’s mission in action through video and photography (still images).

Other duties as assigned. KEY SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Commitment to the Foundation’s values of trust, accountability, collaboration, community, belonging without othering, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Organization, attention to detail, ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Ability to maintain strong, positive relationships with various stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills required.
• Results oriented with superior organization and project management skills.
• Proactive, compassionate, friendly, self-directed, and reliable.
• Enthusiastic storyteller, an ability to synthesize complex ideas and repackage them for a variety of audiences.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in communications, marketing, advertising, public relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated professional experience across communications, including content development, graphic design, public relations, social media strategy and management, website administration, and digital communications.
• Experience using analytics and performance data to inform and strengthen communications strategies.
• Strong computer and technology skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, CRM and email marketing platforms (e.g., Constant Contact, Mailchimp), and website content management systems (e.g., WordPress).
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro), Canva, or comparable graphic design and multimedia software.

ILCHF TEAM FUNDAMENTALS

• Be A Visible Champion of Children’s Health. Cultivate, support, and promote initiatives that improve the health and wellness of children in Illinois. Look for and seize opportunities to share with others about what we do. Live the mission.
• Be an Excellent Team Member. Be there for each other and be willing to step into another role or help a coworker when it’s required for success. Don’t let your ego or personal agenda get in the way of doing what’s best for the team. Help each other to succeed.
• Be An Active Learner. Seek out and take advantage of every opportunity to gain more knowledge to increase your skills and expertise. This includes subject matter both in and out of work. Keep an open mind for new ideas. Be resourceful about learning and sharing best practices.
• Embrace Diverse Perspectives. We make better decisions and find better solutions when we consider multiple perspectives, which can be influenced by age, background, ethnicity, race, religion, sexuality, or other experiences. Be open to learning from others and challenge yourself to understand the lived experience that informs their views. Consider issues through an equity and social justice lens.
• Keep Things Fun. While our passion for excellence is real, remember that the world has bigger problems than the daily challenges we face in our work. Stuff happens. Keep perspective. Don’t take things personally or take yourself too seriously. Laugh every day.

WHY ILCHF?

• ILCHF offers a competitive salary/benefits package and the opportunity to work with a small, collaborative, and dedicated team.
• Competitive Fulltime Salary – Starting at $85,000 and commensurate with experience.
• Health insurance coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield Platinum plan. The employer covers 75% of the monthly premium cost for both the employee and their dependents. The plan includes a $350 annual deductible for individual coverage and a $1,750 out-of-pocket maximum. For family coverage, the deductible is $1,050 per year, with a $5,250 out-of-pocket maximum.
• Dental, vision, and life insurance coverage: 100% of the premium covered by the employer for both the employee and their dependents.
• Life Insurance ($50,000); Short and long-term disability insurance.
• Hybrid Office setting with a requirement of 2 days per week (Tuesday & Thursday) in office.
• 15 PTO Days to Start, plus all federal and state holidays and two floating holidays.
• 12 Wellness Days per year accrued at 4 hours per pay period.
• Professional Development Budget of $3,000 annually.
• Tuition Reimbursement of $5,250 per year (proof of enrollment required).
• 401(k) Plan, up to 6% match on employee contribution in the retirement plan plus a 2% profit sharing contribution (eligible after 6 months of employment).

Please note all ILCHF staff are required to be residents of the State of Illinois and all work, including remote work, is required to be done within the State of Illinois.

CONTACT INFORMATIONPlease submit a cover letter and resume via email to MarCommjob@ilchf.org for consideration. ILCHF is an equal opportunity employer.