Director, Marketing & Communications

Company : Fresh Films

Do not pass up this chance, apply quickly if your experience and skills match what is in the following description.

Position : Director, Marketing & Communications

Location : Chicago, IL

TO APPLY YOU MUST EMAIL US DIRECTLY. WE WILL NOT BE REVIEWING LINKED IN APPS. To apply, please email the following to outreach@freshfilms.

org subject "Marketing Director" and provide (1) your resume, (2) a compelling cover letter that showcases your writing style and shares how you connect to our mission of serving under-represented youth and (3) 1-2 writing samples from your previous marketing roles.

Director, Marketing & Communications

Fresh Films' mission is to democratize access and build opportunities for underrepresented groups to become a pipeline of diverse media-makers and storytellers for rapidly growing high-wage careers in the multi-billion dollar media industry.

We have 34 national locations, work year round in schools and on-sets, are supported by major foundations, community, and industry partners and have an amazing staff who are passionate about youth and building opportunities.

What we're looking for :

We are looking for an energetic, hands-on integrated marketer with proven experience in building and executing comprehensive organizational marketing campaigns who is also a masterful storyteller adept at creating powerful and engaging content that inspires action.

Key responsibilities :

You will lead and implement all aspects of the marketing mix, with primary responsibility for implementing branding & stakeholder communications, marketing brand strategy & execution, and supervision of staff working on youth recruitment and engagement marketing.

You will amplify and elevate the Fresh Films brand and its impact, highlighting FF as a thought leader in the workforce development and arts education space.

Brand & Stakeholder Communications :

• Plan and execute marketing and communications content & campaigns that :
• Increase and amplify Fresh Films brand awareness & mission
• Positions Fresh Films as a thought leader for workforce development
• Spurs engagement to drive new and renewals of investments
• Develop and maintain content calendars / gantt marketing charts for all marketing tactics
• Serve as the creative leader, editor, principal writer and manager for all stakeholder communication channels, including LinkedIn, X and other social channels, eNews, annual reports, stewardship pieces, op-eds, and other materials to showcase program impact
• Execute co-branded partner communications including liaison with high-level partners
• Develop and execute a media relations strategy to elevate Fresh Films reputation, build relationships with targeted media, and respond proactively to media requests.
• Develop strong relationships with FF leadership and staff to identify and tell FF's most compelling stories
• Support the development team to understand and amplify key strategic messages, highlighting the needs of youth and narrating the story of Fresh Films' impact

Marketing Strategy & Execution :

• Sets and manages year-round marketing strategy & communications plans with Leadership including timelines, metrics (KPIs) and budget
• Utilize best practices in brand management across full marketing mix of paid and earned media, digital, social, and other internal and external communications.
• Manage monthly eNews, Website, CRM for full organization, including content & updates
• Create and implement optimization process for all digital communication media to ensure continuous growth of target audiences.

This may include updating SEO, AI, Google Ads, CRM or other tech platforms.

• Oversee overall content calendar and other marketing platforms / tactics (i.e. constant contact) to ensure brand strategy and communications consistency
• Ensure research and data capture of youth participants (demographics and program outcomes), update surveys, analyze data and report insights internally and externally
• Utilize program impact research and media metrics to infuse insights and optimize performance of program messaging and impact
• Manage communications related to Fresh Films related screenings, premieres, festivals, conferences and all other public / community-wide events

Team Management & Development

Supervise and manage Youth Marketing Manager who is responsible for content calendars, marketing mix and communications to support recruitment & engagement of multicultural youth and young adult participants into the program.

Supervise marketing interns, and marketing vendors

Qualifications :

• 5-7+ years of hands-on communications and marketing experience with a track record of impact working across multiple tactics that go beyond social media marketing
• 3+ years of experience in supervision of professional level staff; ability to manage direct reports effectively, including the ability to develop rapport and build strong, trusting relationships
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Business, or related field or equivalent background and experience
• Exceptional skill in written and oral communications and to create compelling stories that connect with multiple audiences and create action
• Experience working at a Nonprofit experience a must
• Multicultural and / or Youth Marketing experience preferred
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced, dynamic environment, working across different projects, departments and initiatives simultaneously
• Big picture thinking in combination with roll sleeves up, hands-on doing is part of the culture
• Ability to analyze research and handle KPI reporting
• Ability to create and maintain key contacts within the media, with school and community partner organizations and other industry supporters
• Knowledge and skill with CRM, SEO, Google Ad Words, HootSuite or other marketing analytics and tools
• Passion for Fresh Films' mission and core values with a passion for seeing young people succeed
• Innovative and creative thinking skills
• Knowledge of best practices, techniques, and resources in marketing and communications
• Strong critical thinking skills and the ability to achieve results both individually and with others
• Commitment to professional development through continuous learning
• Excellent skills in organization, attention to detail and time management
• Ability to develop and maintain professional, collaborative relationships
• Commitment to engaging in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the organization
• Prefer candidate is located in one of our major markets (Chicago, Quad Cities, LA, ATL or Boston)

Compensation

• Salary range is $70,000-$80,000 based on experience
• Full time, 40 hours weekly
• 15 PTO days yearly
• 10 paid holiday / days off each year, including the week between Christmas & New Years
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance
• 403B plan starting in 2025

Work Environment :

• Hybrid : Some in office or at Fresh Films program sites, and some from home
• Requires travel minimum 2-days per month to FF headquarters in Quad Cities
• Requires travel 8x per year (every 4-6 weeks) to program sites across country in Chicago, Quad Cities, LA, Atlanta, Boston or other regions
• All non-local travel paid for by Fresh Films

Employment is subject to a background check.

WE ARE A PROUD EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Fresh Films is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe diversity drives us to deliver more valuable and meaningful experiences for clients and employees.

That means we not only provide equal opportunity and consideration to all employees and applicants - we welcome it. Fresh Films doesn't discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.

Candidates with some but not all qualifications are encouraged to still apply.

J-18808-Ljbffr