Lever for Change connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems—including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change. Using an inclusive, equitable model and due diligence process, Lever for Change creates customized challenges and other tailored funding opportunities. Top-ranked teams and challenge finalists become members of the Bold Solutions Network—a growing global network that helps secure additional funding, amplify members’ impact, and accelerate social change. Founded in 2019 as a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change has influenced over $2.2 billion in grants to date and provided support to more than 175 organizations. To learn more, visit www.leverforchange.org.

The Communications Manager provides a wide range of strategic support to the Lever for Change team and high-profile clients. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative, hard-working professional to join a philanthropic start-up, and help grow the organization’s reputation, reach and impact.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Deliver high-performance communications results in service of the organization’s mission, vision, values, and strategies
• Collaborate with other teams to create, execute, and support high-quality services for clients and partners
• Co-create and implement strategic plans for key moments in competition cycles
• Manage projects across teams and departments to ensure high quality client service and internal alignment in delivering services
• Implement tactics to engage and activate key audiences
• Create, edit, and publish excellent written products, including press releases, web and social media content, op-eds, talking points, briefings, and newsletters
• Develop internal materials, including memos, reports, materials, and presentations
• Align and update messaging to ensure consistent use throughout materials
• Build relationships with press, pitch stories, and respond to media inquiries
• Create and manage domestic and international media lists
• Create and manage organization-wide content calendar to ensure alignment with Lever for Change goals
• Manage social media platforms and advance digital strategies
• Work with designers and other vendors to support the creation of high-level marketing communications materials, including videos and publications
• Manage daily relationships with marketing and communications service providers

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Keep abreast of current events, as well as developments and issues in the fields of communications and philanthropy
• Write extensively for internal purposes
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in strategic communications, preferably for social impact
• Experience working with the nonprofit sector and understanding of philanthropy’s role desired
• Experience working in client-facing role desired
• Exceptional communications skills, both written and verbal
• Significant experience writing and talking about social impact
• High-level project management skills in cross-functional roles essential
• Demonstrated skill and comfort building relationships with reporters and editors, and successfully promoting content with the media to achieve high-impact placements
• Effective communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
• Positive “can-do” attitude and a willingness to do what is necessary to get the job done
• Well-developed organizational skills and attention to detail
• Able to take initiative and work proactively
• Trustworthy, diplomatic, and respectful; committed to excellence, with a collaborative workstyle
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to social justice issues

Preferred Qualifications:

• BA/BS in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or equivalent
• Strategic, creative thinker who can work under time pressure with competing priorities

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The work environment is an office setting.  Intermittent physical activities will include bending, reaching, sitting, and moving around the office during working hours.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a person with physical disabilities to perform the job.

The position is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Annual salary for this for role will start at $120,700.

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After clicking "Apply," you will be redirected to the website for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation site as the MacArthur Foundation is the employer for this position. Lever for Change is an affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.