Organizational Overview: Food Forward Inc. fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. Fruits and vegetables are collected in Los Angeles and Ventura counties from backyard fruit trees, orchards, farmers markets, and the downtown Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. This recovered produce is provided, free of charge, to hunger relief organizations that serve community members in various ways: food banks, homeless outreach agencies, domestic violence shelters, transitional youth homes, veteran services, family resource centers, LGBTQ teen/adult/senior services, college student assistance programs, programs serving people with disabilities, and many more. Since Food Forward’s inception, our staff and thousands of dedicated volunteers have rescued hundreds of millions of pounds of fruits and vegetables. This produce helps feed millions of people across thirteen Southern California counties and seven states and tribal lands. See our core values.

Position Overview: Food Forward is seeking a full-time Manager, Marketing and Digital Media, who has experience and passion for food justice and the communities we serve. The Manager. Marketing and Digital Media is a visual, data-driven, and big-picture storyteller with deep experience managing a successful marketing and digital portfolio to expand the organization’s region and national presence. This role is the organization’s point person in advancing the organization in the hunger relief and environmental spaces. The candidate is highly organized, results-oriented, proactive, an out-of-the-box thinker, and has experience developing and executing successful marketing campaigns, pitching ideas, and delivering projects on time, against rolling and tight deadlines. The Manager, Marketing and Digital Media is responsible for developing buzzworthy marketing and digital campaigns, focusing on PR-worthy campaigns, partnerships, and event marketing to advance and elevate the organization’s impact while informing and inspiring audiences. They can conceive an idea and determine the steps to create a successful path to execute a vision with minimal supervision and manage the department’s annual outreach portfolio. They will be an integral part of the Communications team, reporting to the Director of Communications. The Manager, Marketing, and Digital Media work closely with team members, including Development, Community Programs, Agency Relations, and Wholesale Recovery.

What does success look like in this role?

● A generalist with a “can do” perspective and a sharp eye for creating on-target content that successfully elevates the organization's voice and overall marketing, impact, audience, and donors through various successful and creative digital advertising and marketing campaigns.

● An excellent writer and storyteller who can capture Food Forward’s compelling story.

● Actively collaborates with departments and partners to brainstorm comprehensive and creative growth strategies and marketing pilots while launching high-quality projects on time and within budget.

● Takes a solution-oriented approach to project and department-related challenges and thrives when there isn't a clear path to the solution.

● Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and simultaneously juggle and prioritize multiple projects.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Marketing and Digital Media

● Drafts and delivers marketing presentations/decks and presents to existing and prospective partners that maximize partner engagement, media placement, audience growth, and donor conversion.

● Develops the annual digital and advertising plan alongside the Communications Director and team. This includes web, SEO/SEM, email, social media, and display advertising.

● Conceptualize and execute multichannel campaigns, ensuring alignment of communications across departments and channels.

● Research promotions, partnerships, and advertising opportunities to build awareness for each of the Food Forward programs; establishing budget guidelines and documenting outreach processes and plans in an organized manner.

● Gathers and analyzes information to identify new marketing markets while expanding existing marketing campaigns and strategies.

● Develops digital content governance guidelines for tone, style, and voice for internal and external use.

● Remains up-to-date on current marketing trends and participates in marketing pilots and tactical groups.

Ambassadors and Media Relations

● Cultivates a roster of like-minded content creators and potential ambassadors while stewarding current ambassadors and negotiating ambassador partnerships/packages for campaigns throughout the year.

● Corresponds and builds relationships with hunger relief agency partners and the produce industry through on-site visits and virtual meetings.

● Establishes and implements the produce industry media and outreach plan that results in securing at least 3-5 industry-related media coverage to build awareness year-round.

● Drafts media releases, presentations, influencer/partnership collateral, and story pitches.

● Manages department and organization events and steps in as the organization representative as needed.

Outreach and Events

● Research identifies and shepherds the organization’s strategy and submissions for annual conferences, speaking engagements, award opportunities, and annual nonprofit lists.

● Successfully places the organization in at least 3-5 conferences and 5-8 prominent nonprofit/”giving” annual lists annually.

● Helps develop creative briefs and the creative direction to meet objectives for all advertising and public-­facing communications, including print, digital, and video assets.

● Gathers, tracks, and analyzes audience and market insights to inform outreach strategies and increase donor conversions.

● Collaborate across teams to determine and solve campaign objectives.

● Present ideas and final deliverables and communicate to the leadership team about marketing programs, plans, and strategies.

Department Core Competencies

● Organizational, time management, analytical skills, and independent judgment amongst shifting priorities and meeting deadlines.

● Strong knowledge of current marketing tools and strategies to lead integrated digital marketing campaigns from concept to execution.

● Ability to use data to craft a narrative that showcases the impact of the organization’s work across various audiences. 

● Experience overseeing, creating, and implementing projects from conception to delivery.

● Mastery of the organization’s story and programs.

● The ability to maintain confidential information.

● Proficient in policies and data related to Food Forward to draft messaging.

● Excellent writing, researching, editing skills, and building presentations.

● Strong design eye: understanding of design elements and trends in digital marketing.

● Photography: a keen understanding of how to use photos to convey impactful messaging.

● Some experience working with designers and building accessible content.

● Executes additional communications department projects as assigned.

Requirements and Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree in digital advertising, marketing, or related field and experience.

● A portfolio that showcases successful advertising and marketing campaigns, media releases, presentations, influencer collaborations, and audience cultivation across various platforms.

● Minimum four years of experience leading, implementing, and executing digital ads, managing SEO/SEM, Google Adwords, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads, email marketing, social media, and display advertising campaigns.

● Proven track record building an influencer and ambassador roster.

● Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with clients, vendors, and internal departments.

● Experience crafting media alerts and promotional material.

● Strong collaboration skills across various stakeholder groups and managing events

● Solid knowledge of website analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Meta Suite, etc.) and running A/B experiments.

● Proficient in Adobe Suite, Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, WordPress, Asana, and Keynote, along with a willingness to learn new platforms.

● A valid CA driver's license and ability to travel to office locations in Los Angeles and Ventura locations.

● Being available to work weekends and early or after hours occasionally is essential.

● Medical, Vision, Dental, and Life Insurance coverage, Retirement with 3% employer matching, Generous Sick Days, paid time off, and Holiday allocation

● Cell phone allowance

Send a cover letter and resume in PDF to career@foodforward.org. The subject line should read Manager, Marketing, and Digital Media, and your name. In the body of the cover letter, include 1) Where did you discover this listing, and 2) If you were a variety of produce, what would you be and why? 3) Submission must include a PDF or link to a portfolio that showcases successful advertising and marketing campaigns, media releases, presentations, influencer collaborations, and audience cultivation across various platforms.

Food Forward is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, and those with protected class backgrounds. We value the individuals we hire and look forward to creating a positive work environment for all identities.