Job Description
Job Description
Description :
Role Title : Director of Marketing & Communications
The Opportunity :
A college degree has the power to help end cycles of poverty, and yet, only 14 percent of Houston’s students from low-income communities are projected to earn any sort of post-secondary credential. This statistic, however, is not reflective of the talent and potential in our city. There are thousands of students in Houston who, with the support of a program like EMERGE, have the potential to not only graduate from college, but to graduate from one of the nation’s leading institutions.
The successful candidate will be a results-oriented strategic thinker with superb organizational and communication skills, collaborative instincts, strong innovation, and creative thinking who is interested in making a real impact for a leading college access nonprofit. Candidates who are passionate about the opportunity to effect meaningful change in the lives of thousands of high-performing students from income-constrained communities and the next generation of leaders are encouraged to apply.
The Role :
The Director of Marketing and Communications will be a seasoned and creative marketing and communications leader. They will have the opportunity to introduce innovative approaches to position EMERGE as the nationally recognized gold standard for connecting exceptional students from low-income communities with top colleges and universities.
Estimated Start Date : April 2, 2025
Salary Range : $75,000-$90,000
Reports To : VP, External Affairs
Location : Houston (Hybrid) 3 days from home, 2 days in office
Key Responsibilities :
Leadership, Strategy, and Planning
- Develop, implement, and execute an annual marketing and communications strategy that reflects EMERGE’s robust programming in collaboration with the leadership team and relevant constituents.
- Collaborate with org-wide teams to develop and build buy-in across the organization and to ensure that all external communication materials are consistent with the EMERGE brand and positioning.
- Coordinate at the strategic, visionary, and tactical levels with the other teams to ensure quality control and a cohesive narrative across the organization
- Define clear metrics of success for marketing and communications efforts and track and measure engagement, using analytics, surveys, and other metrics
- Ensure visual integrity and adherence to brand standards guidelines for all EMERGE's public-facing materials and staff have what they need to be able to properly represent EMERGE at all times
Marketing
Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all org-wide print and electronic / digital collateral including, but not limited to newsletters, brochures, annual reports, one-pagers, promotional materials for org-wide external events, and social media posts, etc.Create and design sophisticated and professional collateral for promotional purposes, annual fundraising and stewardship event invitations, signage, and materials, direct mail campaigns, and mentor program recruitment and promotional materials, etc.Manage brand refresh and roll-out strategy, serving as main point of contact for brand consultant, and the trainer / educator for organization-wide brand, marketing, and communicationsSupport the CEO, VP of External Affairs, MDoD with collateral and presentation development for funder outreach, meetings, etc.Manage social media presence on all platforms ensuring consistent look and feel that represents the level of sophistication and growth of EMERGE positioning EMERGE as the subject matter experts in college access.Scope exposure opportunities that position EMERGE as a thought leader in college access spaceManage and maintain website updates and contentManage all professional videography and photography for EMERGE and external facing-events working with external contractor to produce compelling story arcs and video scripts, scripts for video subjects, appropriate footage and b-roll, and professional photos that capture the essence of EMERGE’s impact.Serve as point for internal graphic design and manage external contract designers : create a library of branded templates (PPT, one-pagers, etc.) for team use to ensure consistent look and feel for all print and digital collateralStrategic Communications
Oversee all external communication efforts and develop a communications framework that incorporates compelling storytelling with language best practices and critical data points that speak to the problem EMERGE is trying to solve and the latest thinking of historically marginalized, BIPOC, and first-generation college students. This includes but is not limited to :
Creating and writing compelling online and print content that engages targeted audience segments and leads to measurable action and engagement. Decide who, where, and when to disseminate across a wide range of communications platforms including print-form, website-based, and social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), blogs, email blasts, videos, podcasts, press releases, op-eds, thought leadership pieces, donor thank you letters, etc., understanding the differences between channels and what messages will work best in eachServing as point for drafting and creating compelling talking points / scripts for EMERGE leadership, board members, students, etc. for external audiences and events and making sure speakers are prepped and set up for success to deliver messaging as intendedSteward overall organizational messaging, while being able to reflect different voices as neededSupporting CEO and VP of External Affairs on all external communications including donor follow up, outreach, and donor impact email updatesIdentifying, writing, and disseminating compelling stories of EMERGE alumni, donors, students, staff, and other key organizational stakeholders and the overall EMERGE impact to drive greater interest in the organizationCreate compelling and clear website content, presentation decks, articles, op-eds, and occasional organizational and fundraising communicationsMedia Relations
Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, major press outlets, and influencers across various media, and leveraging these relationships for EMERGE storytellingDiscern which opportunities to leverage given available organizational resourcesProactively identify media opportunities, developing compelling story ideas and pitch materials, and securing high-value placements in strategic media outlets; as needed, preparing press releases, talking points, and key materials, as well as coordinating interviewAssist in preparing speakers for media opportunities, including pre-interview prep documents, possible questions, and coordinating media trainingIn partnership with CEO, VP of External Affairs, and MDoD and / or consultants, strategize on stories, placement, and messages for media pitchesOther Duties as Assigned
Participate in and support various EMERGE events, including some nights and weekendsRequirements :
Ideal Candidate will have :
3-5 years of experience in communications and / or marketingBachelor's degree is required.Proven success in elevating an organization(s) visibility and brand awareness.Strong thought leadership and decision-making , while building opportunities to seek input and work collaboratively with your peers .Excellent written and verbal communication skills , with the ability to craft compelling messaging that is both informative and emotional .Ability to analyze social media and website traffic data and metrics to inform strategy and decision-making.Strong relationship-building skills .Graphic design skills preferred with proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Canva.Proficiency in CRM systems, email marketing tools (e.g., Constant Contact), and fundraising software is preferred.Passion for EMERGE’s mission and a commitment to advancing educational equity.Who we are :
At EMERGE, we live by our Core Values :
Equity grounds usDiversity defines usTalent mobilizes usMeaningful relationships fuel usResults distinguish usEMERGE was founded in 2010 and has grown rapidly from serving just 14 students to 3,200 students across five Houston-area school districts and at more than 150 colleges and universities across the country.
As EMERGE’s impact has grown, our nonprofit team has grown to over 50 staff members. You will be joining an energetic, passionate team of individuals working to propel Houston’s top talent upwards and onwards.
What we offer :
At EMERGE, we aim to enact our core value of “equity grounds us” within our compensation practices to ensure a competitive and equitable salary & benefits package for all employees. To determine salary; we consider each candidate’s relevant experience, growth potential, and responsibilities within the role, as well equity across similar roles within the organization. The salary range for this role is $78,000-$90,000.
Our salary bands are established to accommodate growth within the role and varied experience levels at point of hire. Based on historical data, we anticipate most candidates will begin their time at EMERGE at the lower end of the salary band. Yearly increases are based on the impact and scale of your role, along with external market factors.
Benefits :
We offer Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.We offer Parental LeaveWe provide Short-term and Long-Term Disability insurance, along with Life Insurance.We have a 403b plan with 3% matching.Each employee has 27 Paid Time Off days for the year. EMERGE is closed for 18 holidays.Priority Application Deadline : March 14th, however applications will be reviewed as they are received.
Salary : $75,000 - $90,000
