Communications and Development Director

Organization: Mississippi Public Health Institute (MSPHI)

The Director of Communications and Development (DCD) plays a pivotal role in driving external communications, stakeholder engagement, and organizational growth through strategic development and fundraising initiatives. This position is responsible for creating and executing comprehensive communication strategies, cultivating funding partnerships, and securing resources to advance MSPHI’s mission. The DCD is a senior leadership role, requiring a blend of strategic thinking, creativity, and results-driven execution, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, accountability, and ethical integrity.

• Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive development strategy in partnership with the executive team and board of directors.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities with corporate funders, government agencies, philanthropic foundations, and individual donors.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of grant proposals and funding applications, ensuring alignment with MSPHI’s mission and priorities.
• Develop and execute targeted fundraising activities to achieve revenue goals and diversify MSPHI’s funding base.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with major funders, ensuring effective communication of the benefits of partnership with MSPHI.

• Create and implement a strategic communications plan to effectively engage internal and external audiences.
• Craft compelling narratives that highlight MSPHI’s mission, vision, and measurable impact.
• Oversee the organization’s public relations efforts, including media outreach, reputation management, and consistent messaging across all platforms.
• Develop high-quality content for press releases, website updates, newsletters, and social media campaigns.
• Act as a spokesperson for MSPHI at public events, advocacy meetings, and community engagements.

• Build and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare leaders, community organizations, and advocacy groups.
• Lead the design and implementation of community engagement initiatives to enhance awareness of MSPHI’s work.
• Advocate for public health policies that align with MSPHI’s goals, representing the organization in legislative and policy forums.

• Recruit, mentor, and manage a team of communications and development professionals, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Provide team members with ongoing training and professional development to ensure success in meeting objectives.
• Collaborate closely with program directors and other leadership to align development and communication efforts with organizational goals.

• Proven success in fundraising and communications, with a demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding revenue and engagement goals.
• Expertise in grant writing, donor cultivation, and stakeholder relationship management.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including storytelling, public speaking, grant writing/proposal preparation and media engagement.
• Experience in creating and managing comprehensive branding, public relations, and social media strategies.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize competing demands, meet deadlines, and deliver results under pressure.
• 10 years of progressive experience in development and communications roles, with at least 5 years in a leadership position.
• Healthcare or public health sector experience is strongly preferred.
• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in communications, marketing, nonprofit management, or a related field is preferred.
• A commitment to ethical integrity, transparency, and accountability.

MSPHI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications, education, and experience.

MSPHI is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best qualified people in every job. MSPHI’s policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion or religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits discrimination based on a perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. All such discrimination is unlawful. MSPHI is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of MSPHI and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of MSPHI.