Internal Communications Officer

Organization

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (“Helmsley”) is a global philanthropy driven by a vision of building better futures for people by increasing access to healthcare, advancing new research and ideas, and improving the quality of everyday life. Helmsley strives to make a meaningful impact in its focus areas, matching its significant financial assets with a rigorous and results-oriented approach. Helmsley is committed to close and productive partnerships with its grantees, as well as with other funders and impact players in government, academia, and the private sector who share its interests and goals. Above all, Helmsley endeavors to be forward-thinking in every aspect of its work and will take risks that others cannot or will not take when the risk/reward trade-off warrants.

Since 2008, when Helmsley began its active grantmaking, it has committed more than $4.5 billion. For more information on Helmsley, please visit https://helmsleytrust.org/.

Position Summary

The Internal Communications Officer will report to the Director of Communications and work closely with Helmsley’s CEO, departments and programs to support strategic internal and organizational communications. The position requires a proactive, strategic, and detail-oriented team player with excellent writing skills and a client service mindset. We seek an individual with the confidence, curiosity, and humility to ask questions, seek clarity when necessary, and share ideas.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Support Helmsley’s internal communication efforts with the objective of informing and engaging Helmsley staff and enabling knowledge sharing across the organization.
• Draft and/or edit internal and executive communications, talking points and email drafts for CEO.
• Develop strategies to drive employee engagement with the organization’s intranet (The Helm).
• Prepare and publish content for intranet, website and digital displays.
• Develop and design internal materials (guidelines, directories and reports).
• Participate in the planning and preparation of organizational events and gatherings, including co-chairing an annual staff retreat.
• Build, develop and create content for internal events; serve as emcee as necessary.
• Manage an annual calendar of organizational initiatives.
• Serve as point of contact for vendors.
• Partner with the Grants Management team on website enhancements to grants database.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure effective communications and messaging throughout the entire organization. Support means of two-way communications, including employee feedback and sharing of ideas and best practices.
• Ensure that Helmsley’s culture, values and beliefs are integrated into its communication efforts and are consistent across programs and departments.
• Identify opportunities where communication can enhance employee engagement, retention and experience through collaboration with programs and departments.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Helmsley’s communication strategy, including collaborating to create multimedia content that reflects and advances the mission.
• Represent Helmsley in a polished and professional manner at all times.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; advanced degree in Communications, Journalism, English or related subject preferred.
• Minimum five years of experience in a communications/PR/writing role, preferably in internal communications, within a foundation, nonprofit, or government setting.
• Exceptional writing, grammar, proofreading, and editing skills.
• Strong verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop and deliver presentations to groups of all sizes.
• Ability to manage relationships with staff at all levels of the organization
• Proven track record of developing and delivering strategic communications initiatives.
• Attention to detail, organizational skills, and strong work ethic.
• Experience with WordPress or other CMS systems a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage vendors and hold them to budgets and timelines.
• Comfort working independently and across teams.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and collaborative, client-service mindset.

Salary, Health, Well-being, and Living Our Mission

Helmsley is dedicated to creating stronger, healthier futures for communities in the U.S. and around the world. Our staff are subject matter experts from a range of backgrounds in basic science, global health, and precision medicine, as well as the private sector and public policy.

Helmsley colleagues are intelligent, creative, forward-thinking, and strongly committed to working productively with our grantee partners. Each was drawn to Helmsley by the same opportunity: to help build this young organization into a leading global charitable institution that will drive meaningful and measurable positive change in lives throughout the U.S. and around the world for years to come.

Helmsley is committed to offering competitive and equitable compensation commensurate with experience. The targeted starting salary range for this position is $134,000 - $150,000.

Comprehensive benefits currently offered to employees (subject to change) include:

• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision for employees and their families
• Generous 401(k) employer contribution
• Hybrid work schedule (up to two remote days a week)
• 23 paid vacation and sick days
• 13 paid holidays
• End of year office closure
• Summer Fridays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Personal and team professional development opportunities

Application Information

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume (in Word or PDF format) to the posting listed on the Helmsley Career Page. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact HR@helmsleytrust.org.

The position is based at Helmsley’s main office in New York City. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

All persons hired must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Helmsley will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Except when working remotely as permitted by Helmsley’s temporary hybrid work policy, the ability to work and collaborate in person with colleagues at Helmsley’s office is an essential function of this job.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required for the position. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Helmsley provides equal employment and promotional opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under law.