Marketing and Public Relations Manager

OVERVIEW

South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International focused on providing affordable housing solutions in Thurston County. We believe that every person, no matter who they are, deserves a decent place to live. Our work includes building new, energy-efficient homes, preparing households for homeownership, guaranteeing affordable mortgages to homebuyers, and performing critical housing repairs. It is an exciting time at South Puget Sound Habitat as our immediate goals for the future include three new developments and hundreds of repair projects, drastically outpacing our past production—and we are working to scale our operations to meet these goals.

POSITION SUMMARY

The marketing and public relations manager is responsible for South Puget Sound Habitat’s public-facing communication and advocacy efforts. The manager plans for and drives marketing initiatives for the organization through the development and delivery of on-brand content across channels and tactics. As our lead for public relations, this position manages our public sector relationship building and influence strategies to help shape policies and budgets that increase access to affordable housing. Through creating and stewarding our brand awareness, leveraging relationships, researching, writing, editing, proofing, and publishing information, this position effectively and accurately elevates the organization’s mission in the community.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

You are a savvy marketing strategist who wants to promote the vision that everyone deserves a decent place to live. You use your strong project management and marketing skills to deliver clear messaging and impactful storytelling to key stakeholders and across various media platforms. You understand the value of brand management and segmentation—and you take pride in your organized and intentional work that inspires others to get involved. You’re skilled in strategy, content creation, and brand stewardship—and you’re a top-notch writer. You have public relations experience, or an emerging interest, so that you understand local and state political landscapes, and recognize the importance of public partnerships. You thrive on collaborating with members of the public sector and believe persistent, respectful advocacy can yield important new possibilities for a critical mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibility: Marketing Strategy and Brand Awareness Implementation and Analysis (70%)

The manager is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive marketing plan that incorporates cross-organizational needs, and ensures up-to-date, on-brand, innovative, and impactful messaging across all platforms. Responsibilities generally include:

• Work with chief advancement officer and across teams to create segmented communication and marketing plans and calendars aimed at achieving organizational goals and objectives (fundraising, campaigns, special events, stores, programming, etc.); develop and execute all plan tactics, including but not limited to:
  1. Actively pitch story ideas to local, regional, and national media outlets as appropriate; write and distribute press releases; maintain updated list of media contacts.
  2. Manage the strategy and content of the organization’s current and future social media channels.
  3. Manage and review content for organization’s public-facing website; update with fresh content on a regular basis.
  4. Develop and implement a newsletter or mass communication strategy.
  5. Create targeted advertising campaigns including radio, direct mail, newspaper advertising, and more.
• Develop content and collateral needs for all tactics, including print, articles, presentations, videos, signage, etc.; facilitate ongoing content editing, proofreading, and improvements; secure and manage third-party vendors, including photography, videography, and graphic design, as needed.
• Monitor and analyze effectiveness of marketing efforts, including tracking key performance indicators like program pipelines, donor engagement, website traffic, campaign performance, and return on investment.
• Define and champion brand standards, ensuring collateral, website, email, and campaigns consistently reflect our brand identity; develop templates for team-wide use.
• Assist in budget development and monitoring for marketing and communications tactics.
• Represent the organization at select events, on committees, at meetings, etc., as appropriate.
• Maintain a directory and inventory of marketing and graphics assets, ensuring all resources are current and accurate.

Key Responsibility: Public Relations and Advocacy (20%)

The manager serves as the in-house expert and strategist for our municipal, county, state, and national advocacy efforts. They plan and advance the necessary tactics and relationships to win funds and pass legislative initiatives that align with our plans and priorities. Responsibilities generally include:

• Partner with leadership team and subject-matter experts to develop and implement time-bound advocacy agendas and engagement strategies to secure local, state, and federal legislative priorities.
• Strategically advance advocacy priorities using own relationships and/or leveraging staff and board positions and relationships; provide presentations, testimony, briefing sheets, talking points, and written content, as necessary.
• Build strong relationships with council members, legislators, candidates, staff members, and other key stakeholders to develop broad, sustained, and unique support for the South Puget Sound Habitat mission, and to advance its priorities.
• Serve as the organization’s primary liaison with select elected officials and associated delegations and administrators.
• Track and engage in relevant legislation, rulemaking, and other emerging issues.
• Manage the organization’s internal advocacy project team through meeting and project management, communication, and centralized information upkeep; regularly update and engage key team members.
• Assist the chief advancement officer in identifying and securing public funding opportunities.

Key Responsibility: Advancement Support (10%)

As a member of the advancement team, collaborate with and support team members to elevate the goals and mission of the team. Responsibilities generally include:

• Create and sustain strong working partnerships with other members of the team and contribute to the culture of teamwork and collaboration.
• Attend community and outreach events as needed.
• Assist with fundraising events and logistics support (Women Build, gala, ribbon cuttings, groundbreaking, and home dedications.)

Key Responsibility: Leadership, Teamwork, and Inclusivity

All team members contribute to overall organizational health through positive collaboration, leadership, personal integrity, and a commitment to equity and inclusion. Responsibilities generally include:

• Maintain a “team first” outlook, supporting the success of the team and the mission in attitude, ideas, and actions; lead by example and with active, creative input for growing and improving the organization.
• Meet and endorse organization standards for record keeping and information sharing.
• Contribute to organization events, helping as necessary with set up/take down, management, networking, various tasks, etc.
• Participate in intentional learning efforts, including activities relating to understanding institutional racism and building cultural competency.

REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional work experience; studies in marketing or communications preferred
• 4+ years of experience in a marketing or communications role; nonprofit experience preferred

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of people, including community stakeholders
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and ability to adjust both to different audiences effectively
• Strong command of segmentation, messaging, and optimizing appropriate channels and tactics
• Ability and willingness to serve as an articulate, enthusiastic, and visible spokesperson
• Strategic and organized with the ability to prioritize for scheduled and unexpected deadlines
• Tech-savvy generally, with a strong proficiency in MS Office products; CRM/database experience preferred, additionally
• Ability to pass a background and reference check
• Commitment to the Habitat for Humanity mission

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of local and state government structure, people, and trends; experience with advocacy for a nonprofit organization
• Graphic/video design skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of fundraising principles; experience developing support cases
• Familiarity and practice with project management fundamentals
• Familiarity and practice with volunteers in a nonprofit setting

CORE VALUES

Successful team members share the following core values:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion: We value diversity and aim to make our workplace and services accessible and welcoming to all, especially those who are most often marginalized and misunderstood.
• People First: We consider the human impact of our decisions and prioritize well-being and closing equity gaps.
• Community: We understand that we are connected to one another and that we must root our efforts in trust and collective achievement.
• Future Generations: We strive for lasting change. Our plans, our designs, our decisions don’t just impact the here and now; they are opportunities to serve future generations as well.
• Integrity: We do what we say we will do, and we do it honestly, ethically, and equitably. We hold ourselves accountable for our actions.

DETAILS

Reports to: Chief Advancement Officer

Supervises: N/A

Compensation: Hourly: Position range: $28.01-$39.08 (equivalent to: $58,260-$81,282 annually); Expected hire range: $32.00-$35.00 (equivalent to: $66,656-$72,800 annually).

FLSA Status: This position is not exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); it earns overtime for additional time worked.

Benefits: 23 vacation/sick/personal days initially, prorated to start date; 15 holidays; 75% employer-paid health/dental/vision; Simple IRA with 3% match.

Hours: 40 hours per week, with some flexibility for preferred standard schedule. Some evening and weekend hours required (0-8 hours/week), and the incumbent will be required to flex their schedule accordingly.

Environment: This position will be based in our office located at 910 5th Ave SE in Olympia. It can be reached by car or public transit. The building is accessible. This position will have a desk, computer, and phone line in a designated work space. Moderate off-site local travel is required. Occasional remote work is acceptable.

Conditions: This position will be regularly required to use a computer keyboard and screen, communicate with others, reach with arms and hands to file and use a phone, and sit for extended periods.

Training: This successful candidate will be onboarded and initially trained through a combination of in-person, online, and written trainings; they are expected to take the initiative to review materials as needed and seek understanding of new developments in order to perform their responsibilities.

Disclaimer: This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties nor required skills. Employees may occasionally perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities to meet the needs of the organization.

APPLY

Submit your cover letter and resume through the portal found at: spshabitat.org/learn-more/careers by December 27, 2024. No phone calls, please.

South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity values a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage applications form individuals of all backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented.

South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity is an equal opportunity employer. This organization does not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability status, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.