Manager, Field Communications

What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Today, we are an alliance of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and a national office that work in communities across the United States to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. NAMI advocates for all who are affected by mental illness, both the individuals and the people in their lives. We work to address disparities and injustices and to promote dignity and inclusion for all people with mental illness and their families. In addition to being advocates, we educate, we listen, and we lead as evidenced by our public awareness campaigns, the range of programs we provide, and our strong public policy.

We currently have an opening for a Manager, Field Communications. The Manager, Field Communications, is responsible for managing, curating, and prioritizing the cadence of outgoing communications. This process- and content-focused role centers on streamlining communications to maximize clarity, impact, and relevance. It requires a strategic thinker who understands how field communications drive organizational objectives and how to craft compelling, aligned content to engage NAMI's state and affiliate offices effectively.

This position demands a strong writer and content strategist who can see the big picture and connect field communications to NAMI's overarching goals. The Manager must work collaboratively and inclusively across teams, diplomatically guiding colleagues to embrace streamlined processes that achieve better alignment, greater economies of scale, and enhanced impact while respecting individual needs and contributions.

This full-time position is based out of our Arlington VA office 3 days per week. May work hybrid the additional 2 days.

Salary Range: $65,000 – $70,000

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and oversee a comprehensive and streamlined field communications strategy that balances the need for engagement with avoiding information overload for state and affiliate leaders.
• Curate and prioritize the cadence of outgoing communications, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and minimizing duplication or redundancy.
• Serve as the primary content strategist and writer for field communications, producing clear, compelling, and actionable messaging to advance NAMI’s goals.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure field communications align with NAMI’s broader strategic initiatives and effectively deliver on OKRs.
• Produce and manage key publications, including Annual Reports and blogs, with a focus on delivering timely, relevant, and high-quality content that aligns with strategic priorities.
• Support Alliance-wide communication efforts, including promotional activities for NAMICon and EDLE (the Executive Directors Leadership Exchange) and collaborate with the MarCom team to create content for social media, media relations, and other external platforms to promote NAMI programs.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams to foster an inclusive and collaborative approach to content development and communications planning.
• Regularly assess and refine communication processes, using feedback and performance metrics to improve efficiency, clarity, and alignment.
• Ensure timely delivery of collateral, training materials, and updates to support the field effectively.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or related field
• 3 – 5 years' experience in Business-to-Business marketing and communications in a non-profit or mission-driven organization; experience with mental health or other disability groups highly desirable
• Communications or agency background preferred; experience in communications at a non-profit or public health organization is highly desirable
• Experience creating strategic marketing and communications plans and managing tactical implementation
• Experience working with and supporting large, federated network of satellite offices/affiliates
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and presentation skills
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work across a matrixed organization
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated knowledge of the AP Style Guide with an enthusiasm for applying its principles.
• Ability to travel up to 10%
• Must pass background check

NAMI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. NAMI prohibits discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, genetic information or any other legally protected group status. We also provide reasonable accommodation for candidates with disability.