Development & Communications Manager

Development & Communications Manager

Classification: Full-time

Reports to: Development Director

Location: Preferably Panajachel, Guatemala but applications to work remotely will be considered.

Position Overview

The Development & Communications Manager serves as Mercado Global’s lead grant and development communications writer and manager. The position reports into and works closely with the organization’s Development Director. This role is responsible for helping meet annual fundraising benchmarks via grants, donor appeals, and institutional partner gifts, as well as providing managerial support around small events and other development operations that cultivate and steward the organization’s donors. The Development & Communications Manager will lead relationships with an array of institutional partners, partnering with the organization’s program team to secure content for donor reports and grant proposals.

Mercado Global seeks a Development & Communications Manager who is enthusiastic about the opportunity to help expand a cutting-edge model for fighting poverty and empowering women in rural Latin America. He/she/they should have strong self-initiative and leadership capabilities, strong interpersonal and communication skills, good attention to detail, experience in grant writing and project or events management, and a passion for our mission and work.

This position is preferably based at our field office in Panajachel, Guatemala but applications to work remotely will be considered, and reports directly to the Development Director.

Key Responsibilities

The Development & Communications Manager role is responsible for meeting fundraising benchmarks through the following activities:

Grant writing and management:

• Maintain pipeline of foundation prospects that align with Mercado Global’s mission,
• Develop and submit grant proposals and maintain institutional fundraising application and reporting calendar,
• Track grant activity progress internally and prepare narrative and financial reports and other engagement tools for current funders,
• Supervise Development Associate on institutional donor research as needed.

Communications management

• Manage development department communications calendar,
• Draft all development team social media and email communications,
• Develop annual donor appeals, including the end of fiscal year appeal and annual appeal,
• Draft donor reports, including seasonal and annual reports,
• Collaborate with organizations Marketing Manager and Graphic Designer on implementation of communications calendar, social media and marketing tools.

Manage institutional donor relationships

• In partnership with Development Director, manage engagement and relationship with institutional donors.

Development logistics support as needed

• Oversee Development Associate’s implementation of mailed communications, including the annual appeal,
• Oversee Development Associate on intern recruitment,
• Oversee implementation of logistics by Development Associate on donor trips and visits to our operations in Guatemala.

Key Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Excellent planning, critical thinking and organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to move multiple projects forward simultaneously.
• Two to five years experience and demonstrated success in grant writing and relationship management.
• Two to three years experience and demonstrated success in project, logistics and/or events management.
• Some managerial experience preferred.
• Ability to work in a team setting and communicate effectively. Ability to receive and incorporate feedback.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to top-quality, self-driven work.
• Proficiency in written and spoken Spanish strongly preferred.
• Enthusiasm for Mercado Global's mission.
• Flexibility, drive, sense of humor, and prior experience living long-term outside the U.S.
• Fluency with Microsoft Office and Excel required. Knowledge of Salesforce a plus.
• Ability to make two-year commitment to this position.

How to Apply

Please send cover letter and resume to Becky Chrisman at apply@mercadoglobal.org. Please indicate “Development & Communications Manager” in the subject line of your email.

About Mercado Global:

Mercado Global is focused on transforming the lives of women. We create beautiful and thoughtfully designed accessories that not only have the ability to transform an outfit, they can empower an entire community of indigenous women in rural Latin America.

A single thread is stronger when woven with many others. Through our not‐for‐profit model, we strengthen communities of women, weaving savings and loan support, education, and market access into a program focused on financial independence to overcome poverty.

Our collections are handmade by these expert weavers, changing a look from day to night, from beach to boardroom, helping women to express their personal style.

Mercado Global’s partners include Nordstrom, Levi Strauss and Free People, among others. Newsweek has featured Mercado Global on its cover, and Good Morning America, Harper’s Bazaar, and others have showcased the organization’s designs. Our institutional supporters include the Levi Strauss Foundation, the PIMCO Foundation, the World Bank, and the Greater Impact Foundation.

Learn more at www.mercadoglobal.org