Interim Director, Strategic Communications and Operations

Seattle, WA, United States

Founded in 2015 by Melinda French Gates, Pivotal expands opportunity and equality for all people through high-impact investments, philanthropy, partnerships, and advocacy. We accelerate social progress by removing barriers that hold people back.

We strive to be creative and innovative in our work and flexible in the approach we take to solving problems. To date, we have invested in over 150 organizations, including nonprofits, private sector companies, venture funds, and advocacy groups that are on the frontlines of the issues we work on. Some areas we currently focus on: women in technology and innovation; women in public office; women and girls of color; adolescent mental health; paid family and medical leave; and caregiving.

Inspired by our founder, we reach across communities and sectors to bring together changemakers who can scale up proven ideas and catalyze new ones. We learn from their experiences, amplify their resources, then step back so they can lead.

Our impatience with the status quo is fueled by an optimism that progress is always possible.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Interim Director, Strategic Communications and Operations will be an integral member of the Pivotal Ventures team, playing a key leadership role in developing and delivering the Pivotal communications strategy, managing the annual budget process, guiding editorial planning, supporting team operations, developing engagement models between PV Comms, Principal Comms, Investments, and Program Teams, and driving integration across the team and broader organization.

The Interim Director is a leader with experience across Communications and Marketing as well as an expert in tools, team infrastructure, and processes that enable performance. This person embraces a senior leadership profile and should be a creative, strategic problem solver; someone who is comfortable starting from "a blank slate" to create a comprehensive communications strategy that advances social progress and a working environment that people love working in.

The Interim Director should be comfortable in an organization that places a high premium on culture, collegiality, intellectual curiosity, and collaboration. At the same time, this person must be comfortable with a fast-paced, action-oriented role.

This role is expected to have a duration of 12 months. This means that, absent some change, the position will end within that timeframe as defined in the offer letter.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for driving and tracking Pivotal communications strategy and budget

Supervise progress on the annual budget for Pivotal communications, working closely with the finance lead and budget owners to track budget spend and work to ensure sufficient resources for team priorities.

Ensure knowledge and understanding of the Pivotal strategic communications plan among the Pivotal communications team and broader organization.

Use multi-disciplinary expertise and experience to guide teams in translating the strategy into action, supporting day-to-day work.

Guide editorial planning process to promote cross-team integration and effectiveness and to ensure editorial plans ladder up to strategic goals.

Identify new opportunities and work with team to evaluate them, and if they're suitable, develop strategy to implement them.

Lead efforts to identify and apply audience insights to communications workstreams, working with team members and outside audience experts.

Lead and develop team operations and cross-team information sharing

Manage a direct report, the operations team lead, for Pivotal communications.

Provide direction and oversight for Pivotal operations, setting priorities, troubleshooting problems, serving as a thought partner, and working across Pivotal departments to address needs and issues. Develop and socialize engagement models for cross-team collaboration, ensuring effective partnerships with Principal Comms, Investments and Program Teams.

Responsible for information sharing processes, like the weekly look ahead, to share out what Pivotal communications is doing.

Understand and support the team finance functions, including the budget and contract process, to support the finance lead.

Optimize the function's impact by driving integration and information sharing across subject areas and teams.

Act as the Pivotal Communications team liaison with internal communications and other teams throughout the organization to develop and implement processes for information sharing and cross-team engagement.

Ensure strategic coherence across Pivotal Communications workstreams

Learn the language and substance of the company's programmatic work and how to translate it for outside audiences.

Oversee, monitor and track team progress toward achieving shared PV Comms goals and objectives, as outlined in the annual strategic plan.

Work with Communications leadership team to ensure individual workstream strategies align with the Strategic Plan and Impact Framework.

Collaborate with the Digital, Media and Events teams to create and manage the PV Comms data insights and reporting portfolio, as well as the systems and processes that deepen Pivotal's understanding of its core audiences.

Work with Programs, Investments and Principal Comms to align PV Comms metrics and insights with company-wide impact metrics.

Lead efforts to make team work more visible across the organization and to report out on initiatives and progress.

Serve as a thought partner and sounding board for team members to execute their roles.

Contribute to team culture through demonstrated leadership

Support the Vice President in developing a team culture that strengthens impact and cultivates belonging.

Demonstrate a commitment to Pivotal's mission by emulating and demanding intellectual rigor, maintaining a focus on the impact of our work.

Demonstrate a commitment to our team culture by emulating Pivotal's principles and team culture through leading by example.

Demonstrate and encourage collective ownership for team values: Assume responsibility for individual and team health. Demonstrate team values such as direct communication, vulnerability, and embracing discomfort. Demonstrate drive and a commitment to high performance that avoids the pitfalls of perfectionism and a high stress environment.

We laugh often: Maintain a sense of humor, take opportunities to laugh together and keep things in perspective at every opportunity.

Find opportunities to connect team culture to strategic performance, growing the team's awareness of itself and refining its culture to optimize implementation of the team and organizational strategic intent.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

The requirements listed below are not exhaustive, but are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or behavior required to thrive in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Strong understanding of Communications' role in delivering on business objectives and mission.

Experience across multiple subject area, e.g., brand, digital, earned media, messaging, and campaigning, including advocacy.

Understanding of audience development and segmentation.

Experience developing meaningful measurement and insights and insights performance to targets.

Strong collaborator and integrator who connects the dots to optimize impact and efficiency.

Excellent writing skills and strong experience conveying complex ideas through compelling copy and social-friendly content and campaigns.

Agile individual who is able to identify opportunity in the midst of ambiguity.

Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to synthesize diverse information and make clear recommendations.

Ability to handle multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, while maintaining a high level of attention to detail and accuracy in work product.

Ability to react well under pressure and maintain a positive, cooperative, and professional demeanor.

Ability to offer creative solutions when faced with challenges by thinking through alternatives and implementing the best course of action.

Humility, self-awareness and a well-developed sense of humor and ability to work with a diverse team of individuals.

Deep commitment to participating in and upholding Equity and Belonging practices.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

12+ years of experience in Communications and / or Marketing

6+ years of experience managing people.

Strong skills in project management, including managing across multiple workstreams

Experience with metrics and reporting on communications.

Experience with editorial calendars and planning strategic communications.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Media relations experience, including international media

Experience in foundation or social impact organizations

Base annual compensation range for this role is from $211,500-$223,600. This role is expected to have a duration of 12 months. This means that, absent some change, the position will end within that timeframe as defined in the offer letter. The limited duration of the position does not alter the at-will nature of the position or work at Pivotal Ventures.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, backup caregiving solution, 144 hours of vacation, 96 hours of sick leave, 401k, HSA, FSA, discretionary annual target performance bonus and more.

APPLICATION

To apply, send submit your application via the Pivotal Ventures Careers page.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Pivotal values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and all applicants seeking employment. All employment decisions at Pivotal are based on the candidate's or employee's capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran, military, or marital status, sensory, physical, or mental disability, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please contact [email protected].

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