VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

New York, NY, United States

Classification: Exempt

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Posting Date: June 2024

Start Date: July 2024

Location: New York City (hybrid)

Salary: $140,000 - $160,000

Dress for Success®

Dress for Success Worldwide is a global not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to 139 cities in 22 countries. To date, we have helped over 1.3 million women work towards self-sufficiency. Visit http://www.dressforsuccess.org to learn more. Dress for Success Worldwide is the managing entity for the organization and its global affiliate network.

Job Description:

Dress for Success Worldwide is seeking an experienced communications professional with a passion for women’s economic empowerment to lead the strategic direction and day-to-day execution of its communications efforts. This position works directly with the organization’s leadership, engages corporate partners, and supervises communications staff and consultants. The ideal candidate has a breadth of experience spanning communications, marketing, and public relations and has demonstrated an ability to guide the successful development and implementation of a comprehensive communications strategy, including integration of digital elements.  The candidate will also possess exceptional interpersonal skills, thrive in fast-paced environments, and is adept at managing people and initiatives with confidence, poise and efficacy. This role is based in New York City.

Essential Functions:

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as an integral member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Vice President of Communications will be responsible for the development of Dress for Success Worldwide global communications strategy and will contribute to the organizational strategic planning process. This role oversees all communications-related activities of the organization from strategy to execution and impact analysis. The position will develop and lead activities to promote and enhance the Dress for Success Worldwide brand, mission and position as a global leader in women’s economic empowerment. The Vice President of Communications will be responsible for public relations activities to support the organization’s strategic goals and raise the profile of Dress for Success Worldwide and its leadership. The ideal candidate would have existing relationships with the media and influencers and continue to expand relationships. The role will work closely with the Development Department to align and execute efforts to drive awareness of and financial support to the organization from key constituencies, including individual, philanthropic and corporate supporters. The position will be responsible for the creation and dissemination of integrated marketing and communications including but not limited to printed materials, digital content, video, web, e-newsletters, podcasts, social and traditional media, and related collateral, and assets.

Responsibilities:

Plan and implement a comprehensive strategy to expand brand awareness and position the organization globally as a thought leader in women’s economic empowerment, including integration of digital content and engagement elements across all digital platforms

Supervise the monitoring of metrics by which communications efforts will be assessed; use the data collected to refine strategies to expand reach and impact

Define and execute public relations deliverables related to strategic corporate partnerships and program sponsors, including engagement of affiliates as appropriate

Secure speaking engagements, public appearances, and earned media for the CEO and other designated, internal organization spokespeople across traditional and new media platforms

Supervise the creation, launch, and distribution of original content via video, podcast, and other social sharing platforms that give voice to the women we serve, our affiliates, and our partners

Expand client ambassador, brand ambassador, and micro-influencer opportunities, setting innovative parameters around third-party advocacy

Set a framework for Dress for Success Worldwide proprietary methodologies, resulting in original, primary source research to be marketed to new partners. Re-envision current campaigns, replacing pay-to-play requirements with opportunities to create original thought leadership expertise

Oversee the creation and implementation of marketing and fundraising campaigns in conjunction with Development to drive donations, donor cultivation, and brand awareness

Mange the development of key messages and promotional materials, collateral and assets to ensure consistency and impact across marketing and communications efforts, including web, video, audio, print and digital content

Manage public relations and media for Dress for Success and its leadership, responding to incoming requests and proactively securing high profile press and speaking opportunities

Secure and manage celebrities and influencers to support Dress for Success, including speakers and VIP attendees for key events or managing third party contractors charged with same

Develop content bank of collateral, video, imagery, client stories, messaging and social media assets to be accessed by the Worldwide team and the global affiliate network

Maintain Dress for Success communications and style guide, developing protocols to ensure appropriate logo usage, colors, templates and other brand requirements

Provide communications support and guidance to affiliate locations as needed to ensure consistency of brand and messaging

Supervise NYC-based communications team of 4, manage relationships with paid and pro bono third party vendors and contractors

Serve as liaison to Board committee focused on Marketing and PR

Build and manage the departmental budget

Other related duties and special projects as assigned

Competencies:

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively across all levels of the organization

Detail-oriented, resourceful, collaborative, and agile

Impeccable writing, copywriting, editing, and oral communication skills

Critical thinker with complex, conceptual problem-solving ability

Strong emotional intelligence

Self-motivated and accountable

Impeccable judgment and discretion

Exceptional supervisory, project management, time management, and organizational skills

Demonstrated ability to adapt quickly and manage multiple tasks for multiple stakeholders and platforms

Results-driven professional with experience creating and implementing multi-faceted communications strategies, including digital strategies

Creative thinkers able to conceptualize unique opportunities to enhance international awareness and visibility of Dress for Success, our position, and key initiatives as relevant

Exceptional relationship manager who is comfortable networking, fostering partnerships, and managing relationships with influencers

Extraordinary communicator (written and oral) with an ability to effectively promote our organization to donors, partners, and other stakeholders

Organized and adaptable individual who can multi-task and move fluidly between managing the work and doing the work as part of a small team

Required Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred) in marketing, communications or related

Minimum of ten years of communications, marketing and/or public relations experience, ideally including exposure within all three areas

Experience integrating digital elements into communications strategies

Experience with the nonprofit sector, either via work at a communications agency with nonprofit clients, within a nonprofit, or leading communications related to cause-marketing partnerships or CSR from the corporate side

Proficient in CRM systems, social media management tools, and public relations platforms

Ability to take our organization’s mission and translate it into consistent, compelling content and communications for diverse stakeholders with different interests and agendas

Understanding of nonprofit fundraising and cause-marketing

Passion for women’s empowerment

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, 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.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position with a business schedule from Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Employees must work 37.5 hours each week to maintain full-time status.  Limited travel may be required.

Work Environment:

Dress for Success Worldwide offers a congenial work environment. The dress code is business smart/business casual and employees work on-site in our New York City office three days per week and remotely two days per week.

Dress for Success Worldwide maintains a COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy.  Please be aware that it is Dress for Success policy to continue conducting weekly COVID-19 testing measures to ensure the safety and health of our employees and those visiting our offices.

Physical Demands:

Employee may need to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds in performing regular office duties and managing records, files, and materials.

Work Authorization:

Must be able to show eligibility for employment in the United States within three days of hire.

AAP/EEO Statement:

Dress for Success Worldwide is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome all qualified candidates regardless of their demographic background.

How to Apply:

Please send your resume and a thoughtful cover letter to [email protected] with “VP Communications” in the subject line. No phone calls or recruiters.