Description

The Director of Marketing and Communications (DMC) is a strategic, missiondriven leader who advances HSSA’s priorities by leading the organization’s marketing and communications efforts and building the strong internal and external relationships that are essential for team success. This role guides the MarCom team in generating donor revenue while promoting programs across HSSA’s three strategic pillars: lifesaving, community engagement and support, and animal care and wellbeing. The DMC directs the strategy and leads the execution of a comprehensive marketing and communication plan that elevates HSSA’s voice, drives engagement across multiple channels, and positions HSSA as an animal services leader and innovator.
The DMC serves as a key advisor to the CEO and Chief Development and Marketing Officer on brand positioning, public narrative, and organizational reputation management, ensuring alignment between marketing efforts and HSSA’s overall strategic plan.

Essential Functions:

Lead the development and execution of the department’s strategic goals and annual Marketing and Communications Plan.

Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for all marketing channels, adjusting strategy based on performance data, industry benchmarks, and return on investment.

Lead and manage a team of MarCom staff, volunteers, and consultants in creating high-impact campaigns that drive people to act.

Establish clear performance standards, provide coaching and professional development, and ensure accountability across the MarCom team.

Oversee and drive efficient project management to ensure timely and accurate delivery of campaigns and departmental initiatives.

Monitor operational and programmatic priorities and proactively design responsive marketing strategies to address ongoing and urgent lifesaving and community needs.

Direct the creation of fundraising campaigns across multiple channels (e.g., email, social media, direct mail, digital and search ads, website).

Build and maintain strong partnerships with HSSA program leaders to ensure MarCom initiatives support programmatic goals.

Build and maintain relationships with media outlets to increase positive earned coverage for HSSA and provide media training, guidance, and preparation for team subject matter experts.

Oversee an ongoing website refresh project through completion and continually manage and monitor website content, SEO and GEO, and analytics to boost HSSA’s visibility and user engagement.

Manage the MarCom budget responsibly, including vendor oversight and contract management.

Direct HSSA’s mass email strategy, analyzing performance and adjusting content and cadence as needed.

Collaborate with senior leadership to draft key communications, both internal and external, ensuring clear, unified messaging.

Represent HSSA professionally at community events and with staff and community partners.

Protect and uphold HSSA’s brand integrity across all messaging and public-facing materials.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, journalism, English, or another relevant discipline, or equivalent work experience

Minimum of seven years of full-time progressive professional level marketing and communications experience, including at least three full years in a leadership role, including managing personnel

Minimum of three years of experience creating multi-channel marketing campaigns that successfully generate revenue and engagement

At least two years of media-relations experience, with demonstrated success in building relationships with media personalities and outlets, and a track record of writing press releases and pitching stories that generate positive news coverage

Experience managing an advertising budget for best ROI

Experience working with senior leadership to craft sensitive communications and manage crises

Knowledge of current and emerging best practices in print marketing, digital marketing, and media relations

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in marketing, communications, journalism, English, or another relevant discipline, or equivalent work experience

Director-level marketing and communications experience for a mission-based nonprofit that relies on donor support for operations

Experience producing multi-channel marketing campaigns that successfully generate revenue and engagement for a mission-based nonprofit

Experience collaborating with a nonprofit’s Development team to plan and execute successful year-end giving campaigns

Experience utilizing paid Google Ads, granted Google Ads, and other digital ad platforms to generate donation revenue, build brand awareness, and precipitate action

Bilingual proficiency in written and oral English and Spanish

Experience working for or volunteering with an animal-welfare organization