Senior Associate, Communications

Washington, DC, USA
Posted on  

Job Description

Senior Associate, MBK Communications

CHICAGO, IL; WASHINGTON, D.C.

About the Obama Foundation

At the Obama Foundation, we are guided by a core belief: that ordinary people working together can change history. Our mission is to inspire those people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together than they can alone.

We were founded by community organizers, so when we seek change, we do it by bringing people together.

That approach begins at home, on the South Side of Chicago, where we are building the Obama Presidential Center. The Center represents a historic opportunity for Chicago: a chance to build a world-class museum and public gathering space that celebrates our nation’s first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and where—together—they made their home.

But that approach extends to all our work, whether it’s holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity.

As President Obama has said, “we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together.” So join us.

For more information, please visit www.obama.org.

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Associate will be responsible for developing and overseeing a robust and strategic multimedia strategy to support MBK Alliance’s national call to action to build safe and supportive communities where boys and young men of color feel valued and have clear pathways to opportunity. The Senior Associate will report to the Foundation’s Director of Communications with a dotted line to the Executive Director of MBK Alliance.

Core Job Responsibilities

Strategic Communications: Manage and implement a comprehensive communications approach in partnership with the Foundation’s Communications team to amplify progress and successes, proliferate stories of hope, share knowledge, and provide rapid-response support.

Social Media Oversight: Oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive social media engagement strategy alongside a detailed content calendar, streamlined process for content review and approvals in collaboration with MBK Alliance leadership and the Foundation’s Digital Team. The product will be owned by MBK Alliance’s Social Media and Engagement Associate with support from Outcast Agency. (The Senior Associate may need to implement the strategy if/when there is a vacancy for the Social Media and Engagement position).

MBK Alliance External Communications Strategy: Manage MBK Alliance external communications strategy (media outreach, messaging strategy, and thought leadership) that aligns with MBK Alliance’s 2021 (and beyond) Priorities and Activities. The Senior Associate will review MBK Alliance’s existing and future strategic plan and overlay communications opportunities that will enhance MBK Alliance’s ability to meet its goals and drive impact for the field of boys and young men of color.

Messaging and Brand Management: Ensure that the MBK Alliance brand is accurately articulated in all public-facing communications (printed materials, interviews, Wikipedia, etc.). Develop messaging strategy for key initiatives, create rollout plans for program launches. MBK Alliance External Communications Strategy & Brand stewardship

Media and Press: The Consultant will work in partnership with the Associate, Social Media and Engagement and Outcast Agency to infuse the editorial calendar with media and press components that support MBK Alliance’s 2021 (and beyond) Priorities and Activities. Every month, the Senior Associate will secure a combination of the following:

Manage inbound requests for media and press opportunities that support MBK Alliance’s 2021 (and beyond) Priorities and Activities (e.g. interviews, speaking engagements, local and national features).

Manage work in partnership with the Associate, Social Media and Engagement, to monitor, track and infuse the editorial calendar with all media and press engagements from across the MBK Network.

Manage Internal Materials: Manage internal materials (e.g. drafting press releases, generating media lists, developing pitches) and recommend and secure new media and press opportunities (e.g. local and national features, interviews, op-eds, and other contributed content) that support MBK Alliance’s 2021 (and beyond) Priorities and Activities - with support from the Outcast Agency.

Media Partnerships: Develop media partnerships that are built to scale and align with program goals. Develop a performance dashboard for all media partnerships to evaluate opportunities. Develop, cultivate, and track strategic relationships with communications specialists from a variety of organizations, foundations and corporations to leverage our brand awareness and collaboration. A sampling of desired media partnerships include BET, Complex, and The Undefeated.

Public Engagement and Creative Partnership Campaigns Management: Oversee the launch and implementation of creative content campaigns in partnership with key national partners to mobilize citizens and local MBK efforts - in partnership with the Social Media and Engagement Association (execution support and thought partnership) and Outcast Agency (thought partnership).

MBK Communications Toolkit: Update MBK Alliance Communications Toolkit with brand guidelines for new/old MBK Communities. The Consultant (in partnership with the legal team) will draft updates, secure approvals, and roll out new guidelines in coordinated effort that maximizes engagement and adoption from all MBK Communities.

Writing & Copy Editing: The Senior Associate will write and/or copy edit written content in support of MBK Alliance news, social media, or public deliverables (case studies, Chicago Report, etc.). The Senior Associate will work in partnership with the Associate, Social Media and Engagement to determine the team’s writing needs and support. The Senior Associate will also draft talking points, op-eds, quotes and speeches for the MBK Alliance leadership and Advisory Council.

Team and Vendor Management: Lead hiring process for, and manage the Associate, Social Media and Engagement as well as retained communications vendor (currently the Outcast Agency). Set goals for the Associate and external communications vendors to track progress and completion. Review, refine and monitor the execution of the approved external communications strategy, as designed by the external communications firm, following the formal engagement. Recruit high-caliber, mission oriented professionals that will ensure program goals are met - and ensure the MBK Alliance Communications team is run strategically and efficiently with a team of happy, impactful employees supported to do their best work for kids and communities.

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

MBK Alliance Communications Plan

Communications Firm Plan and Metrics

Annual Multimedia Campaigns

Monthly pipeline of communications activities to include in MBK Alliance’s 2021 (and beyond) Activities for team tracking.

MBK Alliance Communications Toolkit

Required Qualifications

Exceptional writing skill with a track record of crafting original content and telling stories effectively through social media, garnering high engagement and representing the voice and values of high-profile brands and/or public figures

Demonstrated ability to develop, execute and track online campaigns and day-to-day follower growth and engagement.

Experience using social media analytics tools and the ability to make course corrections based on the findings.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Foundation is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at careers@obama.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.