Director of Communications

Director of Communications

PPMW

Washington, DC 20002

Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. was founded on the visionary idea that access to sexual and reproductive health care could transform people’s lives. For nearly 80 years, PPMW has provided high quality, supportive reproductive medical care for families in the DC metro area.

PPMW’s mission is to provide high quality, affordable reproductive health care; promote education programs that empower all individuals to make informed & responsible reproductive choices; & to protect the right to make those choices. PPMW is the oldest & largest provider of family planning services in Metropolitan Washington, serving DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Communications is responsible for the leadership, direction, and administration of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC’s communications strategies and programs. The DIrector of Communications will promote PPMW as the leading advocate for reproductive freedom and leading provider of reproductive health care and sexual health education in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. They will coordinate efforts with the Executive Office, Patient Services, Education and Engagement, Public Affairs, and Development to present clear and consistent messages that represent PPMW’s mission and services. The Director of Communications will also be responsible for communications strategy related to PPMW and Planned Parenthood of Maryland’s affiliated 501(c)4 advocacy organization, Planned Parenthood Advocates for DC, Maryland, and NoVa (PPADMV).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Management

Design and implement comprehensive external and internal communication strategies that elevate PPMW and PPADMV to varied audiences using tactics and channels including: web, social media, earned media, events, search engine optimization, collateral, etc.

Set quantitative and qualitative metrics and results to evaluate the effectiveness of communications strategies and ensure quality standards. Proactively seek, compile, and report on feedback from recipients, both internal and external. Be able to present results against deliverables.

Working cross-departmentally, create strategy and lead response for crisis communications and issues management.

Develop and manage PPMW and PPADMV’s Communications budget, coordinating these expenditures across departments and within other department budgets.

Serve as internal expert of communications content for PPMW and PPADMV, including thorough keeping up-to-date on federation-wide messaging and staying informed of all aspects of political and legislative issues as they pertain to reproductive rights.

Provide strategic guidance and execute approval of all agency communications, including but not limited to internal and external newsletters, the weekly volunteer newsletter, press materials, digital campaigns, and other collateral produced by the Communications team.

Supervise the Communications team, including the Communications Associate.

Manage vendors and independent contractors, including photographers, videographers, online marketing consultants and web developers.

Other communications responsibilities, as assigned.

Media Relations

With the Communications team, create media relations strategies to maximize PPMW’s and PPADMV’s impact in the communities we serve, including pitching, press conferences, media events, and more.

Lead strategy and execute approval for all earned media, including articles for publication, press releases, media advisories, letters-to-the-editor, and opinion editorials.

Act as a spokesperson to the media on behalf of PPMW and PPADMV when necessary.

Together with the Communications team and appropriate department staff, develop communications strategies and lead implementation for selected PPMW / PPADMV events and promotions, including Health Programs and Development initiatives.

Assesses events, actions, decisions and other press stories for possible impact on PPMW / PPADMV.

Digital Communications

Lead strategy and execute approval for digital content and publications, including campaign webpages, supporter communications, blog posts, etc.

Lead strategy and oversee production of videos and photography, including developing scripts/interview questions and planning shoots.

Ensure communications and advocacy campaigns are integrated across media, email, social media and PPMW’s / PPAMDV’s web properties.

Agency Communications

Create and collaborate on execution of communications strategy for large fundraising events and objectives, in coordination with the Development team.

Develop and oversee content for varied platforms including speeches, brochures, donor communications, donor tools, talking points, web, media and internal communications.

Collaborating with various departments, oversee the production of agency-wide communications, including annual reports and Health Programs’ special projects.

With the Engagement team and the Communications team, collaborate on development and activation of supporter communication networks, including storytellers and speakers bureaus.

Collaborate cross-departmentally to produce grant submissions and oversee Communications’ responsibilities for deliverables and reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

B.A. in Communications, Public Policy, Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies or related field or equivalent non-profit communications experience in a professional capacity. Masters preferred.

Minimum 5-7 years progressively responsible experience in communications, preferably in progressive advocacy and/or health care.

Demonstrated ability to develop and implement mass communications campaigns.

Experience managing a team of hard-working individuals with high standards for excellence and large work output.

Demonstrated savvy and leadership and strategic planning experience required.

Experience in communications across varied audiences, including donors and advocates, preferred.

OTHER ATTRIBUTES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Strong written, verbal, problem solving and interpersonal communications skills

Highly computer literate, including experience with Microsoft Office, Canva, and Google Drive.

Proven ability to meet multiple deadlines and balance numerous projects in a fast paced and changing environment.

Ability to develop and drive new initiatives, work cross-departmentally, oversee projects to completion and measure results.

Must demonstrate a strong sense of urgency and initiative; highly organized and with the ability to achieve systematic delivery of product under deadline.

Ability to prioritize effectively; superb time management skills.

Excellent teamwork skills and ability to work autonomously as needed.

Must possess a good sense of humor and comfort with change; must possess agility to adapt to and lead through change.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Reasoning Ability

Must have the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusion. Ability to multi-task and to work effectively under pressure due to conflicting demands is required. Must be flexible, highly organized, creative and detail-oriented with the ability to set and meet deadlines.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze and interpret productivity reports, industry periodicals, government regulations and legal documents along with the ability to effectively present information to staff at all levels of the affiliate and the Board of Directors. Must have the ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Requires excellent verbal and written communication skills, including listening and interpersonal relationship communication skills as well as coaching and collaboration.

Mathematical Skills

Must possess the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.

Computer Skills

Excellent keyboarding skills with high level of accuracy required. Must have demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office, possess capacity to learn software programs required for specific position and must be able to access electronic communications, including e-mail, Extranet, Intranet, and Internet.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee must possess a demonstrated ability to work in a diverse environment, and build productive relationships. A demonstrated ability to effectively work independently and collaboratively as part of a team is essential.

Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Protestors may be present at work and related sites.

The position may require frequent travel to multiple sites. Employee must provide own reliable transportation for the performance of agency duties.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. All of the job functions listed within this job description involve to greater and lesser degrees the following physical demands: close vision; hearing/listening; clear speech; walking; lifting and carrying up to 10 pounds; stooping; kneeling; bending; sitting; standing; and use of hands to finger, handle, feel and use keyboard.

While this description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, it is not necessarily exhaustive of all responsibilities, duties, efforts, requirements or expectations of this position. Management reserves the right to revise or amend this description to include or remove tasks as circumstances change and the needs of PPMW so dictate.

PPMW is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace