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Job Title: Director, Corporate Communications
Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is seeking top talent for its Director, Corporate Communications position. This is a rich opportunity for a media strategist and writer/editor who will hold primary responsibility for planning and executing corporate communications and public relations in service of advancing the Foundation’s mission. This is a senior-level, hands-on role for a proactive and unflappable PR professional who works well in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and deadlines.
This position offers flexibility with options to work in person at our New York (Midtown) office, remotely with the ability to easily travel within the tri-state region, or a hybrid schedule. Some travel may be required (~10%).
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Vice President of Communications, this role will work with colleagues in Communications, Marketing, Development, Research, and the C-Suite, as well as with agency teams, external stakeholders and key opinion leaders (patients, families, researchers and supporters) to shape media relations mapped to a wide range of business goals, timelines and budgets. This position directly supervises one mid-level communications staffer, and our engagements with media agencies and consultants. In addition, this position is part of a small group of individuals responsible for liaising between the Foundation and Michael J. Fox’s personal team. Responsibilities include:
Media Relations:
· Direct the Foundation’s media relations: set objectives, manage budgets, monitor performance, and assess outcomes in service of wide-ranging business goals, including awareness-building to support recruitment for MJFF-sponsored clinical studies, placements that advance thought leadership of the organization and more.
· Work with the Marketing team to establish PR strategies and success metrics that give lift and credibility to Foundation activities.
· Develop and proactively pursue strategies that reinforce a positive organizational image, increase visibility and drive engagement with MJFF channels.
o Duties can include both pitching and responding to/vetting opportunities.
· Create messaging for media relations and speaking engagements; prepare and/or edit news releases, briefers and other materials.
· Manage the Foundation’s PR counsel, including an agency team and a roster of consultants.
· Mentor and oversee the work of one team member.
· Build relationships with an external roster of diverse key opinion leaders (patients, families, researchers and supporters) and prepare/train external spokespeople for Foundation-related speaking engagements, as needed.
Corporate Communications:
· Conceive, execute, and manage large-scale communications plans for organizational announcements and launches; keep internal teams (i.e., the C-Suite) apprised of evolving strategies.
· Vet external inquiries pertaining to the Foundation and/or Michael, use of Foundation’s brand (name, logo, etc.) and assets (photos, videos, resources, etc.) to position MJFF as a pioneering disease research nonprofit.
· Lead issues and crisis communications planning and management.
· Cultivate and manage speaking and interview opportunities for Foundation executives; prepare/train executives for speaking engagements as needed.
Founder Relations:
· Vet and steward internal requests for Michael J. Fox’s personal role in Foundation initiatives.
· Manage all aspects of speaking and interview opportunities for Michael J. Fox, prepare briefing memos for him and his team, and ensure alignment across the Foundation and his team.
· Coordinate all aspects of Michael’s involvement in other Foundation activities including gala benefits, panel discussions, photo shoots, social media initiatives and similar; ensure alignment across the Foundation and Michael’s team.
Qualifications and Skills:
The successful candidate must have the following skills:
· Proven history of expertise and success in relevant, progressively responsible strategic communications and/or public relations campaigns and engagements
· Deep knowledge in health, research and/or cause-based setting — ideal candidate will have strong relationships with healthcare reporters and influencers
· Proven history of effective writing and strategic messaging in health setting
· Success working on integrated Mar/Comms teams with full understanding of the marketing spectrum (creative, social, digital, etc.)
· Effective and efficient project management, including proactive and collaborative development of work plans and timelines
· Proven success in producing high-quality work quickly and under pressure, working cross-functionally across different internal stakeholders and outside partners
· Ability to initiate and manage relationships with internal and external partners at all levels, including staff, board and members of MJFF councils, vendors, prospective donors
· Ability to understand and absorb MJFF’s optimistic, problem-solving approach to Parkinson’s drug development, and incorporate its clear, organizational voice in their professional writing.
Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $115,000-135,000. In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- 15+ options for medical insurance (with MJFF paying 90 percent of the premiums)
- Competitive dental and vision plans
- 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employer paid life and disability insurance
- 18 days Paid Time Off (PTO); 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 1 Floating Holiday; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4.
Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. MJFF provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events. The Foundation values workplace flexibility, providing guidelines to support hybrid, flexible work at MJFF. We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing their specific qualifications and interest in the position. The cover letter should also include 1-2 concrete examples of past experience developing and leading robust PR campaigns, including proof points of success.
If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.
About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $1.5 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.
Visit www.michaeljfox.org for more information.
Vaccination Statement:
At The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the health and safety of our team and our community is a priority. MJFF has made the decision to require all staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Successful applicants for this position must be fully vaccinated by date of hire and proof of vaccine is required. Full vaccination is defined as two weeks after both doses of two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine has been administered. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, because of medical or religious reasons, can request a reasonable accommodation for consideration.
MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. The Michael J. Fox Foundation strongly encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research