Director, Communications and Outreach

Union Settlement is an East Harlem anchor institution, serving families, children, youth, older adults, and businesses for more than 127 years. As a proud member of the settlement house movement, our nonprofit organization is always innovating to meet our evolving community. Since opening our doors in 1895, we have brought education, wellness, business support, and community-building programs to our neighborhood, empowering New Yorkers with opportunities to realize their dreams.

Today, Union Settlement offers more than thirty programs and services across nearly twenty East Harlem locations and serves more than 10,000 people and nearly 1,000 businesses every year. As a pillar of East Harlem, Union Settlement is a connector, convenor, and advocate for the neighborhood and our network of partnerships. We have a dynamic, diverse, and collaborative team of more than 350 who are committed to supporting our neighbors and growing the vitality and success of East Harlem. With new leadership, Union Settlement is growing! For more information about Union Settlement’s history, programs and mission, please visit our website at www.unionsettlement.org.

Position: Director, Communications and Outreach

Department: Development

Reports to: Chief Development Officer

Hours: Full-time

Salary: $82,000 – $92,000

FLSA: Exempt

Location: On-site, with the potential for a hybrid schedule

The Director, Communications and Outreach leads and, in conjunction with the Chief Development Officer, is responsible for Union Settlement’s overall communications strategy and implementation. The Director is responsible for management of the Communications team, which includes a Manger of Special Events and Communication and a Manager of Volunteerism and Outreach. The Director collaborates to shape organizational decision-making and lead progress toward Union Settlement’s mission and goals. This is a unique opportunity for a kind, inclusive, and empathetic communications leader to build upon a foundation of strength and help lead Union Settlement to continue to share important stories, reach loyal and new audiences, and raise awareness in traditional ways and in social media.

The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic leader committed to empowering and equipping the Communications team to take a proactive role in shifting narratives of the East Harlem community and supporting the thought leadership of Union Settlement. They are collaborative, collegial, humble, and lead with a deep sense of humanity. They are creative and open to a variety of ideas, no matter how big or how small, and they inspire creative thinking among the team. The ideal candidate is also a strong manager who enjoys inspiring and empowering the team, staff, and colleagues. They bring lived and/or professional experience working with marginalized communities, deep and authentic alignment with the values of Union Settlement.

Roles and Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of Union Settlement’s external and internal communications work
Oversee the formulation and implementation of a communications/marketing plan for the agency – including press releases, brochures, website, branding, annual reports, and the generation of news articles – all designed to raise the profile of Union Settlement and help attract both donors and individuals in need of our services
Advise on strategic communications and media training for staff and departments with their own social media and email marketing
Set strategic communications goals, assessing team progress and performance, building productive inter-departmental relationships and assessing inter-departmental workflow
Measure and evaluate impact of media strategies
Along with the Chief Development Officer, determine organizational plans and priorities, make decisions, resolve problems, develop and/or approve policies, and help steward organizational change
Ensure communication of relevant activities, developments, changes, etc., to all staff via Union Settlement’s communications channels (biweekly reports, email, staff meetings)
Provide strong leadership and management to the communications team, and support the development team through volunteer engagement and outreach initiatives
Along with the development team, plan and support the Thanksgiving Turkey Drive and the Holiday Gift drive as well as other special events as needed
Foster and sustain collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing within and across departmental and functional lines
Work in collaboration with departments to solve problems, resolve conflicts, and develop more effective ways of working together
Prepare reports on status of Union Settlement’s communications work for Board and leadership as requested
Perform or other responsibilities or lead projects as assigned by the Chief Development Officer

Qualifications

Strong interest in and commitment, as well as actively model positive organizational culture, adherence to policies and protocols, respect for process, and Union Settlement’s mission, vision, and values
Demonstrated 6+ years of communications experience, including experience in a leadership role, and a demonstrated track record of results in media relations and social media
Experience working collaboratively with senior leadership
Experience working with social justice movements preferred
Record of success designing, implementing, and measuring narrative shift strategy
High level of competence in managing staff and teams
Commitment to open communication, teamwork and collaboration, accountability, and professionalism
Comfort working with a diverse population with myriad backgrounds and lived experiences
Experience with video recording and production preferred
Excellent leadership, planning and prioritization, communication, interpersonal, time management, and organizational skills
Ability to be productive in a fast-paced environment, effectively juggle multiple projects and meet deadlines while maintaining a positive and professional attitude
Ability to anticipate problems and use judgment appropriately to plan solutions and manage obstacles as they arise
Proficiency in MS Office, Canva, and Teams and other software’s as needed

UNION SETTLEMENT IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Union Settlement