Senior Communications Manager

Description:

The Senior Communications Manager at GMHC plays a pivotal role in crafting and executing a robust communications strategy designed to effectively engage both new and existing audiences. This position is key to keeping internal and external stakeholders informed, engaged, and actively involved with GMHC's mission. The manager ensures that communication across all levels of staff is clear, consistent, and effectively aligned with the organization’s core values and strategic initiatives. By positioning GMHC and its specialists as leading voices in LGBTQ+ and HIV civil rights arenas, the Senior Communications Manager significantly broadens the organization's impact and visibility. This role involves close collaboration with teams across the Communications, Policy, Program, and Development departments to enhance organizational capacity, produce impactful content, and expand GMHC’s outreach across diverse audiences.

Essential Job Functions

Internal/External Communications Strategy

• Ensure timely and effective communication of organizational updates, initiatives, and key messages across all departments.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive social media strategy that supports the organization’s communications, marketing, and fundraising goals.
• Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitor analytics to measure the success of social media initiatives, adjusting tactics as needed.

Content Creation and Storytelling

• Use storytelling to highlight staff achievements, program milestones, and organizational successes.
• Establish narratives and targets for extending our reach and deepening our engagement with supporters (subscribers, donors, activists, etc.) to amplify communications campaigns anchored in authentic voices.

Leadership Communication Support

• Partner with senior leadership and oversee the Communications Associate/Writer to draft messages, announcements, and speeches that reflect key priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Provide communications support for organizational events, town halls, and leadership meetings.

Employee Engagement and Culture Building

• Develop messages, materials, and communications vehicles for initiatives and campaigns that promote employee engagement, recognition, and morale, helping to cultivate a positive internal culture.
• Act as a liaison between leadership and staff, ensuring two-way communication and feedback are encouraged and addressed.

Communication Channels and Crisis Communication Management

• Channel Oversight: Manage and curate content across various communication channels, including the intranet/internet, social media, employee newsletters, and internal platforms, ensuring all messaging is engaging and accessible.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly assess and enhance the effectiveness of communication tools, seeking innovative platforms and methods to optimize organizational communications.
• Crisis Communication: Collaborate with the Senior VP of Communications and Brand to lead and manage communications during crises or significant organizational changes, ensuring communications are timely, clear, and sensitively delivered to maintain transparency and trust among staff.

Team Supervision and Development

• Oversee the Communications Associate/Writer providing clear guidance, feedback, and mentorship.
• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and professional growth within the team.

Collaboration and Cross-Departmental Communication

• Work closely with People Operations, Operations, and other departments to align messaging with organizational priorities and initiatives.
• Support the rollout of new policies, programs, and initiatives by developing clear and concise communication plans.
• Work closely with the Communications, Development, and Program teams to ensure social media content aligns with broader organizational goals.
• Partner with internal departments to highlight programs, events, and campaigns through social media storytelling.
• Work closely with Policy and programmatic teams and key stakeholders to uplift and position them for media/community relations including OpEds, articles, and collaborating with the Digital Team to ensure their digital profiles are complete.

Measurement and Reporting

• Track and analyze the effectiveness of communications efforts through surveys, feedback mechanisms, and engagement metrics.
• Provide insights and recommendations for continuous improvement in communications practices.

Special Skills and Knowledge

In addition to the above-listed, the ideal candidate for this position possesses most or all of the following:

• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management capabilities, able to handle multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Proficiency in managing internal communication tools and developing strategies that effectively inform and engage employees.

Requirements:

Education and Certification

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field; Advanced degree a plus
• 3+ years of experience in communications, preferably in a non-profit or mission-driven organization

Technical Skills

Required:

Adobe Creative Cloud:

• Advanced proficiency in Photoshop for photo editing and graphic manipulation.
• Skilled in InDesign for professional layout and design creation.
• Expertise in Illustrator for vector art and graphic design.

Microsoft Office Suite:

• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills for data analysis and financial modeling.
• Proficient in PowerPoint for creating and delivering compelling presentations.
• Advanced capabilities in Word for document formatting and report generation.

Web Development:

• Experienced in HTML and CSS for designing and maintaining websites.
• Proficient with WordPress and Elementor for managing site architecture and content updates.

Project and Campaign Management:

• Skilled in using project management tools like Basecamp, Trello, and Asana.
• Experienced with email marketing systems such as Constant Contact and MailChimp for campaign execution.

Preferred:

Social Media Platforms

• Proficient in managing and optimizing content across a variety of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube. Ability to tailor strategies and content specific to the unique audience and engagement dynamics of each platform.
• Skillful in planning, executing, and monitoring social media campaigns that enhance engagement and increase follower count.

Canva

• Experienced in using Canva for creating visually appealing graphic designs and multimedia content that align with brand guidelines. Capable of leveraging its features to produce marketing materials, presentations, and social media graphics efficiently.

Social Media Management & Analytics Tools

• Proficient in utilizing advanced social media management and analytics tools such as Meltwater or similar platforms to schedule posts, track engagement metrics, and analyze data to refine social media strategies.
• Capable of interpreting analytics to understand audience behavior and adjust content strategies accordingly to maximize impact and reach.

Video & Photo Editing Tools

• Adept in using video and photo editing software to produce professional-quality media for various communications channels.
• Experienced in editing tools to enhance visual storytelling through compelling videos and images that engage audiences and convey key messages effectively.

Work Environment & Schedule

This is a remote position:

• This role will perform their duties remotely, as directed by their supervisor and according to the specific requirements of the program or department.
• Participation in the annual AIDS Walk New York event is mandatory for all GMHC staff.

Physical Demands

While carrying out the responsibilities of this role:

• Sitting: The position predominantly involves sitting for extended periods, which is typical for office environments. The employee will be required to maintain this position while performing most of their daily tasks.
• Communication: Regular participation in conversations is necessary. This involves both speaking and actively listening to colleagues, stakeholders, and external partners during meetings, presentations, and one-on-one discussions.
• Note-Taking: The ability to listen attentively and take detailed notes during meetings and other communicative sessions is crucial. This often requires a high level of focus and the manual dexterity to write or type for prolonged periods.

Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially and gender-diverse environment and to contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at GMHC requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that we serve.

GMHC is committed to fostering an inclusive, racially, and gender-diverse workplace and seeks candidates dedicated to promoting equity and social justice within our community.