Communications Director

Founded in 1988, Food & Friends provides freshly prepared meals, nutrition support, and friendship to people living with AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and other life challenging illnesses. Our team of seventy employees and thousands of volunteers delivers meals and hope to people living in the District of Columbia and multiple counties across Maryland and Virginia. There is no charge or income qualification for our services, which are rendered solely on the basis of medical need.  

Food & Friends seeks a Communications Director to strategically lead and coordinate our communications program to position Food & Friends as a leader in the Food as Medicine movement and support fundraising and operations.  Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Communications Director will: 

• collaboratively develop and manage an integrated strategic communications plan across a variety of platforms (print, digital, broadcast media, video)  to promote and position Food & Friends’ brand;  
• create and execute media campaigns highlighting fundraising initiatives, service programs, and organizational achievements; 
• produce written, visual, and video-based content; develop talking points, op-eds, press releases, and donor impact reports; 
• supervise a Communications Manager focused on digital communications, web and social media;  
• lead monthly editorial meetings and maintain the organization-wide editorial calendar; and  
• build and foster relationships with the Board communications committee, diverse media entities, and vendors. 

 This is a fantastic opportunity for a seasoned communications professional to apply their talents on behalf of a well-established and growing regional charity.  Must be willing to work in a traditional office environment.  

The successful candidate will be a strategically-minded professional with experience in marketing and brand management and familiarity with a variety of traditional and digital communications platforms.  Requires at least 7-10 years related experience and a valid driver’s license. Must have a minimum of 3 years of experience with online/digital fundraising, email marketing campaigns, or related interactive customer relationship management. Additional requirements include superb written and verbal communications skills; excellent project management skills; mastery of a variety of communications mediums including print, web, social media, and video; knowledge of content management systems (preferably WordPress), basic HTML, SEO, Google Analytics, video editing software, and graphic design applications (preferably Adobe Creative Suite); and an appreciation for diversity. Must have a marketing mindset with a skill for storytelling and making compelling media pitches. Offer of employment contingent upon a pre-employment drug test. 

Food & Friends provides generous benefits, including medical, dental, disability, retirement plan, paid maternity/paternity leave, weekly short Fridays, and three weeks of paid leave for new hires. Food & Friends is Metro accessible and has free on-site parking.