Communications Manager

Title: Communications Manager

Location: Baltimore, MD - Hybrid Work Environment

Salary Range: $87,500 with full benefits package

Reports to: VP of External Affairs

Baltimore Focus: Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) is a Baltimore-centric and focused organization. BCYF has hiring requirements from the City of Baltimore to make best efforts to hire Baltimore residents first. Although the City allows consideration of qualified applicants residing outside of Baltimore, BCYF is committed to hiring the best people for the roles who know Baltimore, and the community, grassroots organizations, and ecosystem it is committed to serve. All positions will be posted with the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development in accordance with the Local Hiring Law.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

All exempt hires are subject to annual financial disclosure requirements to the City of Baltimore Ethics Board. Cut and paste the financial disclosure requirements link to view https://ethics.baltimorecity.gov/financial-disclosure

ABOUT BALTIMORE CHILDREN & YOUTH FUND

BCYF is committed to ensure that our children and youth are healthy, ready to succeed in school, and live in stable, safe, and supportive families and communities. We do more than grantmaking, we collaborate with grassroots organizations and community leaders to create new opportunities for the city’s young people to learn, thrive and succeed. BCYF awards grants to organizations that provide programs to thousands of Baltimore's young people -- from academic support and science exploration to dance and photography. BCYF is committed to authentic community engagement, and our strategy and grant decisions are shaped and led by Baltimore community members and youth leaders. Our core values of Ubuntu (a southern African term that expresses the idea that an individual’s well being is rooted in the community), Racial Justice, Intergenerational Leadership, and Community Ownership direct our partnerships with organizations that share our Black liberation worldview. Through our strategic investments, we strive to resource a future where children and youth throughout the city enjoy access to high-caliber enrichment and learning opportunities, and children and youth programs have the resources they need to equitably serve all our young people.

Click here to learn more about our story and our guiding values and principles.

This is a full-time position with full benefits, including health insurance, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, paid parental leave, paid holidays, internet allowance, paid mileage for local travel, and support for professional development opportunities.

Because Baltimore City is at the heart of our work, travel within the City is required. The ideal candidate will have an awareness of the social dynamics impacting the City and of the historical system of oppression that influences views of the City. The ideal candidate will navigate the City and interact with its citizens with a sensitivity to these factors.

BCYF provides a hybrid working environment that gives staff the flexibility to work remotely when not required for in-person meetings or tasks.

BCYF has a COVID-19 vaccination policy that requires employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment unless they have a medical or religious exemption. If offered the position, you will be required to provide evidence that you are fully vaccinated.

POSITION OVERVIEW

BCYF is seeking a detail-oriented, creative, and strategic Communications Manager to lead the day-to-day execution of the organization’s communications activities. Reporting to the Vice President of External Affairs, the Communications Manager will oversee content production and brand messaging across digital, print, and internal platforms. This role will supervise the Graphic Designer and Creative Content Associate, manage communications project workflows, and ensure all content aligns with BCYF’s mission, values, and communication strategy.

ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• While no candidate will possess every quality, the successful candidate will possess many of the following experience and attributes. (Preference will be given to candidates with a proven track record of scaling a start-up nonprofit or philanthropic organization.) Even if you aren’t sure but are excited about the position, we encourage you to apply!

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Team Leadership & Management

• Supervise and support the Graphic Designer and Creative Content Associate.
• Manage the workflow of Communications Team deliverables, including content development, timelines, approval processes, and campaign coordination.
• Maintain and oversee a content calendar to ensure timely, consistent, and strategic communication across platforms.
• Ensure all communications materials are aligned with BCYF’s voice, values, and visual identity.

Content Development & Messaging

• Produce and edit a wide range of communications materials, including website pages, social media posts, newsletters, programmatic emails, blog posts, event announcements and recaps, press materials, and internal communications (e.g., talking points and staff updates).
• Adapt messaging and design for different platforms and audiences while maintaining a cohesive brand narrative.
• Ensure all materials are properly formatted for print, web, and social media.

Social Media Management

• Manage BCYF’s social media accounts, including content creation, scheduling, posting, and performance monitoring.
• Monitor social media trends and platform algorithm changes; recommend adjustments to content and tone to maximize reach and engagement.

Vendor Engagement & Coordination

• Coordinate with external vendors, including printers, advertising agencies, and billboard companies, to ensure successful execution of communications campaigns.
• Manage production timelines, budgets, and brand compliance for all outsourced materials and advertising efforts.

Other Duties as Assigned

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills across a variety of formats and channels.
• Experience managing content workflows and project timelines.
• Proven ability to manage and mentor creative team members.
• Working knowledge of digital communications platforms and tools, including social media management and analytics.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and communicate effectively with internal and external partners.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills and a commitment to community-centered storytelling.

Preferred:

• Experience in nonprofit, community engagement, or mission-driven organizations.
• Working knowledge of visual design, photo/video content production, or basic HTML is a plus.
• Experience working in ClickUp or another project management tool.

Core Competencies: BCYF has identified eight core competencies for all BCYF employees. These competencies are the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that will align the staff in operationalizing the BCYF values.

• Collaborating and building relationships: Seeks information and input from other groups or teams when working on projects that will affect others. Willingly shares information with other groups or teams to help others reach their goals. Develops and maintains positive relationships with people in other departments and groups
• Data-Informed action: Speaking with real data, Performance and improvements should be tangible and visible; Take personal responsibility for the success of the group. Accountability. Seek solutions and continuous improvement
• Demonstrating strategic agility: Ensures organizational, as well as personal objectives are met. Maintains a positive outlook to support the adoption of change and advance progress. Willingly transitions when new methods or systems are implemented. Takes the lead in team improvement and/or setting new business directions.
• Developing the potential of self and others: Looks for opportunities to learn and develop new skills. Searches for stretch assignments for self and/or direct reports. Finds ways to leverage others’ talents and strengths. Takes time to self-reflect and identify areas for self-improvement. When appropriate, provide timely, direct, and actionable positive and corrective feedback to others.
• Exercising integrity and credibility: Shares information in an honest and direct manner. Is seen as a truthful individual who can and will present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful way. Always lets people know where they stand. Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said. Provides timely, direct, and actionable positive and corrective feedback to others.
• Focus on our service to our stakeholders: Humbly work to support our stakeholders, getting proximate with people, using asset-based approaches to co-create solutions, and prioritizing the experience of our stakeholders.
• Fostering a radically inclusive community: Builds work products and interactions with intention. Examines personal bias and champions and models strategies for inclusion. Approaches conflicts as opportunities for improvement. Listens to understand different perspectives and interests. Builds agreement based on common ground. Able to resolve tough issues and settle disputes equitably.
• Stewarding resources responsibly: BCYF aims to create value and eliminate waste by managing all resources carefully and responsibly. Determining choice points with resources in alignment with BCYF values. Ethical and efficient use of resources, including financial, human, physical, environment, safety, information, and technology resources.
• Remote Work: Effectively perform their role in a remote with the skills of digital proficiency, digital work and development management, and digital culture.

Equal Opportunity

BCYF is a 501c3 organization. We are firmly committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal opportunity (“EEO”) laws. BCYF strictly prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of the individual’s race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, height or weight, disability, gender identity or expression, medical condition, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related conditions, marital status, partnership status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, military status, arrest record and any other characteristic protected by law. Accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application. While performing the responsibilities of the job, accommodations will be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.