SVP, Marketing & Communications

This is an in-person position that requires 4 days a week in our Philadelphia office. This position will require travel.

For nearly six decades, OIC of America has stood as a beacon of possibility, transforming lives through the radical act of believing in human potential. Born from the civil rights movement with a vision that everyone deserves opportunity regardless of circumstance, we carry forward this legacy with unwavering conviction.

Strategically located in the hearts of forgotten places, OIC of America deeply connects with the authentic needs of the people we serve. We’re leveraging 60 years of experience to transform the lives of individuals and strengthen the fabric of communities through meaningful participation in today’s economy.

Our Vision

To be an equalizer for poor communities by providing quality education and training through a national network of local affiliates. We believe investing in people is the answer to addressing the national labor shortage. We know we can ensure people of all races and all backgrounds are successful for the good jobs America’s employers need to fill.

Our Mission

We’re fighting for a country where all communities can support themselves and their families. Through collaboration and commitment, we break cycles of poverty and injustice to create a more just society. For everyone.

Position Summary

OICA has reached an inflection point. Strong programs, a compelling legacy, and major national investment (including a $5M gift from MacKenzie Scott) have not yet been matched by an equally strong external voice. Marketing and communications at OICA today are largely reactive, responding to press inquiries, producing materials on demand, supporting whichever program asks loudest. The organization now needs someone to build something that doesn't yet exist: a proactive, strategic marketing and communications engine that positions OICA as the definitive national leader in workforce development, wins the attention of corporate partners and public officials, and fuels the growth of STN, STEM, and Project North Star.

This is a builder's role. The SVP will design the strategy, stand up the team and systems, and be judged on tangible outcomes: national visibility, corporate and government partnerships, and a stronger pipeline of funding and support for OICA's growth initiatives.

The Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications is a newly elevated, executive-level role responsible for building and leading OICA's national marketing, communications, brand, and public affairs strategy. Reporting directly to the President & CEO and serving as a core member of the executive leadership team, the SVP will move OICA from ad hoc, program-by-program marketing to an integrated, growth-oriented marketing function that builds market credibility with corporations, philanthropy, and public officials, and drives measurable growth for STN, STEM, and Project North Star.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Marketing & Brand Leadership

• Develop and execute an integrated national marketing and communications strategy that elevates OICA's brand and directly supports growth targets for STN, STEM, and SOAR on a national scale.
• Shift the function from reactive execution to proactive, data-informed strategy, with clear goals, campaigns, and measurement tied to organizational growth.
• Build a consistent national brand identity and narrative across the OICA network of affiliates, ensuring local voices roll up into one credible national story.

Corporate & Public Sector Engagement

• Build a marketing and communications engine specifically designed to attract corporate partners seeking workforce solutions and employer partnerships.
• Develop positioning, collateral, and campaigns that make the case to corporations for investing in and partnering with OICA's training pipeline.
• Develop corporate sponsorship packages for STN, STEM
• Create the visibility and credibility needed to engage public officials and policymakers at the local, state, and federal level in support of OICA's advocacy and funding priorities.
• Partner closely with development, government affairs, and program leadership to align marketing with fundraising, advocacy, and partnership goals.

Public Relations & Thought Leadership

• Position the President & CEO and other OICA leaders as national thought leaders on workforce development, economic mobility, and the skills gap.
• Develop speeches and talking points for President & CEO for a variety of stakeholders (public officials, funders, employer partners)
• Build proactive national media relationships and secure earned media coverage in business, policy, and trade press.
• Develop OICA's point of view on the industries most relevant to its work, skilled trades, STEM, construction, and workforce policy.

Digital, Content & Channel Strategy

• Modernize OICA's digital presence, website, social, email, and content, to reflect a national, credible, growth-stage organization.
• Build repeatable content systems (impact stories, data, case studies, advocacy materials, employer collateral & communications) that can be used across fundraising, sales to employers, and public affairs.
• Establish metrics and reporting that connect marketing activity to visibility, partnership, and revenue outcomes.

Team & Infrastructure Building

• Build out the marketing and communications function, team, agency partners, vendors, and systems, appropriately scaled to a $13+M organization with national ambitions.
• Establish processes, budgets, reporting and workflows that let the function operate proactively rather than firefighting.
• Mentor and develop marketing and communications talent across the national office and affiliate network.

Key performance indicator for this position will be OICA brand awareness on national stage, lead generation, engagement across all stakeholders and campaign effectiveness.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of progressive marketing, communications, brand, or public affairs leadership experience, including at least 3-5 years in a senior/executive-level role building a function from the ground up or transforming one.
• A track record of building marketing engines that generate corporate partnerships, sponsorships, or B2B/enterprise relationships, nonprofit, association, or corporate experience all considered.
• Experience engaging and building credibility with public officials, government affairs, or policy audiences.
• Proven ability to move an organization from reactive to proactive, strategic marketing, with real examples of the shift you led and the results it produced.
• Strong command of brand strategy, public relations, digital marketing, and content strategy, with the judgment to know when to lead personally and when to build a team to execute.
• Experience marketing a growth-stage or startup initiative within a larger organization is a strong plus, particularly in workforce development, education, skilled trades, STEM, or economic mobility.
• Exceptional writing, storytelling, and executive presence; comfortable representing the organization to CEOs, funders, and elected officials.
• Genuine alignment with OICA's mission and the legacy of Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan: helping people help themselves.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in marketing, communications, business, or a related field is a plus.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties, as necessary.

Compensation:

The salary range for this position is $200,000-225,000 based on a 37.5-hour work week for this exempt position. Salary offered may vary depending on relevant factors as determined by OIC of America, which may include, but are not limited to, background and experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, certifications and licensures internal salary ranges, geographic location and other organizational needs.

ADA Specifications:

• Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
• Ability to learn/translate/refer to technical material and produce extensive written communications.
• Ability to travel to external meetings both locally and nationally, including periodic overnight travel.
• Normal work requires frequent use of the telephone and computer (monitor, keyboard, mouse).
• Ability to be mobile at meetings and events.
• May be required to move about frequently in the office to access file cabinets, office equipment, attend meetings, etc.
• May require standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time during meetings and conferences.
• Must be able to communicate in large gatherings and conduct information sessions with technology so others will understand.

Applicants in need of special assistance or accommodation during the interview process or in accessing our website may contact us by sending an email to kpasquarella@oicofamerica.org. In your email, please include your name and preferred method of contact, and we will respond as soon as possible.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to attracting and maintaining a diverse work force. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, status as a crime victim, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristics protected by federal and Philadelphia and Pennsylvania state laws.

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