Jobs Board

Senior Communications Officer (East Bay Community Foundation)

Company Name

East Bay Community Foundation

Company City

Oakland

Company State

CA

Job Location

Oakland, CA

Company Information

Founded in 1928, EBCF was one of the nation’s first community foundations. Named the country’s “boldest” community foundation in 2019 by Inside Philanthropy, EBCF is dedicated to employing innovative strategies to advance an inclusive, fair, and just East Bay through four core program strategies.

• Arts and Culture for Social and Racial Justice
• Capacity Building with a Racial Equity Lens
• Community Organizing, Power Building, and Movement Building
• Fostering Inclusive Economic Models

With a strategic regional focus on Alameda and Contra Costa counties, EBCF works towards its framework of “A Just East Bay,” which includes grantmaking, impact investing strategies, and a new way of taking steps to build solidarity among donors and community. We commit to employing all of our resources in service to our mission and push beyond industry norms to offer uniquely impactful opportunities for our fund advisors to help build economic equity for all.

Join EBCF in eliminating structural barriers, advancing racial equity, and transforming political, social, and economic outcomes for all who call the East Bay home for generations to come.

Job Description

We’re seeking a collaborative communications powerhouse who has a strong racial justice and social justice background to join our team.

As a key storyteller for EBCF, the Senior Communications Officer will play a vital role in illustrating our bold approach to philanthropy and engaging a diverse range of audiences, including donors, fund advisors, institutional partners, funders, grantee partners, professional financial advisors, board members, and staff. As we approach our centennial in 2028, you will help shape the narrative around our history and its contemporary relevance.

As our lead content strategist and producer, the Senior Communications Officer works closely with the other members of the Marketing & Communications team to advise teams throughout the foundation and create a cohesive narrative for our audiences.

If you’ve built your career creating content that moves hearts and minds and operate with a growth mindset, you’ll find a good fit on our team. This is a great opportunity to apply your communications expertise to a philanthropic organization creating a new way of partnering with the entire social sector.

Primary Responsibilities:
These are the areas of work assigned to the Senior Communications Officer and we do not expect applicants to have experience in every area.

• Lead the development and implementation of a multi-channel content strategy and annual plan that advances progress toward organizational goals.
• Create blog posts, email newsletters, social media campaigns, case studies, reports, and more to explain and engage audiences in our work.
• Conduct independent research and interviews with staff, donors, and partners as the basis for compelling, relevant, and timely content.
• Draft press releases, position statements, and editorial content to build awareness of EBCF’s mission, vision of A Just East Bay, and perspective.
• Support President & CEO Brandi Howard with internal and external communications that increase transparency, inspire action, and bring our values to life.
• Prepare organizational talking points and messaging frameworks for interviews and events.
• Manage EBCF’s social media presence, creating campaigns and adapting content to engage audiences on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Draft and edit fundraising communications including direct mail letters, email appeals, and case statements, working closely with the Development team.
• Ensure EBCF’s virtual and in-person events offer rich brand engagement opportunities by supporting event leads through script, talking points, and presentation development.
• Manage the editorial calendar and content plan, fostering collaboration and transparency across departments.
• Maintain our editorial style guide codifying our written standards and style and provide guidance and support to staff at EBCF who use this resource to create content.
• Manage vendors related to the above areas of work to ensure projects stay on-brand, on-time, and on-budget.
• Collaborate with teams from across the organization to understand departmental initiatives and support their communications needs.
• Contribute to the development of team values principles and practices, as well as to overall organizational culture.

Reporting Relationships: The Senior Communications Officer reports directly to the Vice President of Marketing & Communications.

Job Qualifications

These are skills, abilities, knowledge, and experience qualifications we hope applicants will demonstrate in their application, but we do not expect applicants to possess all of these.

• 7+ years of communications experience, preferably in philanthropy, direct-service or advocacy organizations, journalism, and/or impact investing. Prior community foundation experience is an advantage but not a prerequisite.
• Expert writing skills and demonstrated experience writing various content formats including blog posts, fundraising communications, news releases, and/or commentary.
• Proven experience in a communications role at an organization or agency where you were responsible for developing and implementing content strategy and communications plans.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership and fundraising teams, pitching great ideas, and turning them into even better stories.
• Strong visual communications skills including proficiency in creating social media graphics and slide presentations are a plus. Affinity for a clean design aesthetic.
• Ability to work across departments with dynamic support needs and initiatives to achieve optimal outcomes.
• Ability to create and manage content review process and timelines, communicate expectations, and balance competing priorities. Experience working in project management software like Asana is a plus.
• Ability to work in a hybrid work environment, joining and leading in-person and online meetings as needed and performing job responsibilities using Slack and Microsoft 365 applications including SharePoint.
• Knowledge of East Bay communities, nonprofits, funders, and government agencies.
• Knowledge of storytelling best practices, including current practices for centering community power, ethical story-telling, and asset-framing, and a mindset that language is fluid not absolute.
• Commitment to being part of a team, growing through two-way feedback, accountability, openness to respectful and productive conflict, and attention to results.
• Strong racial justice and social justice background, with the ability to listen, learn, and communicate issues related to power, privilege, and identity with integrity and authenticity.

Salary and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $97,000 – $117,000.

EBCF offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement savings plan with 5% employee match, group term life insurance, disability insurance, 15 days of paid time off in year one, 20 days in year two and thereafter, sick leave, and 17 paid holidays per year. Plus, a Flexible Spending Account, an Employee Assistance Program, an annual professional development budget, commuter benefits, and matching gifts program.

COVID-19 Vaccination: All employees are required to adhere to EBCF’s COVID-19 policies.

How to Apply

To apply, please email a combined PDF or Microsoft Word file of a cover letter and résumé to . Please use the subject line: EBCF Senior Communications Officer.

In your cover letter, please share how your experience matches the job description and why you are interested in working for East Bay Community Foundation.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

The East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF) is an equal-opportunity employer with a commitment to racial justice and racial equity. EBCF does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law and is an employment-at-will organization. The Foundation welcomes and encourages people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ people, and members of other historically disenfranchised groups to apply.

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