Nonprofit Marketing & Communications Manager

Join the Last Mile Education Fund team to help students in tech finish their degrees!
Overview Of Last Mile Education Fund
The Last Mile Education Fund invests in the next generation of technology talent. We offer a disruptive approach to increasing diversity in tech and engineering fields by addressing critical gaps in financial support for college students facing obstacles to graduation. We disrupt the traditional scholarship model by investing in students based on our four pillars: Agility, Abundance, Investment Mindset, and Creating a Virtuous Circle. Last Mile is a rapidly scaling organization that is building our marketing and communications function.
Position Overview
The Marketing & Communications Manager develops and executes a consistent, engaging and motivating marketing and communications strategy for Last Mile’s diverse audiences. The Marketing & Communications Manager is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of all branding, marketing, communications, and public relations activities. They deploy activity across channels, develop and design content, and create narratives around Last Mile’s activities and outcomes.
The Marketing & Communications Manager collaborates with the entire Last Mile team to create cohesive, comprehensive branding, messaging, and marketing materials that present an authentic public image of Last Mile’s mission, grantees and work. They will partner with the CEO to develop and execute a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy that places the voices of our leadership, grantees, and partners on the national stage, enabling us to influence institutions, employers, and policymakers to implement systems-level improvements to serve low-income students. The Marketing & Communications Manager reports to the Chief of Strategy & Operations and manages contractors as needed.
This position has geographic flexibility and can be performed remotely. The Last Mile team is fully remote and geographically dispersed currently between Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Texas, and Washington. Travel is required quarterly to participate in team-wide convenings and operational meetings.
Role And Responsibilities
Marketing Strategy (30%)

• Develop and maintain global communications strategy, plans, editorial calendars, and communications roadmaps.
• Build upon existing branding guide to create organizational consistency.
• Establish and maintain Last Mile’s marketing strategy and plans.
• Approach communications from a grantee-centered perspective that embodies Last Mile’s four pillars.
• Lead branding strategy and management.
• Monitor the use of Last Mile’s brand guide across all marketing materials, communications, and branded assets.
• Support relationships with Last Mile’s partners as the marketing and communications lead.
• Prioritize creative, engaging storytelling in our communications channels.

General Communications and Marketing (50%)

• Manage social media profiles and posts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms.
• Oversee social media strategy and digital advertising campaigns.
• Develop and manage the public relations, marketing, and communications schedule, including our monthly newsletter, social media posts, graduation gifts and other recurring communications events.
• Communicate Last Mile’s impact, both qualitative and quantitative, on a consistent basis.
• Develop and continuously improve marketing materials for Last Mile’s funds.
• Ensure that marketing materials support Last Mile’s strategic partner relationships.
• Create content and develop marketing materials for use by the Outreach and Engagement Team.
• Utilize data regarding audience engagement for continuous improvement.
• Partner with Last Mile CEO on a public relations impact strategy. Write and promote press releases, pitch stories to press contacts, and author pieces with Last Mile staff for blogs, articles, interviews, etc.
• Support Last Mile’s industry conference participation through session proposals, presentation creation, and session promotion.
• Plan and execute events for staff, grantees, donors, and other stakeholders.

Fiscal Year Projects and Support (20%)

• Oversee content and graphic design creation for annual fundraising campaigns. Manage the communications-related execution of fundraising campaigns.
• Oversee the design and release of Last Mile’s Annual Impact Report and other periodic reports.
• Lead the creation of presentations for Board of Directors and Champions Board meetings.

Requirements
Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field preferred.
• Experience developing and managing marketing & communications strategies and annual plans.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in marketing and/or communications with demonstrated success in the nonprofit or social enterprise sector working with rapidly scaling organizations with a minimum of 2 year managing an organization-wide marketing and communications function. Minimum of 7 years of experience without a degree.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
Our mission and context

• Understanding of nonprofit practices and mission-driven communications
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously to meet deadlines
• Deep understanding of and empathy for low-income college students, their assets to the workforce and the challenges they face to program completion and securing jobs
• Ability to work as a member of a diverse team in a rapidly-scaling nonprofit environment

Strategy and management

• Experience creating and implementing strategic marketing and communication plans
• Demonstrated skills, knowledge, and experience in the design and execution of branding, marketing, communications, and public relations activities
• Ability to lead within a fully remote team and manage remote staff
• Ability to analyze the results of communication strategies and adapt accordingly for greater impact

Marketing and communications

• Experience designing and managing digital advertising campaigns
• Experience producing and editing content, including press releases, newsletters, videos, presentation decks, website copy, and social media posts
• Experience with audio and/or video production
• Ability to use quantitative and qualitative data to craft effective marketing and communications messages
• Ability to identify opportunities for storytelling and execute stories across various marketing channels

Technology

• Ability to manage communications technology and website platforms
• Literacy with Microsoft Office Suite and SharePoint, and the ability to learn new technology programs/skills quickly
• Proficiency with all relevant social media platforms, including Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
• Proficiency with Canva, Adobe Illustrator, and/or other graphic design software

General skills

• Strong creative, strategic, analytical, and organizational skills
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Copywriting and proofreading skills
• Keen eye for graphic design, attention to detail, and creativity

Benefits
Compensation & Benefits
The Marketing & Communication Manager's salary ranges from $75,000 to $85,000 commensurate with experience and education. As a member of our team, you will receive a competitive salary and an outstanding benefits package including:

• 4 weeks of paid vacation leave
• And more!!
• 401k retirement plan with up to a 6% employer match
• Gold health plan, dental & vision insurance (100% employer paid for employees and 90% paid for dependents!!)
• Health savings account with an employer contribution
• 18 paid holidays
• Short-term, long-term, and life insurance 100% employer paid