Project Manager, Marketing And Communications

The James Beard Foundation (“JBF”) is a vital cultural institution with deep roots honoring and advancing the culinary arts industry for over 30 years. JBF’s mission is to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability. As a 501(c) (3) national non-profit organization, JBF brings its mission to life through the annual James Beard Awards, industry and community-focused initiatives and programs, advocacy, partnerships, and events nationwide.

The Marketing & Communications department manages all external marketing, press, and communications for the Foundation including: program and event collateral (print and digital); digital and print marketing assets; press releases and official statements; website and social media presence; and co-branded content and print assets. The team oversees the James Beard Foundation brand, including logo/IP usage, tonality of messaging, internal communications, and crisis response.

The Project Manager, Marketing and Communications is a critical role that works across all departments and teams within the Foundation. Your job will be to liaise with each department across the organization to forecast and manage the schedule for drafting, designing, reviewing, and approving all marketing and communication deliverables. You will work closely with the Foundation’s design team (Art Director and project manager) to ensure timely completion of all projects routed through the Marketing and Communications department. Project Manager duties include implementing processes and efficiencies for working across the organization, developing detailed timelines for all marketing and communications assets, ensuring resource availability and allocation, including shifting schedules to ensure bandwidth is managed, and maintaining holistic tracking within our project management software, Monday.com. The Project Manager, Marketing and Communications will report directly to the Vice President, Marketing and Communications.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Operational Efficiency:

• Develop detailed timelines for asset needs for all programs, projects, or events
• Manage the relationship with all internal stakeholders and cross-departmental collaboration
• Monitor for potential bandwidth/backlog issues with the design team and proactively shift project timelines and schedules accordingly
• Collaborate with external consultants, including event planners and marketing/content firms to ensure procurement of up-to-date assets such as sponsor logos, copy, etc., and routing for approvals
• Create and maintain a comprehensive project documentation system in Monday.com. Develop and recommend implementation of new project management processes

Collateral Creation:

• Create flow charts for project timing throughout the year. Notify team leaders/liaisons of upcoming deadlines
• Oversee day-to-day collateral for all major JBF special events and sponsor activations, including Awards, Taste America, Food Summit conference, JBF Gala for Good, Leadership Awards; and special projects fundraising initiatives, the Annual Report, sales, membership; and general JBF branded materials
• Manage staff requests and deadlines on Monday.com; Manage all design team deliverables and deadlines
• Track the success and efficiency of various materials and systems and suggest improvements
• Identify potential issues and work proactively to resolve them
• Edit text for collateral materials, including JBF brochures, signage, etc

Communications:

Misc.:

• Report on project status at weekly department meetings
• Archives: Keep copies of programs and printed materials for JBF archives

Requirements

To be effective in this role, key core competencies and personal characteristics include:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as a member of various teams and committees
• Commitment to excellence and high standards
• Good judgment with the ability to make timely and sound decisions
• Strong, organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills; able to manage priorities and workflow
• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing large projects across multiple teams and external partners
• 3+ years program/project management experience including experience creating action plans, and ability to manage multiple projects and effectively complete projects with tight deadlines
• Strong sense of initiative, self-starter with a drive to succeed
• Ability to deal effectively with the diversity of individuals at all organizational levels

Benefits

The salary range for this position is $64,500 - $66,500.

Benefits

JBF offers its employees a dynamic work environment with benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents; life insurance; flexible spending account; commuter benefits; retirement savings; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement/ professional development; and generous paid time off. We also offer fertility planning support and up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Additional perks include staff events, tickets to events at Platform by JBF (Pier 57), and much more.

The Foundation currently works a hybrid schedule that requires employees to be in our NYC office 2-3 days per week. This position is not eligible for relocation.