Position: Regular, full-time, exempt

Department: Marketing & Communications 

Reports to: Director of Public Relations & Communications

Supervises: N/A

Summary: The Cleveland Foundation is seeking a communications leader and experienced writer to elevate the Cleveland Foundation’s strategic direction, impact and leadership on key issues. This includes providing strategic communications counsel to leaders across the organization and leveraging purposeful messaging and thought leadership strategies to advance the foundation’s work. 

This role involves writing executive speeches and remarks, developing core and key messaging, white papers, articles and blogs, as well as content for print, web, events and other media. This position also serves as a strategic advisor for media relations and reputation management, working closely with the Director of Public Relations and Communications on local and national earned media.

Responsibilities and Expected Outcomes:

• Conduct research and write for the president and CEO and executive team, including speeches, talking points, op-eds, briefings and other materials.
• Develop, regularly update and lead the implementation of the Cleveland Foundation thought leadership strategy, serving as the primary contact internally and with partner agencies. Vet and provide recommendations on external speaking requests and engagements align with foundation’s priorities and community role. 
• Maintain an editorial calendar of secured and pending speaking opportunities and proactively identify support needs for success.
• Actively monitor current events and civic issues on a regional and national level as well as in the philanthropic field to ensure that writing is authoritative and reflects up-to-the-minute developments; proactively identify opportunities for foundation to have a voice in relevant and timely conversations
• Develop key messages for the foundation to tell our brand story and convey our strategic priorities in a compelling and engaging way for multiple audiences
• Manage the development and execution of media relations plans for signature events and foundation announcements, including drafting materials and talking points, and preparing leaders for interviews. 
• Build and maintain relationships with key media contacts and proactively identify pitching opportunities for the foundation in local, national and trade media. 
• Elevate the impact of internal communications by supporting president & CEO with internal messages and ensuring that staff are engaged on key issues and initiatives.
• Provide strategic guidance on communications response to reputational issues and risks.
• Act as primary steward for the maintenance of the TCF crisis communications plan
• Ensure business and brand strategies are consistently reinforced in communications, talking points and content.

Essential Qualifications, Credentials and Technical Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, marketing or related field
• 6+ years of professional communications or professional writing experience; agency experience is a plus
• Exceptional writing skills in a broad range of styles including feature writing, speechwriting, issues management and crisis response. AP Style writing and proofreading ability required.
• Experience working with and writing for an executive-level leader (i.e. public official, corporate or non-profit leader)
• Demonstrated ability to write effectively for diverse audiences, including media, employees, donors, grantees, business and community leaders
• Ability to produce communications in multiple formats, including print, digital, broadcast, presentations, and multimedia
• Extraordinary command of the English language; well versed in AP style; penchant for accuracy, details and precision
• Strategic thinking with a bias toward execution
• Excellent interpersonal skills and diplomacy; strong service orientation with experience collaborating as part of a multidisciplinary team and working effectively with a diverse group of people and communities, both internally and externally
• High level of creativity and flexibility
• Ability to multitask, manage many projects simultaneously in a fast-paced work environment, and meet multiple deadlines
• The ability to maintain confidence when working with sensitive information
• Some experience working across CRM platforms including Salesforce 

PAY AND BENEFITS

The foundation’s compensation program estimates a minimum annual salary of $75,000 for this position, with flexibility to adjust based on the candidate's educational background, professional experience, community involvement, and overall qualifications.

The foundation offers an exceptional benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, identity theft, and life and disability coverage, a comprehensive wellness program, an employee assistance program, a fully vested 403(b) retirement plan, ten paid holidays, and, for exempt positions, 15 days of vacation and 12 sick days, prorated the first year of service based on the date of hire.  

TO APPLY

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter as soon as possible. This post will remain active until the position is filled. We regret that we cannot respond personally to each applicant. 

Note: Our flexible workplace policy provides one day of remote work per week.