Full-time, Exempt 

Reports to Chief Director of Growth and Engagement

Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) is seeking a passionate, driven individual with the desire to learn, grow, and excel in a culture that values every member of the team. DSF was named one of the Denver’s Top Workplaces in 2026 (7 year recipient of Top Workplaces), a testament to our team and to our intentionality in co-creating a positive, inclusive work environment. When you join the DSF team, you will enjoy a supportive, and innovative environment where your work has a profound impact on the lives of students and their families.
 

As a nonprofit organization, DSF’s mission is to inspire and empower DPS students to enroll in and graduate from postsecondary institutions of higher education, by providing the tools, knowledge, and financial resources essential for success. By embodying the core values of equity, innovation, leadership, learning, relationships, and integrity in everything we do. DSF strives to be a leader within the community, as we constantly seek to improve our services, we build strong relationships with college staff members, partners, students, team members and the broader community. We are committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, believing in the value and ability of all students and team members.

We seek candidates who will model, live, and reinforce DSF’s mission and core values with colleagues, students, families, and the broader community. If you are passionate about the philosophy and mission of DSF, then we invite you to join us and help make college possible for Denver's students.

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, serves as the strategic leader of DSF’s brand, storytelling and communications efforts and is a key member of the Growth and Engagement leadership team. This role oversees and supervises the development and implementation of DSF’s overall marketing, communications, public relations, and media strategies that strengthen DSF’s visibility, deepen engagement with key audiences and directly support the organization ’s programmatic, fundraising, and community impact goals. This position works to ensure that the highest strategic priorities of the organization are realized through branding, messaging and externally facing channels. The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications is a visionary, creative, energetic, and strategic-minded professional who is responsible for stewarding all aspects of communication and marketing while overseeing a multifunctional team to do the same. This role partners closely with other members of the Growth and Engagement leadership team, Programs and Executive Leadership to ensure communications effectively reach and resonate with donors, partners, students, and the broader community. Successful candidates for this role demonstrate strong leadership skills, manage multiple projects simultaneously, thrive in a fast-paced environment, value working collaboratively with colleagues while showing concern for people and community— demonstrate presence, self-confidence, common sense, public speaking, good listening, and bring experience in staff supervision, motivation, media, public relations, and professional development.

Strategic Ownership

• Organizational brand, voice, and messaging strategy
• Communications planning, prioritization, and alignment across departments
• Fundraising communications strategy (campaigns, appeals, donor engagement)
• Program communications strategy supporting students, Scholars, families and partners
• Content and storytelling strategy across all platforms
• Media relations and public positioning
• Audience engagement and channel strategy
• Marketing data analysis and interpretation

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy aligned with DSF’s strategic plan, organizational, and Growth and Engagement Team goals
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Chief Growth & Engagement Officer and Growth and Sr. Director of Individual Philanthropy      to ensure communications directly support fundraising outcomes, donor acquisition, and engagement strategies
• Align messaging, storytelling, and campaigns across fundraising, programs, and community engagement
• Participate in Growth and Engagement planning, contributing to revenue strategy, campaign planning, and audience      segmentation
• Partner with Executive Leadership to align strategic communications with organizational priorities and external positioning
• Develop strategic, creative marketing, content, and campaigns across diverse media channels to increase target audience      participation in and support of key initiatives
• Oversee research and interpretation of customer and audience information

Narrative, Brand & Content Strategy

• Define and steward DSF’s organizational narrative to ensure clarity, consistency, and emotional resonance across all audiences
• Ensure all communications reflect DSF’s mission, values, and impact while supporting both fundraising and programmatic priorities
• Oversee development and approval of high-quality content including campaigns, digital communications, publications, program-facing materials, and leadership communications
• Maintain and evolve DSF’s brand standards, ensuring consistency across all materials and platforms
• Create and share talking points with DSF Board members and staff

Media, Public Relations & External Positioning

• Lead DSF’s media and public relations strategy to increase visibility and strengthen public positioning
• Build and steward relationships with key media outlets and partners
• Serve as spokesperson as needed and prepare organizational leaders for media engagement
• Collaborate and lead joint messaging, media and PR opportunities with partner organizations  

Program and Engagement Communications

• Collaborate with Sr. Director of Individual Philanthropy to design and execute messaging and engagement in support of integrated fundraising campaigns, including annual giving, Colorado Gives Day, major gift storytelling, and event-related communications
• Develop messaging strategies that support donor acquisition, retention, and upgrade across giving levels
• Ensure communications effectively support donor stewardship, cultivation, and engagement experiences
• Collaborate with the Events team to align communications with event strategy and outcomes
• Partner with Program teams to ensure clear, accessible,  and effective communications for students, Scholars, families, and partners
• Ensure messaging reflects DSF’s impact across the full student journey and community ecosystem
• Work with external partners including college partners, funding, and community partners on joint messaging opportunities

Data, Performance & Audience Insights

• Define and track key performance indicators for communications effectiveness, including engagement, reach, conversion, and fundraising impact
• Use data (digital analytics, campaign performance, audience insights) to inform strategy and decision-making
• Continuously refine audience segmentation and channel strategies to improve engagement and outcomes

Coaching and Workflow Management

• Provide oversight, supervision, and mentorship to the Communications Manager, Digital Marketing and Social Media Coordinator, and Creative Design Manager
• Establish clear systems for prioritizing communications requests across departments, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities 
• Create and manage editorial calendars and campaign planning processes that support organizational goals
• Implement workflows that improve efficiency, clarity, and cross-team coordination
• Build and manage an annual budget to achieve marketing and communications goals
• Provide oversight to outside agencies, vendors, and consultants

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably with a concentration in advertising, marketing, business administration, or communications with a minimum of 10 years in successful marketing and management experience.
• Experience using digital and social advertising platforms, tools, and campaigns to support fundraising initiatives and increase brand awareness.
• Experience creating high-quality content for consumption, including writing for the web, print, and social media, and editing and proofreading to ensure a high level of quality control
• Overarching brand ownership and storytelling expertise for an organization of our size
• Translating data and organizational performance metrics into storytelling

Benefits

• $114,000 to $142,000
• 401(k) plan with $ for $ match of up to 5%
• Group health, dental, and vision insurance, low-cost premium plans offered. DSF pays for 90% of employee only and 70% of dependent plans.
• Life Insurance that provides 2 Times Your Annual Salary
• Free Annual Eco RTD Bus Pass
• Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Short Term Disability Supplement (Based on Years of Service)
• Paid holidays (includes Winter Break and Summer 1/2 Fridays in June and July) and 2 Floating holidays each year
• Trusted Time Off (unlimited vacation policy following 90 days)
• Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave (Based on Years of Service)
• ID Theft Protection and Will Preparation Assistance
• Reduced cost for Legal Counseling
• Free Financial Counseling
• Four Professional Wellness Sessions and $300 annual wellness reimbursement
• Free Employee Assistance and Confidential Counseling Services

Hybrid position three days onsite and two days remote. 

Job posting will remain open until 09/18/2026 and may be extended if additional time is needed to gather qualified applicants.

Denver Scholarship Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Learn about DSF’s commitment to Equity & Inclusion.