Director of Digital Communications

Position Summary

The Director of Digital Communications serves as primary lead for digital communications for YouthBuild USA and YouthBuild International. He/she directs efforts to use digital media to tell the organization’s story and support digital communication with constituents. The Director is responsible for ensuring that youthbuild.org has compelling content that tells the important story of the impact of YouthBuild around the globe. The Director of Digital Communications will play a central role in determining which stories relating to YouthBuild students, graduates, and programs are most compelling and will be able to share those stories in a manner that is both engaging, impactful and in keeping with the organization’s communications principles.

The Director of Digital Communications will take full responsibility for day-to-day digital communication deliverables and be responsible for developing digital communications strategy. In that regard, they will research new technologies and platforms for the delivery of multimedia and video online, and user relationship management solutions for making the YouthBuild websites more interactive, and for improving online communication between members of the global YouthBuild network.

The Director of Digital Communications reports to the VP of Program Operations and is part of a larger Digital Team designed to meet the digital technology and communication needs of YouthBuild USA and YouthBuild International. He/she supervises the Digital Communications Specialist.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Oversee planning and implementation of YouthBuild USA, Inc. website content and social media channels to maximize engagement, ensure updated and dynamic content.
• Build a digital community of YouthBuild programs, students, and graduates in the United States and internationally.
• Lead, plan, and execute digital communication strategy to best support and drive online campaigns, fundraising, and mission objectives.
• Develop, implement and manage email campaigns for fundraising, advocacy, and to foster relationships with other constituents.
• Plan, execute, and analyze YouthBuild USA, Inc.’s paid online advertising efforts to ensure maximum exposure
• Lead staff in the creation of compelling digital content, as informed by the editorial calendar and organizational priorities

Websites and Social Media

• Build and manage Editorial Calendar that attracts a qualified audience to our owned properties (including blog posts, knowledge bank, reports, webinars, infographics, etc.)
• Develop and oversee a robust analytics program for all online activity to measure how our activity turns visitors into YouthBuild advocates, social influencers, and ultimately donors.
• Oversee content and user experience of YouthBuild website and social media channels to maximize engagement, ensure updated and dynamic content, and build a global community of YouthBuild supporters.
• Work with Development and Advocacy departments on implementation and use of Social Networking tools for fundraising and advocacy and to grow new donors by converting site traffic through calls-to-action, landing pages, and brand advocacy content
• Lead the creation and implementation of email and mobile outreach programs to engage and grow the YouthBuild movement. Optimize our marketing automation and lead nurturing processes through email, content, and social channels.
• Manage platforms for the delivery of multimedia and video online and improving online communication between members of the YouthBuild network.

Support & Training

• Provide support for users of the in-house Web content management system. Monitor training and consulting needs and assists users in finding resources.
• Work with departments and leadership to further the use of websites and new media tools to maximum potential.
• Work with Digital Communications staff on ongoing training of staff on email and content tools; advise on email features and capabilities including targeting, personalization, database segmentation, and email templates.
• Support digital communications of network of local YouthBuild programs; recommend and advise on best practices.

Relationships

• Supervise the Digital Communications Specialist.
• Collaborate with the Director of Digital Information Systems for development of an online strategy across properties.
• Collaborate with the Director of External Communications and other members of the YouthBuild USA and YouthBuild International Communications Team to develop and implement communications strategy and tactics.

Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Digital Media or web-related field with at least 5 years of experience in digital communications field, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
• Expert writing and communication skills. Ability to write content, copy and messaging in variety of styles, voices and tones, adaptable to different target audiences, product categories and branding initiatives.
• Demonstrated high degree of motivation and confidence in working with management and to coordinate with peers who have related responsibilities
• Ability to organize and synthesize information from multiple sources
• An understanding of APIs and their use. A working knowledge of Drupal. Knowledge of CRM + database practices.
• Ability to multi-task and work efficiently under pressure with careful attention to detail
• Self-motivated, organized and accountable
• Partnership building skills that include the ability to influence others, get buy-in/action from them, and build credibility to lead matters related to the work within the organization.
• The ability to analyze long-range impact of decisions and plans. Ensures the most effective operations of the department through program development, process improvement, and coordination/integration of processes with other departments
• The ability to lead projects and develops resolutions to complex problems that require frequent use of creativity. Uses judgment within broadly defined policies and practices and solves most problems without assistance.
• The ability to demonstrate the following competencies throughout their work: Critical Thinking, Team Leadership, , Informing, Directing Others, Strategic Focus and Decision Quality
• The ability to effectively cope with change and ambiguity – to change strategy mid-stream, acting without always having the total picture; coping with things that are up in the air; comfortable with measured risk and uncertainty
• Kind, caring, trustworthy, and generous, style of collegiality and an abiding commitment to social justice. Fluency in working in multi-cultural settings.

If you are interested in learning more about YouthBuild USA, please visit our website at www.youthbuild.org. If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your cover letter and resume to: Job Search, YouthBuild USA, 58 Day Street, Somerville, MA 02144 or you may apply on-line @ http://www.youthbuild.org/apply. Please apply by July 31, 2015. YouthBuild USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer Male/Female/Disabled/Veteran.