Department: Communications
Reports To: Chief Development Officer
Supervises: Graphic Design & Brand Manager, Senior Wish & Content Coordinator and Interns and Volunteers
The Senior Communications Manager is the primary liaison between Make‐A‐Wish Hawaii and the local community. With a focus on reaching and building long‐term relationships with diverse constituent groups, this position develops and implements a variety of communications and content strategies to increase community visibility and enhance awareness and sustainability to the organization.
The Senior Communications Manager has primary working relationships with the President & CEO, Development Team and wish granting staff.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop
- Author external communications, including annual reports, press releases, newsletters, wish stories, fundraising appeals, event programs and scripts, stewardship letters, emails, blogs, and other marketing collateral
- Conduct interviews with key stakeholders and communicate their impact through stories and videos
- Develop targeted outreach to stakeholders, including leadership-, medical-, and volunteer-specific communications
- Develop an overall communications and marketing strategy to profile and target community members, and adapt content to deliver customized messaging
Manage
- Oversee all distributed communications to ensure consistent brand messaging and coordinated organizational direction
- In collaboration with the Program and Development teams, plan and execute messaging to support mission awareness and fundraising initiatives
- Direct and supervise Graphic Design & Brand Manager, Senior Wish & Content Coordinator, interns, and volunteers to ensure completion of responsibilities and projects
- Manage timelines and delivery of projects
- Build and foster relationships with key stakeholders, including local media, wish families, community leaders, volunteers, donors, vendors, and National Office
Execute
- Disseminate external communications through multiple media channels (digital, print and broadcast)
- Lead media and public relations by coordinating news segments and PSAs
- Actively participate at wishes and events
- Maintain Make-A-Wish Hawaii’s website
- Serve as a resource for all other communications, including surveys and grants
- Undertake projects, as required, and perform other related job duties, as assigned
The Senior Communications Manager primarily works Monday ‐ Friday during normal business hours. He/She should also be available to support special events on evenings and weekends, as needed.
- Impeccable writing, editing, speaking, and listening skills with a keen understanding of how to write to and connect with different audiences, and correspondingly high standards of professionalism in performing all job duties
- Previous experience in a communications or related field, ideally in a non-profit setting
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Communications, Marketing or related field
- Evidence demonstrating a successful track record of delivering quality, timely results both as a member of a collaborative team and as an individual
- Evidence demonstrating a high degree of organization, and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Evidence demonstrating discretion and good judgment in individual decision-making
- Experienced with Adobe Suite, social media, email platforms, and Microsoft Office applications
The ideal candidate supplements his/her education and experience by possessing a passion for communications and appreciating its impact on advancing Make-A-Wish Hawaii’s mission.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume and writing samples to Shari Young, Director of Finance & Operations at syoung@hawaii.wish.org.
Make‐A‐Wish Foundation of Hawaii is a 501 (c)(3) non‐profit organization. Founded in 1982, our mission is to create life‐changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are more than a great place to work — our work is life‐changing. We are an inclusive and diverse group of people who, through a mosaic of backgrounds, thought and experiences, are united in purposeful work. We are fueled and guided by our values — values that are represented in the inspired people we work with and the transformational work we do every day.