Marketing & Communications Manager

The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) is excited to be hiring a Marketing & Communicatons Manager! You are a creative and strategic communications leader, looking for new ways to boost public understanding of CAASE and its work and keep eyes/bring new eyes to CAASE’s innovative programs. You thrive in environments where no day is the same, while balancing routine tasks like website maintenance and newsletter drafting. One day, you will work on materials for a future CAASE fundraising event in collaboration with our development team, and another day, you will support our Policy team by taking pictures and video for social media of a press conference on a CAASE policy initiative. You know when and how to use different marketing and communications tools – e-newsletters, social media, media relations – to create buzz around CAASE. You keep up with Chicago and national news and can recognize when stories or trends in media could drive attention and donors to CAASE. You are adept in creating distinct materials for different audiences, like donors, reporters, or the public. You prioritize well between urgent needs and long-term, scheduled projects aligned with CAASE’s organizational needs and goals.

Job Function

The Communications Manager reports to the Policy Director and works closely with CAASE administrative and program leaders to create and execute strategic communications in support of CAASE’s mission and its programs.

Salary & Benefits

The role is a hybrid, full-time, 40 hours per week position, with the ability to work remotely within the Chicagoland area, and/or commute when required to work in-person at CAASE’s Chicago Loop office or the surrounding area, at minimum an estimated 3-5 times per month. COVID-19 vaccinations are required for candidates on their first day of employment.

Status: Full time, non-exempt.

Reports to: Policy Director

Regularly collaborates with: Program Directors, Development team, Policy Associate.

The starting annual salary range for this position is $55,000 to $70,000, depending on experience.

CAASE strives to provide a comprehensive and equitable benefits package, including health and dental coverage with employer contributions to premiums, optional vision coverage, and employer paid life insurance. CAASE offers a robust 401k plan with a 2% employer contribution regardless of employee elections. CAASE offers remote work stipends to partially cover phone and internet expenses for those to whom it applies. CAASE also has generous paid time off, including regular vacation time, flexible sick time which can be used for mental health, preventative health and family wellness, regular paid holidays (including floating holidays,) and long term paid medical and parental leave.

Responsibilities

Department Leadership

Provide vision for creating and executing a CAASE communications strategy in alignment with CAASE’s Strategic Plan and organizational annual plans and goals.

Collaborate with CAASE staff to identify key communications and marketing opportunities to promote new and existing services and programs.

Promote ‘culture of communication’ within CAASE staff and key stakeholders, highlighting ways they can help reach key audiences including the public, donors, members of the press, survivors, schools, faith communities, policymakers and more.

Development and Marketing Communications

Serve as a copywriter and the primary editor/creator for all external communications of CAASE, including monthly e-newsletter, marketing, events and fundraising materials, in consultation with program leaders.

Collaborate with the Development team to develop a marketing strategy and create and disseminate promotional materials for fundraising activities including social media campaigns, event flyers, web graphics, marketing toolkits, promos, and signage.

Media Relations

Respond to media inquiries, and proactively develop relationships with local, state and national media outlets to generate high quality, high impact earned media coverage.

Write and distribute press releases, letters to the editor, and opinion-editorial pieces as needed, in collaboration from relevant program directors and staff.

Monitor relevant local and national news; develop responses to cultural or news events for incorporation into external communications.

Social Media & Website Management

Oversee CAASE online and social media presence (primarily Facebook, Instagram, X – formerly known as Twitter, and LinkedIn), and use analytics to drive strategy.

Oversee the CAASE website; ensure the website is kept updated; write and edit website content; use analytics and SEO to drive strategy.

Monitor social media trends; develop responses or content for social media as it’s relevant to CAASE goals and programs.

Required Skills and Experience

5+ years of experience in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, and/or social media or website content management; OR bachelor's degree in communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations or related field with 3+ years of experience in above fields.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including distilling complex information.

Excellent interpersonal skills; including but not limited to advanced active listening skills and strong ability to communicate and engage with identified key audiences, and individuals of varying levels of experience, familiarity, and expertise.

Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize and coordinate multiple projects at once, while responding with urgency at times and maintaining attention to detail.

Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in collaboration with others.

Demonstrated ability to take a project from conception to completion with minimal supervision.

Knowledge of journalistic and media practices and is a regular news consumer and follower of trends in social media and digital culture.

Knowledge and expertise in Microsoft Office, various social media applications, and an ability to learn new software and technology systems.

Ability to engage with difficult issues and sensitive private information with kindness, diplomacy, discretion, and professionalism.

Must be committed to feminist, anti-racist and anti-oppression principles, practicing intersectional equity in all facets of the work, and ending the perpetration of sexual harm in Chicago and Illinois.

Proficiency with WordPress, Bloomerang (or equivalent donor CRM), HootSuite, video creation and editing.

Proficiency in SEO.

Proficiency in graphic design and related software, including Adobe Creative Suite.

Subject matter expertise related to the social justice movement and all forms of sexual harm, including but not limited to sexual assault and commercial sexual exploitation.