Job Title: Director of Communications

Reports to: Vice President of Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs

GBFB Overview

Through the compassion and commitment of our supporters, staff, partners and volunteers, The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) takes a bold, innovative and multi-pronged approach to achieve our mission to end hunger here. GBFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. We are committed to increasing our food distribution to provide three meals a day to every person in need in Eastern Massachusetts while supporting healthy lives and healthy communities. Our progress toward this goal is documented by town on our interactive map.

The Greater Boston Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger- relief organization. Through compassion and action, together we can create a hunger free Eastern Massachusetts. GBFB Team Members will support the Mission to End Hunger Here. They will live our Team Member Values of Team Member Wellbeing, Teamwork, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Respect, Trust and Our Eastern Massachusetts Community.

GBFB Core Competencies

GBFB Core Competencies summarize the capabilities that are important across all jobs and that we believe collectively contribute to GBFB’s overall success. We believe they support our mission and our values. At the same time, the expected behaviors as they relate to Core Competencies may vary according to the specific job duties, requirements, and level within the organization. Core Competences are usually interpersonal and strategic and are at the heart of how we do our work.

The GBFB Competency Framework focuses on six Core Competencies:

• Contributes to a High Performing Team
• Builds a Shared Commitment
• Empowers Others
• Drives Continual Improvement
• Communicates Collaboratively
• Displays Authenticity and Transparency

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

GBFB provides equal employment opportunities to all Team Members and applicants for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, handicap, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training.

No Team Member or applicant will be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination because they have engaged in or may engage in any of the following: (1) filing a complaint of employment discrimination; (2) assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance review, hearing, or any other activity related to the administration of any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity; (3) opposing any act or practice made unlawful by any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity; or (4) exercising any other right protected by any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

GBFB is considered an essential response organization in times of disaster. As such, Team Members are expected to report to GBFB locations as required, after securing the safety of their families, and may be asked to perform duties that are critical (but outside of their regularly assigned duties) in times of disaster.

Job Title: Director of Communications

Reports to: Vice President of Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs

Position Summary Under the direction of the VP, Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs, and working closely across the organization, including but not limited to the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams, Advancement and Human Resources Teams, the Director is responsible for the strategic development and execution of a multi-year strategic plan for internal corporate communications and external development communications. Efforts will focus on content development and management of communications for internal and external audiences, and content for marketing or fundraising purposes. This position will be expected to consistently abide by GBFB’s brand, desired positioning, tone, and messaging.

Position Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Communications and Content Management

• Lead internal and external communications strategy, and leveraging the tools, process, and resources to ensure goals across communications are met.

• Enhance GBFB’s reputation by creating and writing clear, authentic, compelling, and differentiating content and messaging for various audiences to build awareness about hunger across Eastern Massachusetts.
• Serve as primary editorial director on all GBFB communications, managing quality control and ensuring content flows where it should (e.g. donor stories used in direct marketing, annual reports, etc.)
• The Director will be expected to stay current regarding industry trends in internal and external communications to remain knowledgeable about the best practices in the field. This includes actively organizing and participating in benchmarking efforts to assess GBFB’s performance against peers, while also identifying areas for improvement. The incumbent will leverage innovative communications techniques to ensure that GBFB remains at the forefront of the communications industry and will actively seek opportunities to stay informed about emerging trends, technologies, and best practices.
• Lead strategy, development and management of communications editorial content calendar and process for internal and external content that captures and writes content and stories across distribution channels, including development collateral, annual reports and donor letters, website, newsletters, publications, and social media, for various audiences.
• Enhance leadership/thought leadership visibility, including highlighting executive editorial content for digital, print, executive and organizational speaking engagements. Work in coordination with the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, Executive and Senior Leadership Teams and the Advancement Team.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with individuals at all levels to help translate business strategies, promote teams and employees, and highlight projects and initiatives into effective communications approaches and programs.

• As part of content management responsibilities, research, capture, interview and write stories of our clients, partners and supporters that will be published on our organization’s website, blog, donor and research reports, and our quarterly Harvest newsletter which is distributed to our donor base and repurposed for additional external stakeholders such as our food distribution partners and legislators.
• Manage external communications and creative vendors and freelancers as needed.

• Work closely with creative vendors and team in-house to ensure appropriate usage and/or creation of GBFB creative assets, while maintaining brand style and consistency across all materials.

• Consult with the donor and corporate relations teams to manage the donor recognition benefits across communications channels and publications.
• Provide guidance and oversight to GBFB’s social media content strategy, ensuring alignment with GBFB’s PR and marketing strategy.
• Supervise Communications Manager and Communications Coordinator.

• Oversee the creation and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for key activities functions of the communications team including interna and external communication and other key processes and best practices.

Internal Communications

• Working with the VP, Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs, in leading strategy, development and implementation of an integrated Internal Communications program that supports a hybrid and evolving workforce and fosters a collaborative, employee, and value centric culture.

• Draft internal communications for the CEO and members of the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams: communications for employee announcements, anticipated FAQs, speeches, talking points and propose the proper communications cascade to ensure understanding of message and absorption by all team members.

• Create and write content for the monthly employee newsletter and internal screens to inform, inspire and engage all Team Members. Partner with leadership to continually add timely content relative to our values, DEI, and internal Suggestion Box.
• Manage oversight of SharePoint Homebase and integration across all internal communications channels.
• Manage internal communications efforts as needed on a day-to-day basis such as Team meeting support, memo writing, various announcements, and collaboration with HR.
• Leverage and explore current and new technology to achieve increased communications across the organization.
• Work with Communications Coordinator to support internal communications.

Skills & Qualifications

• 10+ experience in strategic fundraising and internal communications and content management.

• Bachelor’s degree required, and graduate degree preferred.

• Advanced writing skills with ability to quickly produce approachable, relevant copy that is reflective of GBFB’s culture, values, goals, mission, and brand.

• Strong proactive communication and project management skills and executive presence.
• Experience building and fostering relationships across business functions.
• Superior attention to detail, highly organized and a keen sense of deadlines.
• Experience in maintaining editorial calendars and deadline protocols.

• Strong experience in strategic communications across internal and external communications.
• Executive Communications experience relative to preparing CEO letters to team members and talking points for internal meetings and events.

• Basic html, email, and use of Adobe Creative suite.

• Proven writer with at least 10 years of relevant work experience plus related bachelor’s degree (Communications, English/Literature, or related discipline) preferred.

• Excellent grammar skills and ability to write according to the AP Stylebook.

• Excellent project management skills, with ability to manage multiple tasks with frequently changing requirements and deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with people at all levels across the organization including executive leadership and counterparts across the organization.

• Ability to work closely with executives to develop, secure approval of and deploy their communications.
• Sensitivity, tact, diplomacy, and experience in handling confidential information.
• Genuine appreciation of GBFB’s mission and the ability to communicate it.

• Demonstrates the required digital competencies that result in the effective usage of the full range of digital technologies at GBFB.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in a remote or in a traditional office environment.
• Ability to sit for up to 3 hours at a time.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

Work Environment

This job is performed indoors in an office environment.

Travel Required – Yesor No (Highlight one)

Hybridor 100% On Site – Highlight one