Communications Manager

The Communications Manager supports the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s mission by raising awareness of hunger in our community and inspiring the public to take action. As a member of the Marketing and Volunteer Engagement Team, the Communications Manager leads the production of newsletters and other creative projects, plays an active role in media relations, develops key messages, and supports the communications needs of the organization. The ideal Communications Manager is creative, constantly in search of ways to tell the story of our work in fresh and compelling ways, organized, and a relationship builder with supervisory experience.

Responsibilities:

• Project manage the production of the Food for Thought newsletter and Partners in Hope e-newsletter, from start to finish. This includes facilitating brainstorming sessions for content with internal stakeholders, working closely with the content coordinator on planning for story gathering visits and shepherding drafts through the review and design process. 
• Support the Food Depository’s media relations strategy by developing and pitching stories to local broadcast, print and radio contacts. 
• Develop productive relationships with local reporters and news producers. 
• Respond to select media inquiries, schedule media visits to network partners and serve as a spokesperson for the Food Depository by conducting interviews on occasion with print and broadcast media outlets including TV and radio. 
• Write press releases, talking points, executive briefs, event scripts, headlines, photo captions and assist with proofreading. 
• Manage freelance photographers, writers, graphic designers and other vendors. 
• Support colleagues in other departments with the writing and editing of other communications, newsletters and updates 
• Train and support other Food Depository staff, including volunteers, on clearly communicating the Food Depository’s mission to the public. 
• Fulfill occasional speaking requests. 
• Supervise content coordinator and seasonal communication interns. 
• Work closely with colleagues in other departments to manage requests from external parties to visit the Food Depository for filming purposes, including volunteer groups and supporter requests. 
• Schedule and conduct Food Depository facility tours for select groups. 
• Assist at special events.

• Four-year college degree in Journalism, Communications, English or a related field. 
• 5+ years of full-time experience in a public relations, communications or news writing role for an organization, agency or publication. 
• Steadfast belief that no one should go hungry and compassion for those who do. 
• Strong writing skills and a desire to grow as a storyteller. 
• Ability to gather and tell stories with empathy, integrity and ethics. 
• Willingness to accept feedback and work in a collaborative environment. 
• Proficiency in AP style. 
• Experience managing teams and external vendors required. 
• Experience managing multiple projects on tight deadlines and within modest budgets. 
• Experience facilitating media inquiries and proactively pitching media stories. 
• Experience writing press releases, talking points and speeches for a nonprofit organization or company. 
• Experience in video storytelling, including video editing using Adobe Premiere Pro a plus. 
• Familiarity with Cook County and the city of Chicago. 
• Occasional evening and weekend work required. 
• Driver’s license and a personal vehicle required. 
• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish strongly preferred.