Marketing & Communications Manager

Preferred candidates should live within commuting distance of our corporate office in downtown Indianapolis. The general salary range for this position is $60-$75K.

The Manager, Marketing & Communications is responsible for developing and implementing marketing and communications (MARCOM) plans and activities in support of Goodwill's retail enterprise, commercial services business, foundation, corporate and employee communications, mission and education divisions, and programs and services for employees, job seekers, and families. This role is a trusted advisor for stakeholders and is the subject-matter expert (SME) on the organization's many services and their key audiences, able to anticipate needs and deliver solutions in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. The Manager takes an audience-centric approach, developing plans and original content that meet audiences where they are, in support of organizational objectives. A talented, imaginative writer and editor, the Manager plays a critical role in storytelling - sharing compelling, effective narratives about the organization, its services, and its people. The Manager also provides account management support, communications strategy, and counsel to staff and senior leadership and makes critical decisions that affect the organization's business, mission, and awareness goals.

Example Duties and Activities

• Supports Goodwill's various businesses through MARCOM planning and implementation to meet defined objectives. Specific services supported by this position include but are not limited to:

  • Retail - Stores and outlets communications, in-store donations, community donation drives, eCommerce, and more.

    • Develops MARCOM strategies for the area's objectives, creates or updates marketing materials, leads their web development and digital marketing strategy, and more.

    • Plays an active role in the Rewards and point of sales systems, creating messaging, responding to customer inquiries, implementing web updates, using paid advertising mechanisms, and more.

  • Mission Advancement Programs and Supportive Services - Initiatives geared toward employees, job seekers, and families desiring to increase their economic self-sufficiency. Participant recruitment and promotional support for GCSI's mission services division, which includes Nurse-Family Partnership, New Beginnings, TalentSource, and more.

    • Supports the programs' MARCOM objectives and projects - develops and shares stories to support the areas' objectives; promotes and advertises accordingly; researches and tracks new marketing strategies and initiatives to support the mission areas and reach/ recruit new participants to mission programs.

  • Foundation - Financial donor retention and acquisition, special campaigns, and more.

    • Promotes the annual campaign, special campaigns, donor acquisition and retention, planned giving, events, and more.

  • Commercial Services - Contract manufacturing, janitorial, and grounds services business-to-business sales support.

    • Develops MARCOM strategies for the area's objectives, creates or updates marketing materials, leads their web development and digital marketing strategy, and more.

  • Goodwill Education Initiatives - Initiatives geared toward teacher and student acquisition/retention, advertising, and communication support.

    • Supports projects, storytelling, and MARCOM strategies.

  • Corporate and Employee Messaging - Communications and outreach to community and business leaders, policymakers, employees across all divisions, and other key constituents; telling the Goodwill story through the stories of its employees, students, families, and more.

    • Creates key messages about community impact and mission objectives, board communications, community engagement, and more.

    • Develops plans and original content for internal and external GCSI communications and materials, including newsletters, emails, the website, advertising, events, and more.

    • Supports the creation of the organization's Annual Report and other publications from conception to completion.

  • Social Media and Digital Marketing - Creates and implements social media and digital marketing plans that support the business goals of each GCSI division.

    • Champions the GCSI social media and digital marketing strategy; helps develop daily and weekly messages that support the strategies of each GCSI division; helps manage and schedule the organization's stories online and through web and digital platforms

    • Researches and develops new social and digital marketing strategies and initiatives for the organization to support its work as a leading brand.

    • Tracks and evaluates social and digital marketing analytics as well as web traffic to determine which strategies and tactics are effective.

• Supports the organization's efforts through the execution of the organization's Strategic and Equity Work Plans. This includes assisting with initiatives developed, building communications plans, and developing original content/materials for internal and external audiences, including newsletters, emails, websites, events, and more.

• Collaborates and aids MARCOM team members with project goals, content development, communications opportunities, and pitching feature stories for earned and owned media. Pitches stories to the media and responds to media inquiries to ensure coverage.

Required Competencies

• Degree and Credential Requirements - Bachelor's degree in communication, marketing, public relations, journalism, or a related field.

• Communications Process Expertise - Develops and executes communications or public relations plans for an organization including influencing key decision-makers; collaborating and building consensus around communication needs and direction. Has a track record of success in defining target audiences, creating original content about people, programs, organizations, or communities; interviewing, writing, editing, and publishing stories in print, web, video, etc. Builds relationships that facilitate gleaning in-depth, meaningful stories. Adept at media relations, pitching stories, and gaining coverage. A direct relationship with Indianapolis media is an additional plus.

• Project Management (Marketing) - Oversees multiple workstreams and delivers against scopes implementing strategies that outline time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and answers to unexpected events to streamline the process. Financially evaluates cost/benefit options for various strategic sourcing solutions. Demonstrates leadership skills, especially around communication/innovative solutions to problems, concerns, issues, and roadblocks.

• Strategic Partner - Works as a strategic partner to comprehend divisional/departmental business goals and re-frame those goals through the lens of story-telling and marketing. Possesses strong reasoning skills and strongly considers alternatives while remaining objective. Skilled at gathering information from a variety of resources to make informed decisions. Politically savvy and possesses excellent business acumen working as a positive influencer and building relationships while navigating through a change organization.

• Editing and Proofreading - Applies a high degree of detail attention related to the writing and review of one's own or others' written work. Uses a critical eye in evaluating content, grammar, punctuation, etc. Communicates clearly and tactfully with all team members any changes, suggestions, and directions for improvement.

• Communication Skills - Articulates thoughts and expresses ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to comprehend customers' needs. Delivers information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.

• Planning and Prioritization - Manages competing demands by effectively organizing issues by relevance considering operational objectives and customer service excellence. Excellent time management, planning, scheduling, and coordination skills. Is able to work in a highly structured environment and quickly adapts to changes in priorities or deadlines while maintaining a positive attitude. Effectively navigates complex situations to ensure that tasks are completed on time and to a high standard.

• Teamwork - Works well with others and makes valued contributions in a team setting to achieve the required goals and outcomes. Contributes to creating a positive work environment that promotes productivity, mentoring, teamwork, and partnership.

• Technical Knowledge - Has proficient knowledge of G Suite, MS Office, database mining and management, and Internet searching. Skilled at using a data-tracking system to record contacts, media results, and categories of coverage.

• Ethical - Adheres to procedures and protocol, including maintaining confidentiality in passwords, logging on and off procedures, and adherence to Goodwill's values. Protects information that is not yet public.

Benefits: Full-time employees may participate in a comprehensive benefits program that includes:

• Continuing education and leadership development as well as tuition reimbursement

• Comprehensive health plan

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays

• Sabbatical and parental leaves

• Life, dental and vision insurance

• Short- and long-term disability plans

• Nationally recognized preventive health and wellness program

• Section 125 pretax health spending account, dependent care spending account, and premiums

• Retirement planning options with generous company % match

• Eligible for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

To learn more about our Mission and Values, please click here.