Director of Marketing & Communications

National Kidney Foundation - New York, NY

Full-time - Senior

Onsite - New York, NY

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

About the position

The Director of Marketing and Communications at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the organization's external communications and media relations strategies. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, this position is responsible for articulating NKF's mission to both consumer and professional audiences. The Director will guide the communications strategy to ensure that NKF's position on newsworthy issues is consistently communicated, while also collaborating closely with program and field staff to promote events, public health information, and new research initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in media advocacy and scientific communications, bringing creativity and strategic thinking to maximize NKF's visibility and strengthen relationships with key journalists and publications. Responsibilities include developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive communications plans for NKF initiatives, managing inbound media requests, and drafting advocacy plans for federal policy campaigns. The Director will also assist the Government Relations team in crafting tailored messaging and media strategies that align with the current political landscape. In addition to these strategic responsibilities, the Director will draft speeches, presentations, and other communication materials, manage media contacts, and perform additional duties as required. This role is essential in ensuring that NKF's mission and initiatives are effectively communicated to a broad audience, thereby enhancing the organization's impact in the field of kidney health.

Responsibilities

• Guide strategy and execution for external communications and media relations to articulate NKF's mission.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate communications plans for NKF initiatives in collaboration with various teams.
• Triage inbound earned media requests and see them through to completion.
• Create communications strategies to raise awareness of NKF and test the effectiveness of communications activities.
• Draft and implement media advocacy plans for federal policy campaigns to demonstrate public support for key initiatives.
• Assist the Government Relations team in developing tailored messaging and media strategies.
• Draft speeches, presentations, and other communication materials as needed.
• Manage all media contacts and perform additional duties as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum 10 years of work-related experience in Communications in a leadership role, preferably with a nonprofit healthcare organization.
• Experience in media relations, website content, newsletters, and donor communications.
• Ability to transform knowledge into engaging messages for the right audiences through effective distribution channels.
• Strong understanding of social media and ability to leverage social tools for audience engagement.
• Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills.
• Proven track record of managing multiple key initiatives concurrently.
• Ability to build relationships and manage by influence.
• High energy, maturity, and leadership skills to unify communications discussions at strategic and tactical levels.
• Commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups.

Nice-to-haves

• Bi-lingual is a plus but not required.
• Experience with nephrology trade media is a plus but not required.

Benefits

• Plenty of vacation time, sick leave, and holidays.
• Top-notch medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Life insurance and a 403(b) plan with matching contributions.
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.
• Commuter benefits program for transit and parking expenses.
• Access to confidential counseling and support services through the Employee Assistance Program.
• Referral rewards for bringing new team members on board.
• Commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
• Mission-driven culture focused on making a difference.