Scion Executive Search (www.scionexecutivesearch.com) has been retained to conduct the search for a Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF). OCCF is an incredible organization with the mission to inspire a passion for lifelong philanthropy, faithfully steward the intentions of their donors and catalyze sustainable community impact.

The Senior Director of Marketing and Communications is the lead storyteller for OCCF, articulating the work and impact of the organization to targeted audiences, from prospective donors and current donors to allied professionals and other partners. A key Leadership Team member, this role plans, develops, and implements the Foundation’s engaging marketing, communications and public relations strategies and activities. This incredible leadership opportunity works with a highly motivated, positive team that is inspired to support and enable life-changing community impact in Orange County.   

This opportunity is for immediate hire and will work full-time, on-site in the Foundation’s private, spacious office in beautiful Newport Beach, California.

ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The Orange County Community Foundation partners with generous individuals, families, and businesses owners to fulfill their philanthropic objectives with tax-wise strategies and tools to support the causes they care about most. The Foundation has awarded nearly $780 million in grants and scholarships in Orange County, across the country, and around the world.

OCCF’s internal team is an innovative, highly mission-driven group focused on driving impact and facilitating the connection of Orange County residents to philanthropy. In addition to their work as expert philanthropic advisors, OCCF leads initiatives tackling a broad range of community issues, from helping veterans return to civilian life to promoting educational equity and helping minority business owners thrive.

OCCF at a Glance:

• Founded in 1989 and celebrated 30 years of impact in 2019.
• Home to 600 charitable funds benefiting a wide range of causes.
• Works with donor advisors, private and family foundations and professional advisors to meet giving goals.
• Ranks in the top 2 percent in grantmaking among 780 U.S. community foundations, and in the top 10% in total assets.
• Recipient of a 4-star rating Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

Reporting to the EVP/COO and working closely with the President/CEO and Leadership Team, the Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications role will create a robust marketing, communications and public relations strategy to support organizational growth goals and ongoing community engagement. A key part of this strategy will introduce new audiences to OCCF, such as donors and professional advisors (Philanthropic Strategy), and more deeply engage existing donor partnerships (Center for Engaged Philanthropy and Donor Relations & Programs). This includes transforming donor stories, along with OCCF team knowledge and expertise, into exciting and useful messages – and then disseminating them to targeted audiences. OCCF shares this information via various channels including editorial content, e-newsletters, social media, events and more.

Managing a Digital Marketing Manager, the Sr. Director will lead a small but mighty internal team and oversee multiple specialized vendors to execute the marketing, communications and public relations workplan. Keeping the bigger picture in focus, this leader regularly jumps from higher level strategy to ground-level execution – and back – to ensure marketing and communications activities align with organizational goals.

This is an exciting opportunity; OCCF has powerful success stories, strong data and proven outcomes. This role is key to positioning the Foundation as a philanthropic thought leader in Orange County… and beyond!

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Overall Strategy Development & Execution

• Work with OCCF leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive, strategic marketing and communications plan that leverages multiple channels.
• Increase OCCF name recognition by the public and community through consistent and effective messaging regarding the Foundation’s work.
• Create opportunities to ensure OCCF is positioned as a thought leader and seen as the preeminent resource for Orange County philanthropy.
• Support the work and priorities of the Board of Governors, including Racial Justice & Equity commitment and overall organizational planning.
• Execute strategic communications and outreach to and engagement with high-capacity donors to result in asset growth.
• Lead and manage a website redesign process to include soliciting feedback from staff, Board members and other key stakeholders and working to identify and work with an external consultant.
• Work with colleagues across departments to capture engaging stories, photos and video content.
• Produce, disseminate and maintain online and print marketing materials (including talking points, pitch decks, articles, and speeches), as well as videos.
• Oversee event management, including donor education, program amplification and outreach events, such as OCCF’s Annual Meeting which draws 700+ donors and business and community leaders each November.
• Create overall digital plan and provide strategic guidance to Digital Marketing Manager around implementation of digital marketing activities, including social media, website improvements, email newsletters, etc.
• Identify and manage tools such as SEO to grow website traffic and conversions.
• Identify, recommend, execute and maintain efficiencies across organization’s Marketing and Communications activities.

Content Creation & Ideation

• Manage all aspects of the development of collateral material, including annual reports, e-newsletters, brochures, videos and other materials as identified.
• Engage, identify and support OCCF’s Leadership Team with the communications needs for their departments.
• Oversee content/design ideation, production, printing and mailing for OCCF’s Annual Report.

Event Management & Planning

• Oversee the planning and execution of 5-10 outreach and education events per year (virtual, in-person or hybrid), including OCCF’s cornerstone Annual Meeting event.
• Liaise with outside service providers (i.e. photographers, production teams, videographers, printers, venues, etc.).

Vendor Management

• Manage relationship with outside marketing and public relations agencies and all external vendors supporting the department to ensure quality and timely completion of various projects.
• Provide first level review and recommendation on vendor contracts.
• Track invoices and route to appropriate parties to ensure timely payment.
• Lead RFP process for selecting new vendors.

Administration & Personnel Management

• Provide direction and oversight to Digital Marketing Manager by setting clear performance expectations and development goals.
• Provide mentoring and coaching as well as timely feedback on work product and areas of growth.
• Set marketing department goals and objectives.
• Develop, monitor and adjust Marketing & Communications budget as required.
• Lead internal and external project management of all Marketing & Communications deliverables.
• Serve as an effective collaborator, able to balance and blend various department needs and priorities into an effective marketing strategy and work with other teams to complement and support each other’s plans and objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking a skilled marketing, communications and public relations leader with experience serving as the primary marcom resource for a company or organization. A strong candidate for this position will be an entrepreneurial, personable, confident, methodical, and enthusiastic team member. While this role will design higher level strategy for the department, equally as important will be the ability to execute that strategy via on-the-ground work and daily leadership.

Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or related field.
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in the design and execution of marketing, communications and public relations activities.
• High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a resource across the organization and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels.
• Passion for the mission and work of OCCF.
• Ability to tell complex, nuanced stories succinctly and with passion.
• Powerful, dynamic writer and storyteller; sophisticated and discerning editor.
• Demonstrated successful experience writing content for press releases, editorial pieces, newsletters, videos and more.  
• Experience designing and overseeing the design and production of print materials and publications.
• Experience managing and building efficient communications and marketing systems and processes that effectively engage multiple staff in producing quality end products.
• Tech savvy; ability to use a wide variety of computer programs such as customer/donor relations software, communications and design software, email and MS Office.
• Digital expertise includes familiarity with digital analytics, including website, social media platforms, advertising tools and SEM.
• Experience developing and managing budgets, and hiring, training, developing and supervising personnel.
• Commitment to a high-level of collaboration with staff across the Foundation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at a time and regularly reprioritize, as needed.
• Live in Orange County or ability to relocate to Orange County.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PACKAGE

This exciting role offers a competitive base salary and a comprehensive benefits package including: Medical, Dental and Vision (total premium costs for the Employee covered by OCCF), 403(b) retirement plan with automatic contribution by the organization, paid vacation and sick leave, 10 holidays annually and option to enroll in an FSA program.

This is a position, organization and team of professionals that will inspire you daily!

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS
Orange County Community Foundation has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organization recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration please apply with your resume and cover letter in Microsoft Word or PDF format via:

https://www.scionstaffing.com/job/7401

Please address questions about this opportunity to:

Scion Executive Search

Attn: Rebecca Lerol

Executive Search Principal

r.lerol@scionstaffing.com

(888) 487-8850 x126

Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.

ABOUT OUR FIRM

Scion Executive Search is a retained executive search firm connecting executive nonprofit leadership to nonprofit organizations and foundations across the country. Born out of the nonprofit sector, we provide expert search strategies and leadership for your organization. Our executive candidates are true agents for change, and we are experts at matching their talents, motivations, and passions to your organization’s mission. Scion Executive Search has led hundreds of successful executive searches. Information about our firm and successes can be found online at http://www.scionexecutivesearch.com.

Scion is an equal opportunity employer and service provider committed to not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principals of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and for the candidates we represent.