Director of Communications and Engagement

Position Title: Director of Communications & Engagement

Supervisor: Chief Operations Officer
Status: Full-time, Salary, Exempt
SalaryRange: $88,000 - $97,000
Location: Tulsa or Oklahoma City

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The Director of Communications & Engagement provides strategic leadership for the organization's communications, brand, community engagement, events, and development support efforts. This role serves as the primary leader for internal and external communications, oversees organizational events, contributes to organizational leadership and strategic planning, and supervises development staff by supporting development and fundraising initiatives.

Communication is central to nearly every aspect of Hunger Free Oklahoma's work. From policy and advocacy to programs and initiatives such as Double Up Oklahoma, each team has distinct audiences, priorities, and communications needs. The Director will work to facilitate a coordinated approach that empowers departments to drive communications related to their work while providing the strategy, tools, guidance, and oversight needed to maintain consistency with organizational priorities, messaging, and brand standards.

The Director works to strengthen donor communications, campaigns, and fundraising operations while ensuring communications and engagement strategies advance the organization's mission and strategic priorities.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

This position will supervise the development and communications teams - currently four employees. The position reports directly to the Chief Operations Officer. The role will evolve over time, but the core of your work will be:

Communications & Marketing

• Lead the development and implementation of a forward-looking communications strategy that advances Hunger Free Oklahoma's organizational goals, including development goals, while responding to emerging opportunities, challenges, events, and the broader political and media environment.
• Work with the Communications team and staff across the organization to develop and evaluate an annual communications plan while maintaining the flexibility to adjust strategy as circumstances change.
• Oversee all internal and external communications, including email marketing, website content, social media, print materials, media relations, and storytelling.
• Ensure consistent organizational messaging, voice, and visual identity while effectively managing and navigating the distinct brands and communications needs of Hunger Free Oklahoma programs and initiatives.
• Lead communications planning for organizational initiatives, campaigns, and major announcements.
• Monitor communications metrics and adjust strategies to improve engagement and reach.

Events & Community Engagement

• Provide strategic oversight for organizational events, including fundraising events, community outreach events, annual conference, and stakeholder gatherings. Oversee event planning and execution in collaboration with staff, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, board members, and community partners.
• Develop event strategies, timelines, budgets, and promotional plans; support sponsorship recruiting.
• Work with program staff to develop relevant and impactful event content.
• Recruit and coordinate event planning team and ensure successful execution of events.
• Manage event budgets and support long-term financial sustainability.
• Maintain consistent messaging and branding across event communications.
• Evaluate event effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.

Organizational Leadership

• Serves as a strategic partner to the CEO and COO by demonstrating initiative, anticipating organizational needs, communicating proactively, identifying potential challenges and opportunities, and independently develops recommendations and solutions to complex issues with minimal direction.
• Serve as a member of the executive and leadership teams and as a liaison or project lead for internal taskforces and organizational initiatives as needed, contributing to organizational strategy and decision-making.
• Collaborate across departments to align communications and engagement efforts with organizational goals.
• Represent departments in budgeting, annual planning, and organizational initiatives.
• Foster a culture of learning, coaching, and human capital development while helping maintain a positive and healthy organizational culture.

Development & Fundraising Support

• Partner closely with the development team and CEO and COO to align communications strategies with fundraising goals, identify prospects, and build strategy to reach new donors.
• Provide oversight and support for donor communications, annual campaigns, grant communications, stewardship materials, and fundraising marketing.
• Ensure development strategies anticipate organizational needs and emerging opportunities.
• Monitor fundraising-related communications projects and ensure deadlines and quality standards are met.
• Support the development team, CEO and COO, in strengthening donor engagement and philanthropic storytelling without serving as the organization's primary fundraiser.

WHO YOU ARE
To qualify for this job, you will have:

• 12 or more years of relevant experience; OR 12 years in a combination of post-secondary education or training and relevant work experience; high school diploma or equivalent required
• Skilled in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications
• Proven ability to identify opportunities and challenges, develop actionable solutions, and drive initiatives forward with minimal oversight
• Competency with customer relationship management databases and Microsoft Office365
• At least 3 years of supervisory or management experience leading teams
• Experience developing and executing organization-wide communications strategies
• Experience managing websites, email marketing, social media, and digital communications
• Experience with contract assessment and negotiation
• Experience overseeing vendors, contractors, and project budgets
• Experience collaborating across multiple departments and with executive leadership
• Experience planning and overseeing organizational or community events
• Experience supporting fundraising communications, donor engagement, or nonprofit development initiatives

KEYS TO SUCCESS
To be successful in this job, you will have strong written and verbal communication skills, enjoy a fast-paced environment, an ability to embrace and promote Hunger Free Oklahoma's mission and values, and excel in the areas described below.

• Leadership and Management: Experience in planning, leading, and managing projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, and tracking and reporting on progress. Possess strong skills in hiring, mentoring, and managing staff as well as positive organizational change management.
• Strategic and Innovative Thinker: You can reason and solve problems, manage partner expectations, and recognize strategic opportunities for systems change.
• Committed to Learning: You are committed to curiosity and learning new skills and knowledge on a continual basis. Learning doesn't end at the classroom for you but is a self-motivated persistence to expand your skills, knowledge, and abilities.
• Goal Oriented: You have a history of setting and accomplishing ambitious goals and moving barriers to achieve your desired outcomes. You meet your goals because you think ahead, plan, and work collaboratively.
• Collaborative: You understand the importance of working with internal and external partners to achieve a common goal. You are an active listener, have high emotional intelligence, and respect other collaborators' diverse needs, experiences, and perspectives. You can find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests.
• Analytical: Numbers and spreadsheets are a puzzle to be solved. You approach messy data, unclear next steps, and complicated problems by applying logical reasoning and analysis to determine an answer.
• Relationship Building: You develop and maintain strong working relationships and can communicate and foster a sense of partnership with diverse staff members. People who work with you comment on your quality and timely customer service and problem-solving approach. Build lasting relationships with donors and keep them informed on how their financial input is making the world a better place.
• Community Advocate and Inclusive Problem Solver: You are a community advocate and inclusive problem solver, demonstrating a deep understanding of diverse community needs and perspectives, and amplifying underrepresented voices in decision-making. You're passionate about creating positive change and addressing community challenges in ways that work for everyone.

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW

This position is full-time and based in Tulsa or Oklahoma City. This position requires the ability to perform medium physical effort consisting of occasionally handling, lifting, or moving objects 20-30 pounds for handling resources and supplies, and to sit or stand to complete office-oriented work an average of 8 hours a day.

Benefits:

Hunger Free Oklahoma benefits include the following insurance: medical, dental, short-term disability, and life; 401K contribution (no match requirement); competitive paid time off; and eligible for annual cost of living increase and annual merit pay increases. Additional insurance is available at employee expense: vision, accident, additional life. Hunger Free Oklahoma offers partial coverage of medical insurance premium for qualified dependents.

Hunger Free Oklahoma offers the benefit of a hybrid work schedule, allowing up to 3 days a week for remote work for much of the year. Participating in the hybrid schedule requires access to reliable internet and a dedicated workspace at home. Hunger Free Oklahoma provides the necessary equipment.

In order to be considered for this position, you must upload a resume and cover letter. Please include applicant name in the file name.

For more information about Hunger Free Oklahoma, and to apply, visit https://www.hungerfreeok.org/about/staff/join-the-team/