Communications Officer

Location: In-person, Philadelphia (with some remote flexibility)

Travel: Minimal, approximately 5-10%

FLSA Status: Regular, Full-Time, Exempt

Salary: $120,000 to $130,000

About William Penn Foundation

The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. We do this through funding programs in the Philadelphia region in arts and culture, children and families, democracy and civic initiatives, environment and public space, and workforce training and services.

About the Role

The Communications Officer will focus on the Children and Families, Democracy and Civic Initiatives, and Workforce Training and Services grantmaking portfolios. This individual will be responsible for helping with strategy and execution for all communications activities for those three grantmaking programs. The role includes managing strategy and implementation of a communications plan, media relations, planning and execution of convenings, release of new research or evidence, and collaborating with the Senior Digital and Social Media Associate on digital content. The position will also offer strategic guidance to grantees, support learning communities, identify new venues for sharing information, and manage relationships with outside consultants. The Officer will participate in select team activities and work with the Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer on developing a strategic plan to support the department’s expanding external affairs function.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategic communications plan for the Children and Families, Democracy and Civic Initiatives, and Workforce Training and Services program teams.
• Update and produce content for the Foundation’s website.
• Offer strategic communications guidance to grantees as they seek to elevate their WPF-funded work.
• Generate story ideas related to the three portfolios by meeting with Program Directors to identify press opportunities and secure coverage.
• Conduct interview preparation work, including reporter background research, key message prep, and spokesperson prep.
• Identify opportunities for commentaries, op-eds, and topical commentary by monitoring relevant national industry news and trends.
• Generate content for external newsletters and other materials.
• Manage and produce social media content for the three portfolios in cooperation with the Senior Digital and Social Media Associate.
• Ensure new, engaging, and consistent information is posted regularly on the Foundation website and other media outlets.
• Create and maintain a contact management system in Salesforce for the three portfolios.
• Plan and implement related events and convenings.
• Prepare program teams for speaking engagements at conferences, meetings, and convenings.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent writing and editing skills with experience writing for different audiences in various formats.
• Ability to construct a compelling narrative based on defined information.
• Rapid generation of materials for public consumption, including PowerPoint presentations, press releases, and brief comments.
• Ability to quickly understand information, synthesize findings, and make recommendations; demonstrated ability to learn and master new issues quickly.
• Demonstrated project and time management skills ensuring all deadlines are met; ability to define project scope, roles, responsibilities, and deliverables.
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and judgment with strong detail orientation and follow-through.
• Track record of strong ownership of work, active self-management, and initiative.
• Adaptable and flexible to changing environments; able to identify new approaches to support a dynamic organization.
• Capable and willing to work at all levels, including strategic thinking and administrative tasks.
• Demonstrated team-orientation with the ability to collaborate and achieve actionable results; build robust and sustainable relationships through strong interpersonal skills.
• High degree of integrity, poise, humility, diplomacy, and tact.
• Good judgment and ability to make wise decisions based on available and sometimes limited data.

Requirements

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience in communications (10+ years preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Communications or Journalism.
• Experience with Children and Families and/or Democracy and Civic Initiatives related organizations and activities preferred, but not required.
• Digital experience including website management, social media strategy and implementation, management of e-blast campaigns, and familiarity with contact management systems such as Salesforce.
• Creative/design experience such as shooting and editing video, audio, and photography preferred.
• Strong media relations experience developing story ideas and generating coverage.
• Experience developing and implementing communications strategies.
• Experience in setting priorities, long-term project management, coordination, and management while working under tight deadlines.
• History of successful work with communications and event-planning agencies and vendors.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Regularly required to walk, bend, sit, talk, lift, or hear.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands and arms to operate general office equipment (PC, telephone, file cabinets, copier, fax machine, and printer).
• May occasionally lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.