Communications Coordinator – Arlington, VA

Communications Coordinator – Arlington, VA

Job Information

ID :

#10547991

# of Positions :

Minimum Education Level :

Bachelor’s Degree

Experience Required :

3 years

Duration :

Full Time Regular

Shift :

Unspecified

Hours per week :

Job Description

The Opportunity Founded in 1949, the Council on Foundations (“the Council”) is a national nonprofit association of more than 1,700 grantmaking foundations and corporations. As the country’s leading advocate for philanthropy, the Council’s mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good. A real sea change is underway in philanthropy and at the Council. 2012 was a watershed year for the charitable sector and its principal national organization, the Council. Last July the Council appointed Vikki Spruill, a former communications executive and President of Ocean Conservancy, as its new President and CEO. In the fall, the Council rolled out a major re-visioning of the organization, which has been designed to ensure the Council’s relevance in this new era of innovation and change, and to re-focus its strengths and competencies. In 2013 and 2014, the Council will begin the transformation from being a transaction-based service organization to a relationship-based service organization focused on thought leadership and member stewardship.
The Council is moving from being a terminus—a place to come to “get things”—to a central hub within a large network—a point of connection. In this role as a hub within a larger philanthropic network, the Council will weave a web of relationships—a web that includes not just Council members, but also vast resources outside this community. The Council as a hub of networks in philanthropy will position the organization to bring the voice of philanthropy to a wide variety of networks that are committed to advancing the common good, and bring those voices to the field of philanthropy, enhancing the Council’s role as a national leader and its ability to raise awareness about the promise and potential of philanthropy and its critical role in society.
The new communications coordinator will work with the Vice President of Communications to facilitate information among Council employees as well as to Council members and contacts. As the largest association of philanthropies, the Council has the ability to play a unique role in global conversations about economic development, social enterprise, and charitable giving. The communications coordinator will work to assist the Vice President and to complete the duties of the communications department.
Professional Qualifications: • Ability to write well and develop ideas in a readable and interesting way. • Experience using social media. • Able to generate and deliver powerful verbal, graphic, and written communication. • Demonstrated leadership and business acumen • Understanding of and an interest in the media, specifically, deadline oriented, organized and able to demonstrate good judgment. • Answer and process requests from media. • Manage media monitoring and distribution of releases. • Demonstrated knowledge of how language shapes the formation of ideas. • Knowledge of how communications shape organizations and affinity organizations. • Talent for editing video and designing graphic elements (or ability to learn quickly and independently), preferred but not required. • Knowledge of e-mail marketing software a plus. • Ability to assist VP of Communications with administrative duties as needed. • Curiosity and awareness of the outside world. • Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required. Preferred areas of study: English, Journalism, Communications, Political Science, Sociology, Art Studies, Economics, or Social Enterprise (Talent and ability are the main determinants of suitability)
Personal Attributes: • Outstanding interpersonal skills including a deep commitment to the program goals, intellectual curiosity, good judgment, honesty, and integrity. • Ability to listen and process complex information quickly. • Initiative to solve problems with energy and a positive attitude. • A change leader at ease working with diverse stakeholders and teams. • Demonstrated ability to anticipate, prioritize, and manage tasks as a team player with grace and flexibility in a rapidly changing environment. • Excellent judgment and negotiation skills, with an eye toward translating strategy into relationships and results. • Exceptional management skills and ability to grow within your job. • Interest in shaping events both inside the U.S. and around the world. • Style that is goal oriented and flexible; able to work independently. • Ability to make decisions in a highly dynamic environment, with an appreciation for how future needs may affect those decisions. • A willingness to iterate a strategy and approach, with the ability to recognize the need to course-correct as necessary. • Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively with a broad range of diverse groups as evidenced by excellent listening and communication skills, balanced and reasoned approaches to problems, ability to inspire trust and confidence, and flexibility and openness to differing points of view. • Support for the direction of the organization and its leadership’s vision. • Genuine enthusiasm and passion for philanthropy, even if you have not worked in philanthropy before.
Start Timeframe We seek to have the right individual start as soon as available.
Compensation This position offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits.
Equal Opportunity The Council on Foundations is an equal opportunity employer. The Council’s mission requires a commitment to inclusiveness as a fundamental operative principle. It also calls for an active and ongoing process that affirms human diversity in its many forms, encompassing but not limited to: age, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, class, geography, economic circumstance, disability, philosophy, gender identity, or sexual orientation/identification.
To Apply All applications are held in strict confidence. Please submit your resume and 3 writing samples (one short, one long, and one of applicant’s choice) to the Vice President of Communications at jesse.salazar@cof.org. If applicable, please send a graphic piece that you’ve created as well.