Position Title: Director of Communication

Reports to: Chief Development Officer

FLSA Classification: Professional, Full-time, Non-Exempt employment status.

Wheeler Mission is a privately funded 501 (c) 3 non-profit, non-denominational Christian social services organization which provides critically needed goods and services to individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and need in Central and South-Central Indiana. Wheeler provides these services without regard to race, color, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, or religion. We are a Christ-centered ministry dedicated to sharing the Gospel and helping the homeless and impoverished. Wheeler Mission Ministries considers every position one of ministry and a vital and valued part of our team. Therefore, it is essential that all employees of Wheeler Mission have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and subscribe to our Mission, Vision, Statement of Faith, Core Values, and Qualifications for Employment upon hire and continuously while employed. Employees are encouraged and expected to share the Gospel as opportunities arise.

Position Summary:

The Director of Communication leads the development and implementation of strategies and tactics that enable the successful execution of the goals and objectives of the ministry. This position carries out the responsibilities by raising awareness, building reach, and developing and executing a comprehensive communications plan enabling the ministry to fulfill its mission and vision. In conjunction with critical external partners, this position serves as the primary internal resource coordinating all communications activities of the development process: special events, fundraising, volunteers, community engagement, public relations, marketing, and social media.

This position is considered a mobile position and can work a hybrid work schedule.

Key Characteristics of the Successful Candidate:

• 
  Possess excellent communication skills (both verbally and in written word) and excels in crafting communications for external and internal audiences
• Appreciates and exhibits excellent storytelling capabilities and passion to create strong narratives that align with organizational mission and values
• Strong project management and execution skills with the ability to supervise other individuals working toward a common goal
• Willingness to provide consultative services to other departments as they execute the media and communications features of their respective departments
• Background in bringing cross-functional teams (and leadership) along on a communications journey that shows long lasting impact and sustainability for the organization
• Significant experience developing strategy, collaborating across teams, and implementing daily tactics through effective cross-functional management
• Comfortable presenting strategies and addressing complex decisions across multiple team members
• Experience managing external PR agency, marketing and communications relationships
• Excellent skills in managing difficult or complex situations, including crises and sensitive topics

Key Responsibilities of the Position:

• 
  Will set and guide the strategy for all communications, website, and public relations messages and collateral to consistently articulate Wheeler's brand and mission
• Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic collateral including, but not limited to, newsletters, brochures, handouts, annual reports, and websites
• Stewards the development and approvals on all direct marketing materials from external partner (Brewer/BDI) including special CEO appeals and messages.
• Implements and communicates official processes for approvals of donor letters and ordering of donor services print materials
• Coordinates all direct mail and social media ads with Brewer/BDI, including testing of social media ads
• Supervises internal Communications Specialist and external social media consultant to plan, produce, write, video, test and execute all social media campaigns
• Regularly train Wheeler leadership and staff regarding branding standards, letter style, appropriate logo uses, etc.
• Updates and maintains a comprehensive Communications Calendar for staff and external partners to access

Qualifications:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Possess a sincere love of Christ and maintain a Christian walk that is evident of that love. Individual must be willing to sign and adhere to the WM Statement of Faith
• Dependability – consistently at work and on time, reports to all scheduled shifts, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve personal performance, and completes tasks in a timely and accurate manner
• Ability to multitask
• Close attention to detail
• Interpersonal Skills – maintains confidentiality, remains open to others’ ideas, and exhibits a willingness to try new things; works well in a team atmosphere and gets along well with others; prioritizes work activities, uses time efficiently and develops realistic action plans.
• Adaptability – adapts well to changes in the work environment, manages stress effectively, manages competing demands and can deal effectively with frequent change, delays or unexpected events. The ability to work effectively in a team environment with associates and be equally effective and productive working on individual projects requiring minimal direct supervision.
• Oral Communications – speaks clearly, persuasively, and kindly in positive or negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills and the ability to conduct meetings.
• Written Communications – filling out of forms, communicating via email, routinely edits work for spelling and grammar errors, presents numerical data effectively, able to read and interpret written information on an advanced level.

Essential Requirements:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Media skills: advanced design, photography, and video editing capabilities
• Social media: gather and create content for all social media platforms including ViewSpark; create digital graphics and videos; stream live videos; evaluate analytics for all social media platforms; review Meltwater daily for positive news stories to share and assess negative posts
• Website: SEO optimization; evaluate analytics; perform routine edits and updates
• Digital presentations: create and edit presentations in Prezi and PowerPoint
• Ministry resources: manage content library and archival system for all ministry photos, videos, testimonies, etc.
• Creative writing: donor letters; online donation email responses; proof reading and editing
• Blogs and eblasts: create and edit content; manage schedule and posting
• Wheeler’s online brand: routinely review and edit Wheeler Mission’s information on other websites (Google maps, Yelp, White pages, etc.)

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting and is required to travel to other ministry locations to complete assigned tasks.

Physical Demands:

While performing this job, the employee is required to talk and hear. It is a typical office environment with some outdoor work in a variety of weather conditions. Some evening and weekend work will be required. Heavy computer use utilizing Adobe Creative Cloud, WordPress, social media platforms, Microsoft Office suite, and other programs. The occasional need to lift and move boxes, tables, chairs, and other items up to 20 pounds is also required.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice at the discretion of the employer (WM).

Required Education and Experience:

• 
  BS/BA degree in English, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, or another related field with 3-5 years of related experience; a nonprofit background and previous supervisory and advocacy experience is required
• Equivalent combination of education and experience
• Superior writing skills with experience developing press releases, op-eds, and other external communications; create key messages and themes to best tell the ministry narrative and support marketing and business plans
• Experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, email marketing service, Prezi, Microsoft Office suite, WordPress.

Preferred Education and Experience

• 
  MS/MA degree in related discipline and five-eight years of related experience will be considered

• 6-8 years of relevant work experience in communications/public relations or marketing

Background Investigation and Drug Testing:

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  After a “conditional offer of employment” is made, the individual must pass a thorough background investigation.
• Wheeler Mission Ministries has a mandatory drug testing policy for all new employees. The successful applicant must submit to and pass a drug and/or alcohol test. This drug and/or alcohol testing may occur any time after the applicant receives a conditional offer of employment. All employees must sign and adhere to WM Drugs and Alcohol policy and remain free from addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Statement of Conflict of Interest/Confidentiality

This position requires both a conflict-of-interest statement and a confidentiality statement.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

There are staff supervisory responsibilities associated with this position.

Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time, non-exempt 40-hour per week position with a typical, daytime work schedule. This position is eligible to work from home or off-site. Some evenings and weekends will be required.

Travel:

Travel is primarily in Indianapolis but occasional trips to Bloomington may be needed. Most travel is during the business day, but some evening and weekend travel will be required.

Disclaimer: Although WMM has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, WMM reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of WMM, at any time, with or without advance notice. This position description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This position description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship remains “at-will.” The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.