Director of Marketing & Communications

Director of Marketing & Communications

Portland, Oregon

Who We Are:

Children's Cancer Association was founded in 1995 by the Ellis family after their five-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died of cancer. Their goal was to create something extraordinary: an organization with a new vision for what pediatric cancer support services look like. Today, the JoyRx Mentorship, Nature, and Music programs reach thousands of hospitalized children of all ages and diagnoses. Our programs reach children where they are - and make their tough days a little brighter.

Simply put - joy helps sick kids feel better.

Who You Are / Position Summary:

Children's Cancer Association (CCA) is seeking a strategic and collaborative marketing and communications leader who is passionate about using storytelling, brand engagement, and integrated communications to advance a powerful mission. The Director of Marketing & Communications will serve as the organization's leader for brand, communications operations, and audience engagement-building the systems and strategies that connect children and families, donors, healthcare partners, communities, and supporters to the impact of JoyRx programs.

As part of CCA's combined Marketing and Development team, this role reports to the Vice President of Marketing & Development and serves as a strategic partner across the entire organization, including Programs, Development, Operations, Executive Leadership, and regional teams.

The Mar/Com Director owns CCA's communications ecosystem, including integrated strategic communications planning, brand stewardship, storytelling, digital engagement, website strategy, email strategy, media relations, campaign planning, and cross-functional communications operations. The Director ensures that CCA's mission, programs, impact, and opportunities for engagement are consistently and effectively communicated across all markets and audiences.

This is a growth and engagement leadership role that orchestrates overlapping campaigns and priorities to achieve long-term goals and daily deadlines. Successful candidates will create strong mission-alignment between fundraising and marketing, while achieving organizational priorities by developing integrated plans, improving workflows, and ensuring teams have the tools, resources, and direction needed to engage audiences and grow awareness.

Based at CCA's headquarters in the Pacific Northwest, this role supports priorities across all regions, while strengthening CCA's visibility, reputation, and community impact.

Essential Functions:

Brand Marketing & Communications Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of strategic communications plans that support signature events, fundraising priorities, donor engagement, and organizational growth.
• Develop and manage the annual communications calendar, including brand initiatives, donor communications, program storytelling, events, campaigns, media opportunities, and organizational milestones.
• Lead campaign planning processes for team accountability: including project timelines, messaging, audience planning, brand alignment, and cross-functional execution.
• Establish communication strategies that support donor engagement, acquisition, stewardship, brand awareness, and community growth.
• Partner with Programs leadership to ensure that family and hospital-facing communications and materials are prioritized to reflect the quality and excellence of JoyRx programs.
• Partner with Development leadership to ensure fundraising communications are compelling, timely, audience-centered, and aligned with donor engagement strategies.
• Lead brand activation and brand stewardship opportunities through partnerships, signature events, campaign, and community activations - elevating the voices and experiences of children, families, healthcare partners, artists, volunteers, donors and champions.

Digital Engagement & Communications Operations

• Lead strategy and ongoing optimization for CCA's digital ecosystem, including JoyRx.org, social media platforms, email marketing, and other audience engagement channels.
• Establish best practices for content planning, audience segmentation, channel strategy, measurement, and continuous improvement.
• Improve communications workflows, project management systems, and operational processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Use data and insights to evaluate communications performance and identify opportunities for growth.

Media Relations & Special Events

• Develop and oversee CCA's media and public relations strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and signature events
• Ensure signature events are produced, scripted, and supported with activations, key messaging, visual elements and family storytelling that provide meaningful brand experiences for guests.
• Build relationships with media partners and identify opportunities to increase awareness of CCA's mission and impact.
• Support leadership, staff, and program representatives in media preparation and external communications opportunities.

Executive, Board & Internal Communications Support

• Support CEO and executive leadership communications, including presentations, talking points, organizational announcements, and strategic messaging.
• Partner with the VP of Marketing & Development to support Board communications, including meeting materials, reports, presentations, and organizational updates.
• Provide internal communications support when needed to ensure staff are informed and connected to organizational priorities.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Supervise the Marketing Manager in addition to external creative partners, including contract designers, photographers, videographers, writers, and agencies as needed.
• Serve as a strategic communications partner to all departments and markets across CCA.
• Lead cross-functional project management for major organizational initiatives, campaigns, and communications priorities.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Strategic marketing and communications leader with experience building integrated communications strategies.
• Exceptional storytelling, writing, editing, and messaging skills.
• Strong understanding of brand strategy, digital engagement, audience development, and communications operations.
• Experience developing integrated campaigns across email, web, social media, events, and other channels.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage complex priorities and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with executive leaders, development teams, program teams, and external stakeholders.
• Experience managing and mentoring staff and creative partners.
• Strong media relations and public relations experience.
• Data-informed approach with experience using analytics to evaluate engagement and improve outcomes.
• Experience with nonprofit, healthcare, education, arts, or mission-driven organizations preferred.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 8-10 years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, brand management, public relations, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated communications strategies.
• Experience leading cross-functional communications efforts and advising organizational leaders.
• Experience managing teams, vendors, and creative partners.

CCA's Values. Alignment with our Core Values is essential to success in this role.

These values guide everything we do-from how we care for families to how we shape and share our programs:

Compassion: We lead with heart, authenticity, and kindness.

Community: We know joy is a ripple effect. Collaboration and connection are at the core of everything we do.

Creativity: We believe in the importance of play, imagination, and the healing power of music. We make space for inspiration and creativity in our ways of working and engaging.

Care: We care for our mission, our resources, and each other with integrity and respect. We are stewards of the generosity and the trust that is placed in us.

Curiosity: Inspired by the wonders of childhood, we stay open to new ideas, fresh perspectives, and magical moments that spark joy in unexpected ways. We honor innovation as central to our legacy.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

CCA is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion and we believe that a diverse staff of highly skilled and creative individuals is necessary to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. We strive to create a work environment that reflects the communities we serve where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole, authentic selves to work, fully as they identify. We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our workforce across a range of dimensions

Work Environment:

At CCA we are committed to a work environment where each person feels a sense of belonging and they are recognized, appreciated, and valued. This position is based at CCA's headquarters in the Pacific Northwest. CCA offers a hybrid work environment with regular collaboration with colleagues across departments and regions. This position may require occasional travel to support organizational events, partner relationships, and regional engagement opportunities.

Physical Demands:

This position requires frequent operation of a computer and other office equipment, such as a calculator, copier, and printer. This position requires the ability to perform basic math and speak, hear, write, and read English and some occasional lifting is required (up to 20 lbs).

Compensation & Benefits:

CCA is a growth organization that looks for team members to grow with it. CCA offers a generous total rewards package, a casual work environment, and an inclusive culture.

This position has a salary range starting at $95,000 annually. Final compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, skills, internal equity, geographic considerations, and organizational factors.

Generous benefits include:

• Heavily subsidized medical, vision, dental, and alternative care benefits
• Generous PTO package, paid wellness days, and ten (plus two floating) paid holidays
• Voluntary short- and long-term disability
• Flexible spending plan
• 401(k) with 3.5 percent CCA match
• Paid four-week sabbatical to pursue creative talents after eight years of service
• Professional development annual benefit
• Subsidized on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full time (40 hours/week) exempt position. Some flexibility in hours is allowed; days and hours of work are generally Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am - 5:30 pm, and Friday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm, with in-office work Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This position may require occasional evening hours and weekend work.

General Information:

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. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required for the position. Job duties may change at any time, with or without notice.

Application Guidelines:

Complete the application through our application portal and answer the following two questions in your cover letter:

• Tell us how your previous work history has prepared you for this role.
• Tell us if the compensation and benefits information listed above meet your needs.

To learn more about Children's Cancer Association, visit JoyRx.org.

Watch Founder and Chief Joy Officer Regina Ellis' TEDx Talk on the Joy Effect