Manager, Marketing & Communications - Simon Youth Foundation

Job Location:

Corporate Indianapolis

Position Summary

The Marketing & Communications Manager is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive marketing, communications, and public relations strategies that strengthen Simon Youth Foundation's (SYF) brand, increase community awareness, support fundraising efforts, and highlight the impact of SYF nationally. This position plays a critical role in telling the organization's story, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring consistent messaging across all communication channels.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented creative storyteller, strategic thinker, and collaborative professional who is passionate about advancing opportunities and positive outcomes for students and educators. The position requires someone who can move comfortably between planning and production while keeping the Foundation's broader brand and audience objectives at the center of the work.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Marketing

• Develop and execute annual marketing and communications plans aligned with organizational goals.
• Build brand awareness and promote the Foundation's mission, programs, events, and impact.
• Create and manage marketing campaigns that support fundraising, volunteer recruitment, community engagement, and program participation.
• Monitor marketing performance metrics and provide regular reports and recommendations.
• Ensure brand consistency across all marketing materials and communications.

Brand Stewardship

• Apply SYF's brand standards, messaging guidance, terminology, and approval procedures across public-facing communications.
• Ensure that programs, events, and campaigns remain clearly connected to the Simon Youth Foundation parent brand.
• Review routine materials for visual and message consistency and elevate higher-risk or high visibility items for leadership approval.
• Maintain current templates, shared brand resources, and final approved assets.
• Help staff and partners use brand resources correctly and answer routine brand questions.

Communications

• Develop and implement internal and external communication strategies.
• Create engaging content for newsletters, annual reports, website updates, donor communications, and program materials.
• Write and edit press releases, media advisories, speeches, fact sheets, and organizational messaging.
• Manage media relations and serve as a primary contact for media inquiries.
• Coordinate storytelling initiatives that showcase student and educator success stories, program outcomes, donor impact, and community partnerships.
• Develop communication plans for major organizational announcements and events.

Digital Marketing & Social Media

• Manage the Foundation's website and digital presence.
• Create and maintain a social media content calendar.
• Produce engaging social media content including graphics, videos, photography, and written posts.
• Monitor social media engagement and respond to inquiries in a timely manner.
• Utilize marketing platforms to execute targeted communication campaigns.
• Analyze digital marketing metrics and adjust strategies to improve engagement and reach.

Fundraising & Advancement Support

• Partner with the Advancement team to create marketing materials that support fundraising campaigns and donor stewardship.
• Develop compelling donor impact stories and campaign messaging.
• Assist with sponsorship presentations, grant support materials, and event promotions.
• Support all giving campaigns and community fundraising initiatives.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with Program Services to promote partnerships with academies, community organizations, businesses, and youth-serving agencies.
• Represent the Foundation at community events and networking opportunities.
• Help cultivate relationships with donors, volunteers, alumni, and community partners through strategic communications.
• Coordinate outreach efforts that increase awareness of youth programs and services.

Event Marketing

• Develop marketing and communication plans for fundraising events, programs, community and donor outreach activities, and special events.
• Coordinate event promotion through digital, print, media, and community channels.
• Create event materials including invitations, programs, signage, presentations, and post-event communications.

Leadership & Organizational Strategy

• Serve as the Foundation's communications leader, ensuring all messaging consistently reflects the organization's mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.
• Advise the Vice President, Advancement, President and senior leadership team on communications, public relations, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Participate in organizational strategic planning and contribute marketing and communications expertise to advance Foundation goals.
• Lead the development and approved execution of crisis communication plans and serve as a key communications resource during sensitive or high-profile situations.
• Build strong relationships with organizational leaders, board members, community partners, donors, and external stakeholders.
• Provide communications support and coaching to Foundation leadership, including speechwriting, presentation development, and media preparation.
• Oversee external consultants, agencies, freelancers, and vendors as needed.
• With the Vice President, Advancement, develop and manage the annual marketing and communications budget.
• Leads by example, reinforcing organizational values and fostering a culture of trust, storytelling, transparency, and mission-centered communication throughout the organization with shared ownership and continuous improvement.
• Identify emerging trends, technologies, and best practices to enhance the Foundation's visibility, engagement, and impact.
• Removes barriers and secures resources needed for success, advocating for staff and marketing and communications priorities at the leadership level.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.

Experience

• 3-5 years of progressive experience in marketing, content, communications, public relations, or nonprofit marketing.
• Demonstrated ability in developing and executing multi-channel marketing campaigns.
• Experience managing social media platforms and website content.
• Experience editing short-form video and preparing platform-appropriate visual content.
• Experience writing for diverse audiences, including donors, funders, community partners, and families.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a nonprofit, foundation, education, youth development, or community-based organization.
• Experience supporting fundraising and donor engagement initiatives.
• Graphic design and video production experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and marketing platforms such as Canva, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, WordPress, or similar tools
• Familiarity with Google Analytics, campaign tracking, digital analytics, and basic conversion reporting.
• Experience coordinating freelancers, agencies, or creative vendors.
• Basic photography and videography skills, comfort directing simple on-site content capture.

Knowledge, Skills, Leadership and Abilities

• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong storytelling and content development abilities.
• Knowledge of digital marketing, social media management, email marketing, and website administration.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage a recurring production schedule with multiple contributors.
• Ability to analyze data and use insights to improve marketing effectiveness.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, youth and educators.
• Sound judgment when working with student stories, photographs, organizational data, and sensitive information.

Reporting Relationship

• The Marketing & Communications Manager reports directly to the Vice President, Advancement