Title: Vice President, Communications

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer / Chief Marketing Officer

Status: Exempt

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working alongside the Chief Marketing Officer, the Vice President of Communications is an integral part of the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) senior management team, responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of a broad range of key communications initiatives and managing strategic communications activities that promote and enhance the leadership of the organization.

The VP of Communications will employ compelling communications that engage stakeholders, including corporate partners, donors, thought leaders and policymakers, and illuminate the challenges and opportunities reflected in the sport landscape for girls and women at every level of participation. The VP of Communication will ensure that WSF is viewed as a leader within and across all relevant sectors including showcasing examples of its impact on underserved communities, its research and policy recommendations.

This individual will be an ambassador for the organization, building relationships with the media outlets and driving broader awareness and donor support for the WSF through media partnerships, print and digital platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Communications Planning, Strategy and Vision • Create communication, branding and public relations strategy that helps WSF leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers. • Develop and implement an integrated communications plan to advance the Women’s Sports Foundation’s leadership and brand equity; broaden awareness of its programs and priorities; and increase the visibility of its programs • Oversee the execution of the Foundation’s rebrand rollout including the development, design and launch of a state-of-the-art website in Fall 2019, and recrafting of all WSF collateral materials • Work alongside the Community Impact team to develop powerful educational tools for coaches, parents, administrators and girls to break barriers and reinforce the benefits that stem from sports participation and leadership opportunities in the field. • In conjunction with the CMO, maintain the Foundation’s brand and messaging guidelines; producing a document that can be used by staff, trustees and third-party agencies to produce WSF communications materials, media and development messaging for all targeted audiences • Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization. Work with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions, and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them. • Train the Foundation’s leadership team and staff to ensure the delivery of compelling and consistent messaging across all WSF program areas

2. Communications Operations and Brand Building • Oversee development of all WSF digital and print communications including the annual report, brochures, newsletters, marketing collateral materials, PSAs and other forms of promotion

• Lead the Foundation’s communications planning and publicity efforts around its signature events, grant programs and initiatives including the Annual Salute to Women in Sports awards gala • Serve as a spokesperson and lead point person on media interactions that help promote and/or impact the organization; actively engage, cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding Women’s Sports Foundation community impact initiatives, advocacy, research, events and other projects. • Manage media relations including dissemination of statements, press releases, talking points and resource information, and scheduling media interviews with staff and Trustees, and manage relationships with associated vendors. • Recruit and manage a team of full-time staff and agencies whose responsibilities may include the WSF main website, digital and social platforms and content libraries • Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications function including budgeting, planning and staff development

3. General Responsibilities: • Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality. • Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis. • Establish and monitor performance and development goals for direct reports, assign accountabilities, establish priorities and conduct annual performance appraisals • Contribute to the maintenance of good working relationships with all members of the staff • Demonstrate a commitment to critical organization values and a commitment to diversity in all programming materials under their control • Contribute to the general financial stability and success of the Foundation • Maintain outreach to internal departments to enhance productivity and program quality

4. Qualifications/Core Competencies: • Bachelor's or Masters’ degree preferred in journalism, communications, or related field • Minimum 8-10 years’ experience in a senior role either in-house or with an agency • Passion for Women’s Sports Foundation mission; strong understanding of women’s sports and female athletes • Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements • A minimum of five years’ experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories • Extensive successful writing and editing experience (externally focused) with a variety of print and online communications media • Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization's mission and goals • Experience in building, mentoring, and coaching a team of communications specialists • Ability to manage concurrent projects with overlapping timelines • Basic knowledge of HTML, CRM databases, CSS design to facilitate successful project oversight

In 2015, the Women’s Sports Foundation adopted the “Hucles Rule,” a hiring guideline that states that an elite athlete must be interviewed for each WSF job opening. The Women’s Sports Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.