Director of Strategic Communications and Informed Communities

Posted on October 21, 2024

The Position

Gates Family Foundation is seeking a Director of Strategic Communications and Informed Communities. This position will lead a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with the Foundation’s broader goals, support all program teams in leveraging strategic communications to deepen the impact of their work, and oversee the Foundation’s grantmaking efforts to ensure widespread access to reliable information and strong civic engagement across the state.

The position reports directly to the President, regularly oversees contractors, and joins a team of 11 other staff members across programs, learning and evaluation, finance and grants management. Job responsibilities of this role include the following:

Strategic Communications Leadership
Provide strategic direction to continually develop, refine and implement a multifaceted strategic communications plan that advances the Foundation's mission, amplifies its initiatives and the work of its grantees and partners, and fosters informed and engaged communities across Colorado
Work with program teams to develop strategic communications strategies, highlight impact, and amplify success stories in all program areas
Collaborate with the Director of Learning and Evaluation to help codify and share key learnings from the Foundation’s grantmaking and initiatives
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies, making data-driven adjustments as needed
Lend strategic thought leadership and hands-on communications support to key high-impact initiatives across program areas
Oversee all aspects of external communications for the Foundation, including digital strategy, content creation, media relations, and public relations
Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including community and foundation leaders, strategic partners, and media outlets
Serve as a spokesperson and representative for the Foundation at public events, conferences, and other engagements
Support internal communication and learning among the board of trustees and the staff

Informed Communities Program Leadership
Provide intellectual leadership to continually develop and refine the Foundation’s theory of action and the strategy behind its grantmaking and initiated work for Informed Communities (see detail below)
Serve as a an active partner and key voice on the Executive Committee of the Colorado Media Project, a broad coalition of stakeholders working to expand and protect access to reliable, local news for all Colorado citizens
Build and maintain trusted relationships with grantee and non-grantee partners in the media sector, serving as a thought partner and support, surfacing common challenges, and identifying new opportunities to ensure a strong local news ecosystem
Identify strategic grantmaking opportunities, analyze their feasibility, shape specific opportunities, present recommendations internally, and negotiate grant agreements
Review grant applications, conduct due diligence, and make recommendations on funding
Identify and track outcomes to evaluate the impact of foundation investments and inform its strategy for Informed Communities

Qualifications

Ideal candidates will bring:
Passion for the Foundation's mission and a deep commitment to fostering a thriving, diverse local news ecosystem accessible to all Colorado citizens
Leadership experience in communications, with experience developing and executing successful communication strategies that affect positive change at a systems level (e.g. across a city, state, or field);
Experience in the nonprofit, public, and/or philanthropic sectors preferred
A robust and well-rounded communications skillset, including experience in digital media and multimedia content creation, media relations, public relations, and campaigns
A track record of leading powerfully through collaborative relationships, with deep experience in coalition building, facilitating partnerships, and playing an advisory role to a wide array of stakeholders
Exceptional storytelling, writing, and oral communication skills, including the ability to craft…