Communication and Marketing Specialist

Reports To:        President and CEO

Location:            Must reside in Wisconsin

The Communication and Marketing Specialist will collaborate with the leadership and communication teams in the planning, development, and implementation of marketing and communications efforts. This role is essential in amplifying United Way of Wisconsin’s message, engaging with the member network, and increasing visibility and support for statewide and local initiatives.

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF WISCONSIN 

United Ways improves lives and strengthen communities by mobilizing partners to close gaps and open opportunities so everyone can thrive in Wisconsin. United Way connects partners, donors, volunteers, and community leaders to tackle the root causes of complex challenges while making a positive impact on the lives of Wisconsinites. Statewide our key initiatives are 211 Wisconsin, Volunteer Wisconsin, Workforce Development, and Techquity Wi. We also provide member support services to local and independent United Ways in Wisconsin, and 211 regional contact centers. 

CORE COMPETENCIES

Candidates must be able to demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, exercise sound judgment, and dynamic teamwork. The person should excel at effective communication, sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and a strong operational focus. A commitment to adding value to the team with a goal of implementing United Ways strategic direction. The individual should have exceptional listening skills, demonstrate energy and initiative, and show integrity and compassion for all members of the team and community. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES:

This role is crucial in advancing the mission of United Way through strategic communication and marketing efforts, lifting up local United Ways throughout Wisconsin, and enhancing United Way’s visibility and impact.

Communications

• Execute the internal communications strategy for the Strategic Insights business unit, including key messaging, communication channels, and tactics.
• Create and deliver strategic insights content, including email updates, newsletters, intranet content, videos, and presentations.
• Collaborate with key organizational stakeholders to ensure all communication is approved and signed off by featured business units.
• Monitor and measure the effectiveness of internal communications and make recommendations for improvement based on feedback and data analysis.
• Refine and maintain the organization’s content calendar to ensure that communications are timely and relevant.

Marketing and Outreach

• Develop and implement marketing campaigns to raise awareness of United Way, statewide initiatives, and local United Way priorities.
• Create and manage content for the website, social media platforms, newsletters, Annual Report, and promotional materials.
• Conduct market research to identify target audiences and effective messaging strategies.
• Collaborate with local network subject matter experts and internal staff to highlight key programs and success stories.
• Assist in organizing and promoting member services and the annual conference.
• Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of marketing efforts, providing insights and recommendations for improvement.
• Maintain a consistent brand voice and ensure alignment with organizational values and United Way Worldwide (UWW) brand standards.
• Create and distribute press releases to local media highlighting United Way’s impact in Wisconsin.
• Partner with the communications team to design and order print materials including letterhead, brochures, posters, business cards, thank you cards, signage, and flyers.

Business Operations and Project Coordination

• Recommend and implement streamlined solutions that eliminate inefficiencies and improve productivity across the team.
• Run and analyze regular communication and marketing meetings, help the team identify capacity issues and resource allocation.
• Serve as a liaison with internal and external partners.
• Create and manage libraries of templates for team members to use, such as recruitment screeners, email templates, discussion guides, and deliverable templates.
• Support other key team initiatives as requested.

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop annual marketing plans that support business development goals.
• Serve as the primary contact for media inquiries and collaborate with United Way of Wisconsin staff and members to support media relations.
• Support organizational outreach efforts by attending and exhibiting at community events and conferences.
• Assist in managing the photo library for United Way’s promotions/archive.
• Assist in managing the marketing budget for supplies, software, swag, and printed materials.
• Drive audience segmentation and targeting for email campaigns; compile email lists.
• Keep abreast of best practices, trends, tools, and techniques related to marketing.
• Respond to and assist staff with marketing needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in internal or external communications, or marketing.
• Proven track record in developing and executing communication strategies; experience in the healthcare industry is a plus.
• Experience developing and implementing robust and strategic marketing and communications plans to reach business objectives.
• Experience with website content management systems.
• Experience managing content for multiple digital communications channels and social media platforms.
• Intermediate use of Microsoft Office products.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including editing and proofing.
• Solid project management skills; experience in process optimization and resource allocation is a plus.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Passion for non-profit work and commitment to the mission of United Way.
• Ability to work and communicate with people from a wide range of backgrounds and identities.
• Experience in a non-profit environment preferred.

Physical and Mental Demands

• The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit, talk or hear both in person and by telephone; use hands and fingers repetitively to handle or feel objects or controls and operate computers and other standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms.   
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret information; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret people and situations; learn and apply new information or skills, work under intensive deadlines and interact with UWWi staff and members and others encountered in the course of work.