Interested candidates should send cover letter and resume to email address provided.
HAVEN
Communications Manager
Job Description
Status
Full-Time, Exempt – Benefits Eligible (based on 40 hours/week)
Level
Manager
Reports To
Director of Development
Salary
$60,000
Location
Greater Seacoast, NH (Portsmouth-based)
Position Summary
The Communications Manager sets and carries out the strategy behind HAVEN’s storytelling, brand, and public voice at a defining moment in the organization’s history. Reporting to the Director of Development and working closely with the Community Engagement Coordinator and Campaign Manager, this role ensures that HAVEN’s communications are not only consistent and compelling but strategically aligned with the organization’s fundraising goals and the Building Dignity capital campaign.
This is a strategic lead role, not a production-only position. The ideal candidate is a seasoned nonprofit communicator who understands how strategic communications drive mission and revenue—and who has a proven record of creating content for multiple, distinct nonprofit audiences, each with different needs, levels of understanding, and goals. They can move fluently between a major donor, a first-time event guest, a community partner, a journalist, and a survivor audience, calibrating message, tone, and channel for each.
Key Responsibilities
Communications Strategy
- Set the Strategy: Develop and own HAVEN’s communications strategy, ensuring it advances organizational goals, fundraising priorities, and the Building Dignity campaign.
- Audience Segmentation: Map HAVEN’s distinct audiences—major donors, annual donors and prospects, institutional and corporate partners, community members, media, and survivors—and tailor messaging, channel, and tone for each.
- Messaging Discipline: Maintain a clear, consistent messaging framework so that every piece of content reinforces HAVEN’s impact, scale, and ambition.
- Editorial Planning: Maintain and run the communications calendar, coordinating content across the team and aligning it to development milestones and awareness moments.
Content Creation & Storytelling
- Write & Edit: Produce and edit compelling content for the website, blog, e-newsletters, annual report, and campaign materials.
- Donor & Campaign Copy: Craft fundraising appeals, donor stewardship pieces, and case-for-support language in partnership with the Director of Development.
- Trauma-Informed Storytelling: Tell powerful, respectful, trauma-informed stories that honor survivors’ dignity and consent while moving audiences to act.
- Multi-Format Content: Develop content across formats—written, graphic, and short-form video—that communicates program impact clearly to different audiences.
Brand & Digital Management
- Brand Stewardship: Own HAVEN’s voice and brand standards, ensuring consistency across all internal and public-facing collateral.
- Website: Oversee website content, keeping it current, accurate, and mission-aligned.
- Channel Strategy: Set the strategy and standards for HAVEN’s digital channels; partner with the Community Engagement Coordinator, who leads day-to-day execution, to ensure social content reflects the broader communications plan.
Public Relations & Media
- Media Relations: Draft and distribute press releases and media advisories; serve as a coordinating point of contact for media inquiries and help prepare and schedule leadership interviews.
- Measurement: Track and interpret communications metrics—website traffic, email performance, and social analytics—to evaluate impact and continuously improve.
- Reputation: Help protect and elevate HAVEN’s reputation with sophisticated donors, institutional partners, and regional stakeholders.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Skills Required
- Experience: Minimum 3–5 years in communications, marketing, or storytelling, with substantial experience in the nonprofit or social impact sector.
- Multi-Audience Content: Demonstrated record of creating content for multiple, distinct nonprofit audiences—donors, partners, community, media, and program participants—with different needs, understanding, and goals.
- Strategic Communications: Deep understanding of how strategic nonprofit communications support mission, fundraising, and campaign goals—not just content production.
- Writing: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to tell powerful, trauma-informed, and respectful stories.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency with content management systems (e.g., WordPress), email marketing tools (e.g., Mailchimp), and design tools (e.g., Canva or Adobe Creative Suite).
- Collaboration: A collaborative spirit, strong organizational skills, and a keen eye for detail.
Preferred
- Campaign Communications: Experience supporting a capital campaign or major fundraising initiative.
- Sensitive Subject Matter: Experience communicating on behalf of organizations working with vulnerable populations or sensitive issues.
- Mission Alignment: Commitment to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Equity & Inclusion
From HAVEN’s inception, Diversity & Inclusion have always been key to our success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds who share a passion for improving people’s lives. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity, but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and many other parts of one’s identity. All of our employees’ points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are inextricably linked with all aspects of HAVEN’s mission to end violence and change lives.
Completion of a Criminal Record Check is required for hire.
Pay: $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Communication skills: 3 years (Required)
- Marketing: 3 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
