Description

At the Davis Phinney Foundation, we help people with Parkinson’s live well today.  Resources such as tools, education, and experiences are just a few of the ways we help make the lives of those we serve better.  Since 2004, the Foundation has brought to life some of the most important programs and research for those affected by Parkinson’s.  Our community includes people living with Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s care partners, families, and friends, in addition to physicians and allied health professionals.  

Overview

The Director of Marketing & Communications serves as the senior leader and head of the Marketing & Communications department. Reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving on the senior leadership team, this role leads the Foundation’s marketing strategy, digital marketing, brand direction, and communications initiatives to expand reach, strengthen engagement, and drive measurable impact across programs, fundraising, and awareness efforts.The Director oversees a department that includes a Senior Marketing Manager, a full-time Marketing Manager, a part-time Marketing Manager, and a Marketing Operations Manager (new role), as well as select agency and contractor relationships. This position requires a strategic and data-informed leader who can guide marketing vision and planning while remaining hands-on in key areas such as analytics, campaign strategy, and brand development.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Strategy

• Provide leadership, direction, and accountability for the Marketing & Communications department.
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy and decision-making.
• Develop and implement the annual marketing strategy and budget to achieve the Foundation’s goals for engagement, awareness, and fundraising support.
• Oversee both digital and traditional marketing initiatives to ensure cohesive messaging and consistent audience experience across all channels and materials.
• Mentor and manage a multi-level team, fostering collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.
• Lead cross-department collaboration with Development, Programs, and Content to ensure unified messaging and shared priorities.

Digital, Social, and Campaign Strategy

• Provide strategic oversight for all digital marketing initiatives, including social media, email marketing, paid media, and SEO, to drive awareness, engagement, and participation in Foundation programs and events.
• Guide the development and execution of multichannel campaign strategies that integrate email, social, and website communications for cohesive audience experiences.
• Oversee the Foundation’s social media presence, ensuring consistent voice, mission alignment, and data-informed growth across platforms.
• Partner with the agency managing the Foundation’s Google Ads Grant account to ensure campaigns align with organizational priorities and are measured effectively.
• Oversee limited paid social promotions (e.g., Meta post boosts) to enhance reach and event engagement.
• Lead SEO strategy in partnership with internal team members and external vendors to strengthen content visibility and improve organic rankings.
• Review performance analytics across digital and social channels to evaluate effectiveness, inform budget decisions, and identify opportunities for optimization.

Data-Informed Decision Making & Reporting

• Establish department-wide key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of marketing initiatives.
• Partner with the Marketing Operations Manager to ensure dashboards, analytics, and attribution reporting provide actionable insights.
• Use data to guide strategic decisions, forecast performance, and refine marketing plans.
• Train team members to apply data and testing principles in their daily work.
• Brand & Communications Leadership
• Ensure consistent brand voice, visual identity, and messaging across all Foundation materials, including digital, print, and event communications.
• Manage the Foundation’s trademarks, ensuring proper use and protection across all channels, and maintain compliance with brand standards, licensing, and legal guidelines.
• Provide strategic oversight for the creation of print collateral, annual and mid-year reports, sponsorship materials, and other branded assets used in programs, fundraising, and community engagement.
• Collaborate with the Content team to align storytelling, editorial planning, and campaign priorities that reinforce the Foundation’s mission and values.
• Oversee the development and review of press releases and public announcements in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external PR partners.
• Partner with external specialists for earned media and public relations support as needed, ensuring brand alignment across all communications.
• Support the development of messaging frameworks and templates that enable consistency across departments and audiences.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Partner with the Development team on integrated marketing campaigns that support donor engagement and fundraising initiatives.
• Collaborate with Programs and Community Engagement to amplify the reach and impact of Foundation programs.
• Align with the Content team on messaging that resonates with diverse audiences, including Hispanic and underrepresented communities.

Budget & Resource Management

• Develop and manage the department budget, ensuring efficient use of resources and maximum return on investment.
• Oversee vendor and agency relationships, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and adherence to deadlines and budgets.

Representation & Leadership

• Represent marketing priorities in leadership discussions, providing insight into trends, opportunities, and community needs.
• Stay current on best practices in nonprofit marketing, digital strategy, and analytics, applying new learnings to strengthen the Foundation’s reach and impact.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Proven experience leading a high-performing marketing team, with the ability to inspire, guide, train, and hold accountable direct reports.
• Deep understanding of digital marketing strategy, including SEO, email marketing, paid media oversight, content strategy, and analytics.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to translate data into strategic recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated project management and prioritization abilities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to build strong relationships across departments and with external partners.
• Familiarity with nonprofit marketing, including audience engagement, donor communications, and community outreach.

Basic Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, or related field.
• 8–10+ years of progressive experience in marketing and communications, including at least 5 years managing staff.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated marketing strategies that drive measurable results.
• Experience overseeing digital performance, paid media partners, or agency relationships.
• Proficiency with marketing and analytics tools such as Google Analytics, WordPress, Luminate Online, and Blackbaud CRM.
• Must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the U.S.

Preferred Qualifications & Competencies

• Master’s degree in marketing, communications, or nonprofit management.
• Experience working within a nonprofit or cause-driven organization.
• Knowledge of accessibility best practices and inclusive marketing principles.
• Experience managing external PR or communications consultants.
• Google Analytics certification and experience interpreting marketing attribution models.

TRAVEL

Approximately 20% travel may be required for meetings, conferences, events, or community engagement activities 

BENEFITS

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement plan with Employer Contribution
• Paid Vacation
• Holiday and Sick Time
• Voluntary Vision, Short Term Disability, Accident, and other optional coverage available 

STATEMENT

The qualification requirements, physical demands, and work environment characteristics described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job successfully.  This job description in no way states or implies that the essential duties described are the only responsibilities involved in the position.  The employee is required to follow any other instruction and to perform any other duties by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. This job description in no way states or implies a contract of employment. Davis Phinney Foundation reserves the right to modify this job description at its discretion at any time and will notify the employee of the change. 

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

We are an equal opportunity employer.  At Davis Phinney Foundation, we are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to promote inclusiveness in everything we do.  We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Davis Phinney Foundation is also committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and see.  We will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.