Senior Lead / Lead, Communications and Engagement

CHIJ Sanctuary for Children Limited; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

CHIJ Sanctuary for Children Limited is seeking a senior leader to shape communications and engagement strategies across internal and external channels. You will manage content creation, agency partnerships, and ensure brand integrity while growing volunteer engagement and fundraising efforts.

You will oversee the Volunteer Management System, plan and run end-to-end FR events, and support a social enterprise initiative to empower children through scalable programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in communications, marketing or related field.
• Senior Manager: at least 8 years of relevant experience; Manager: at least 5 years.
• Experience in communications, campaigns or events management.
• Experience briefing and managing agencies, vendors or freelancers.
• Experience with a Volunteer Management System or donor CRM is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop communications and engagement plans, internal and external, aligned to CHIJSC focus areas.
• Coordinate content ideas, editorial calendar, and manage external agencies for on-brand output.
• Oversee Volunteer Management System, data quality, adoption, and reporting.
• Lead end-to-end fund raising and volunteer engagement events; report outcomes.
• Support social enterprise setup, donor communications, and impact reporting.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Content creation

Stakeholder management

Project management

People leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in communications/marketing

Tools

VMS

CRM

Donor database

Job description

The role reports to the Head, Strategic Partnerships and works with Management and stakeholders to develop communications and engagement strategy and content ideas (both internal and external comms) in support of CHIJSC key focus areas. Content production can be outsourced, so the role manages agencies, vendors and internal contributors to deliver it on brand, on time and within budget.

The role will also provide strategic oversight of Volunteer Management and Engagement, working with the Head, Strategic Partnerships to ensure that we have a pool of volunteers who are able to contribute their skills and talent aligned to our Vision and Mission to serve our beneficiaries. The role will oversee the Volunteer Management System (VMS) and, as the function grows, will lead a Senior Executive or Assistant Manager specializing in volunteer management.

The role will also assist with Fund Raising (FR), including the end-to-end management of FR and volunteer engagement events, and support the setting up of a social enterprise, a marketplace that empowers our children and enables them through their multiple talents. In addition, you are to monitor, evaluate and report the outcomes and impact of communications and engagement initiatives to Management, and to the Board as required.

Time allocation: Communications(including FR and volunteer engagement events) and Volunteer Management(Sections 1 to 3) make up approximately 75% of the role. FR support and the social enterprise (Section 4) make up the remaining 25%.

Responsibilities include

1. Communications Strategy and Content

• Work with the Head, Strategic Partnerships, Management and stakeholders to develop communications and engagement plans (both internal and external comms) in support of CHIJSC key focus areas, including strengthening recognition of the “CHIJ Sanctuary for Children” brand.
• Generate content ideas and maintain an editorial calendar to engage and educate the public and stakeholders across various channels, incl. newsletter, website, social media and marketing collaterals.
• Brief, manage and quality-check external agencies, vendors and freelancers who execute content production (writing, design, photography, video), managing scope, timelines, budgets and brand consistency.
• Oversee production of collaterals, incl. annual report, factsheet, boilerplate, service brochures, newsletters, videos and materials related to CHIJSC.
• Engage internal teams, Board members, partners and media to source stories, align messaging and secure approvals, and ensure all content featuring children follows consent and safeguarding requirements.
• Support Management in applying the media communication policy to build positive relationships with the media and the public. (Code of Governance Principle 6)
• Generate, promote and increase awareness of the social mission and causes of CHIJSC, its image, visibility and awareness (i.e. programmes and services).
• Evaluate target segments and mode of communications.
• Track and regularly assess ROI on effectiveness of media campaigns and outreach activities.

2. Fund Raising and Volunteer Engagement Events

• Manage FR and volunteer engagement events end to end, from concept, budget and programmes to logistics, vendor management, guest management and post-event evaluation.
• Collaborate with internal teams (i.e. Student Care Services, Student Outreach and Support Services, Programmes and Services) for planning, organizing and executing special events involving Board members, Special Guests and VIPs.
• Measure event outcomes against agreed targets (e.g. funds raised, volunteer sign-ups, donor and partner retention) and report learnings to improve the next event.

3. Volunteer Management

• Work with the Head, Strategic Partnerships to develop and review the volunteer engagement strategy, covering recruitment, on-boarding, deployment, recognition and on-going engagement of volunteers.
• Oversee the deployment and usage of the Volunteer Management System (VMS), incl. data quality, adoption by staff and volunteers, and regular reporting.
• Match volunteer skills and talents to programmes and organizational needs, aligned to our Vision and Mission.
• Ensure volunteer policies, screening and safeguarding practices are applied consistently across programme.
• Build the volunteer management function and, in due course, recruit and manage a Senior Executive or Assistant Manager specializing in volunteer management.

4. Fund Raising and Social Enterprise Support

• Support the Head, Strategic Partnerships and the Fund Raising Committee in their efforts and programmes.
• Develop and execute strategies for fund-raising and campaigns as agreed with the Head, Strategic Partnerships and the Fund Raising Committee.
• Support the setting up of a social enterprise, akin to a marketplace, that empowers our children and enables them through their multiple talents, incl. scoping the model, identifying partners and platforms, and planning a pilot.
• Develop donor communications and stewardship materials that show the impact of gifts.

5. People Leadership

• Lead and manage direct report(s) to achieve targets in accordance with CHIJSC’s strategic plans.
• Ensure an empowering work environment and team cohesion in accordance with CHIJSC’s vision, mission and values, aligned to the Catholic ethos.
• Assign performance objectives to team members, conduct performance appraisals and provide / obtain feedback when necessary.
• Ensure that performance records of team members are submitted to the HR/Corporate Services Team on time.
• Provide induction, training, coaching and mentoring to team members and volunteers in leadership roles so that they understand and carry out their responsibilities effectively.
• Work with the HR/Corporate Services Team on recruitment, training needs and development opportunities for team members.
• Exercise a positive, open and collaborative leadership style by building a cohesive team spirit and motivation to perform.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in communications, marketing or a related field.
• Senior Manager: at least 8 years of relevant experience. Manager: at least 5 years of relevant experience. Working experience in a charity / non-profit environment preferred.
• Prior experience in communications, campaigns or event management. Experience in volunteer management and/or fund raising will be an advantage.
• Experience briefing and managing agencies, vendors or freelancers.
• Experience with a Volunteer Management System, CRM or donor database will be an advantage.
• Exposure to social enterprise, retail or online marketplace set-up will be an advantage.

Skills

• Results-oriented, self-motivated and able to work independently as well as across teams.
• Adaptable and enjoys engaging different stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Good media / PR networks preferred.
• Strategic thinking with strong content and storytelling instincts.
• Project and Event Management Skills
• People Management Skills
• Planning Skills
• Good Communication Skills (written and verbal)
• Influencing Skills

Level Differentiation

• Senior Manager: Owns the communications and volunteer engagement strategies with the Head, Strategic Partnerships, leads the social enterprise business case, and manages the volunteer management hire from appointment.
• Manager: Develops strategy with guidance from the Head, Strategic Partnerships, focuses on content, events and VMS delivery, and grows into managing the volunteer management hire.