Communications Manager

Nashville Public Radio; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Generous PTO

Professional development support

Detroit-based hybrid role

Job summary

Michigan Founders Fund is seeking a versatile Communications Manager to amplify its brand and grow engagement with Michigan's founder community. This role blends strategy with hands-on execution across content, campaigns, and events such as Michigan Tech Week.

You'll tell founder stories, develop a strong voice across channels, manage emails, social media, and website content, and collaborate on a lean team to move initiatives forward in Detroit and beyond.

Qualifications

• 4-7 years in communications or related field.
• Strong storyteller and writer able to translate complex ideas.
• Strategic thinker who can also execute hands-on.
• Entrepreneurial, self-directed and able to handle ambiguity.
• Digital fluency across social, websites, email; familiarity with WordPress, Webflow, Google Suite, Canva, Mailchimp, HubSpot.

Responsibilities

• Align and execute communications and brand strategies while maintaining a consistent voice.
• Build a narrative that highlights Michigan Founders Fund and the startup ecosystem.
• Develop and implement a social media strategy to grow engagement.
• Own email and digital communications, including newsletters and campaigns.
• Deliver integrated marketing campaigns for Michigan Tech Week and programs.
• Strengthen founder community engagement via digital channels.
• Collaborate across the organization on cross-functional priorities.
• Track founder data to support progress and impact.

Skills

Storytelling

Strategic thinking

Content creation

Social media

Email marketing

SEO

Team collaboration

Job description

Are you passionate about Michigan\'s entrepreneurial and startup community? Do you love turning great stories, ideas, and programs into communications that build momentum and bring people together?

Michigan Founders Fund is seeking a versatile, entrepreneurial Communications Manager to help amplify our brand, grow our reach, and strengthen Michigan\'s founder community.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys both thinking strategically and rolling up their sleeves to execute. You\'ll build meaningful processes and content on how Michigan Founders Fund—and our signature event, Michigan Tech Week—show up across channels, tell stories, engage founders, and build awareness across Michigan and beyond.

Location: Detroit, Michigan | Hybrid with approx. 2 days onsite

About Michigan Founders Fund

Michigan Founders Fund (MFF) is the leading statewide network for high-growth founders who choose to both grow and give back in Michigan. Focused on building a thriving and inclusive entrepreneurial community through a founder-first culture, members represent a wide range of demographics and regions across the state.

Through founder connections, programming, storytelling, and community-building—and as the team behind Michigan Tech Week—we bring together the people, ideas, and opportunities helping Michigan\'s founders thrive.

The Opportunity

Join a lean, ambitious team where you\'ll have a real opportunity to make a meaningful impact. You\'ll play a central role in bringing our evolving brand to life, engaging with and amplifying the stories of Michigan\'s founders, while growing our reach and influence. With a renewed identity and brand refresh on the horizon, MFF is looking for a Communications Manager who can help us continue to fuel Michigan\'s rapidly growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys both thinking strategically and rolling up their sleeves to execute. If you\'re entrepreneurial, creative, strategic, detail-oriented, and energized by building something with momentum, please apply!

What You\'ll Help Build

A Stronger Brand and Voice Help bring MFF\'s evolving brand identity to life across communications channels and ensure a consistent, recognizable voice.

A Powerful Storytelling Engine Identify and tell stories that shine a spotlight on Michigan\'s diverse founders, companies, ideas, and growing startup ecosystem.

Greater Reach and Engagement Develop and execute campaigns that increase awareness, participation, engagement, and connection both externally and internally with our founders.

Michigan Tech Week Help build excitement and participation for Michigan Tech Week through integrated communications, marketing, storytelling, partnerships, and media outreach.

What You\'ll Do

• Align and execute communications and brand strategies that bring MFF\'s brand and key initiatives to life while ensuring a consistent voice, message, and identity.
• Build a compelling narrative that amplifies Michigan Founders Fund, its founders, and Michigan\'s growing startup ecosystem across multiple channels and formats.
• Develop and implement a social media strategy that grows audience engagement and brand awareness through compelling, relevant, and high-quality content.
• Own email and digital communications including newsletters, campaigns, and website content, with a focus on engagement, user experience, SEO, and continuous improvement.
• Deliver integrated marketing and communications campaigns for Michigan Tech Week and other MFF programs, initiatives, and events.
• Strengthen founder community engagement through digital channels such as Slack and other community communications platforms.
• Track and collect founder data through internal and external channels in order to support and promote founder progress.
• Collaborate across the organization and contribute to cross-functional priorities, events, and initiatives as part of a small, highly collaborative team.

What We\'re Looking For

We\'re looking for a versatile, entrepreneurial communicator who can move comfortably between strategy and execution and is excited to build as the organization grows. You\'ll be especially successful in this role if you:

• Bring 4-7 years of experience in communications, marketing, brand, content, or a related field, with demonstrated ownership of strategies and campaigns from concept through execution.
• Are a strong storyteller and writer who can translate complex ideas, founder stories, and organizational priorities into compelling content across channels and audiences.
• Think strategically and execute hands-on - able to see the big picture, develop a plan, and then roll up your sleeves to create the content, launch the campaign, or solve the problem.
• Are entrepreneurial and highly self-directed, comfortable working with ambiguity, taking initiative, managing multiple priorities, and building systems and processes that can scale.
• Bring strong digital and content fluency, including experience with social media, websites, email marketing, SEO, analytics, and content creation; familiarity with tools such as WordPress, Webflow, Google Suite, Canva, Mailchimp, and HubSpot is a plus.
• Use data and insights to improve your work, bringing curiosity and a test-and-learn mindset to audience growth, engagement, campaigns, and communications performance.
• Understand and care about entrepreneurs and ecosystems, with experience in startups, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, community-building, or mission-driven organizations - particularly within Michigan.
• Are a collaborative, thoughtful teammate who brings strong judgment, creativity, organization, and a willingness to pitch in wherever needed on a small, fast-moving team.
• Use emerging tools thoughtfully, including generative AI for research, content development, and efficiency while maintaining strong editorial judgment, quality, authenticity, and brand voice.

What You\'ll Get

• A front-row seat to Michigan\'s founder community - build relationships with founders and leaders shaping Michigan\'s future.
• Ownership, learning, and growth - do meaningful work, build your skills, and grow alongside an ambitious team and organization.
• Competitive compensation and benefits - health insurance, 401(k), generous PTO, and professional development support.
• Flexibility - Detroit-based hybrid role and flexibility to work remotely from Michigan. Occasional evening/weekend events expected.

Michigan Founders Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and is an equal opportunity employer. Pay is commensurate with experience.