Communications, Marketing and Events Manager

Marion-Polk Food Share, Inc.; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 64,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

12 paid holidays

Earned vacation and sick leave

Employee Assistance Program

401K retirement contributions

Job summary

Marion Polk Food Share is seeking a Communications, Marketing and Events Manager to lead its communications, marketing and events efforts. The role drives community engagement, oversees donor communications, and supports revenue growth as part of the Development, Marketing and Communications team.

The ideal candidate will have strong writing, leadership and project management skills, with a passion for visiting Food Share programs and connecting with staff, volunteers, clients and partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in communications, marketing, or related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience developing strategic communications plans.

Responsibilities

• Donor communications and donor messaging to communicate impact.
• Lead and develop communications/marketing staff and ensure aligned workflows.
• Oversee food/fund drives and events to meet organizational goals.
• Maintain brand stewardship: print collateral, style guide, and approvals.
• Manage online presence: website updates and social media activity.
• Build relationships with media and craft stories and press releases.
• Coordinate tours and presentations and support leadership with talking points.

Skills

Communications

Marketing

Event management

Storytelling

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications/marketing

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Title: Communications, Marketing and Events Manager
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Salary: $64,314 - $77,958

This position is eligible for a 5% bilingual differential if the successful candidate meets the Food Share standard on an oral proficiency exam.

** This position is Open Until Filled – Applications will be first reviewed on Monday, November 30th and after that as they are received.

Summary of Role: The Communications, Marketing and Events Manager provides strategic leadership for the Food Share’s communications, marketing and event functions. The role ensures strong community engagement and increased awareness of the Food Share’s mission and services. As a member of the Development, Marketing and Communications team, the Manager supports the Food Share’s revenue growth and fosters a culture of collaboration and accountability.

You Are… Enthusiastic about seeing the Food Share’s programs first‑hand. You want to get to know our programs by visiting them in person, meeting staff, volunteers, and clients, and participating when you can.

A strategic thinker. When you are working on an event, food drive, presentation, or newsletter article, you identify the goal and develop a strategy that aligns with that goal.

Great at gathering information. You can track down statistics, talk with a staff member to understand how a program works, and interview a client about what brought them to a food pantry.

Skilled at developing messages that connect with the intended audience. You can write a social media post, website article, copy for a poster, and talking points for a speech.

Resourceful, adaptable, and organized. You have a positive attitude and can identify creative solutions to obstacles. You are comfortable with shifting schedules and don’t expect every day to go as planned. You know how to keep track of multiple projects, meet deadlines, and prioritize.

Your responsibilities as the Communications, Marketing and Events Manager will include:

Donor Communications – 25%

• Interview clients, staff, food pantry managers, and volunteers to gather information and impact stories.
• Write newsletter articles and donor messages to communicate the impact of donor support.

Leadership and Team Development – 20%

• Hire, lead, coach, develop, and evaluate communications & marketing staff while fostering a collaborative, accountable, high‑performing culture committed to continuous improvement and service excellence.
• Establish team priorities, performance expectations, workflows, and resource allocation to ensure effective and coordinated delivery of communications & marketing strategies.

Food and Fund Drives and Events – 10%

• Provide strategic oversight for food and fund drives and events that meet organizational goals.

Brand Stewardship – 15%

• Create print collateral, including posters, brochures, advertising, and signage.
• Review and approve collateral drafted by other departments.
• Maintain and update the Food Share’s style guide.

Online Marketing – 10%

• Ensure the Food Share’s website is working and up‑to‑date and serves as a resource for giving, volunteering, getting help, and learning.
• Ensure the Food Share has an active and dynamic presence on social media.

Media Relations – 10%

• Develop relationships with media contacts.
• Write stories and press releases to increase media coverage of the Food Share’s mission and impact.
• Assign media requests to other Food Share staff members and provide support for those interviews.

Tours and Presentations – 10%

• Serve as first point of contact for community requests for tours or presentations.
• Assess the goal of each tour or presentation, and either assign them to other staff members or give them personally.
• Provide talking points and other support to president, leadership team, board of directors, and other staff for their tours and presentations.

Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position supervises two direct reports:

• Events Coordinator
• Communications Coordinator

About Marion Polk Food Share

Marion Polk Food Share’s mission is to bring people together to end hunger and its root causes. We distribute nutritious food for individuals and families to more than 70 local partners, including food pantries and meal sites, and deliver Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. We operate an urban farm and support a network of community gardens that connect people and their food, and mobilize community members to address systemic issues that lead to hunger. Thousands of local volunteers, advocates, donors, and clients bring our mission to life every day.

At the Food Share, our commitment is to:

• Treat all people as our neighbor.
• Encourage creativity and be willing to take risks.
• Listen first and seek to understand.
• Focus on shared goals.
• Celebrate diversity, ensure dignity, and act equitably.

Job Conditions:

Work may be performed at a workstation, in a warehouse environment or at various community locations. May occasionally lift, move and carry objects in excess of 30 pounds. During frequent community visits, work is subject to varying indoor and outdoor temperatures and road and walkway surface in all seasons. May work or travel out of the local area and work outside normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends, on occasion. Work in excess of 40 hours per week during peak business periods may occasionally be required.

This job is primarily an on‑site position, with some remote work possible. All remote work assignments begin, end, or change only with supervisory approval.

The Food Share provides essential services to our neighbors in Marion and Polk counties. As a result, all Food Share employees may be asked to report to work during local public health, weather, or other environmental emergencies.

More on Compensation:

The Food Share provides all employees with the following benefits:

• Competitive pay
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Earned vacation and sick leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401K retirement contributions

The employee in this regular, full-time position is also eligible to receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Contributions towards Medical, Vision and Dental Insurance for employee and dependents
• Employer paid Disability, Life Insurance, and AD&D Insurance

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function and physical demand satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation.

EOE.

All candidates will need:

• Professional experience in communications and marketing.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong interest in visiting and participating in Food Share programs.
• Strong organization skills, attention to detail, and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse colleagues and external contacts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive within Marion and Polk counties.
• Must review and agree to Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Code of Ethical Standards.
• Must pass pre‑employment drug screen (excluding THC) and full background check.

The most competitive / strongest candidates will possess a combination of the following background, skills, experience, and knowledge.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job.

• A bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of relevant, full‑time work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience interviewing and telling the stories of people in vulnerable situations.
• An understanding of hunger and its root causes.
• Experience hiring and supervising staff.
• Social media, graphic design, photography and/or video experience.