Head of Communications

ImpactAlpha Inc.; Boston, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Social Finance seeks an innovative Head of Communications to lead a four-person team and oversee the organization’s communications strategy. The role reports to the CEO and Managing Director of the Social Finance Institute, driving visibility of Social Finance’s mission and impact across audiences.

The ideal candidate has a history of excellence in communications, strong networks, and the ability to scale influence.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in communications and leading organizational communications strategies.
• Proven track record in strategic communications and building networks.
• Experience leading high-performing teams and coaching new skills.
• Strong media relations at national level with diverse audiences.
• Willingness to travel 10–15% for collaboration and events.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications vision aligning with Social Finance's mission and values.
• Lead and mentor the communications team, overseeing strategy, operations, and budget.
• Cultivate media relationships and secure placements, including op-eds and interviews.
• Coordinate with programmatic teams to translate impact into engaging content.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Media relations

Executive communications

Travel willingness

Job description

About Social Finance

Social Finance is a national nonprofit organization and registered investment adviser (SF Advisers, LLC) founded in 2011. The organization works collaboratively with the public, private, and social sectors to create partnerships and investments that measurably improve lives. Since its inception, Social Finance has mobilized over $500 million in new investments designed to help people and communities realize improved outcomes in workforce and economic mobility, health, and housing. The organization is built upon five core values: people, performance, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion. Social Finance operates across four distinct areas of focus: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. The Impact-first Investment team designs, launches, and manages investments that provide solutions for effectively deploying impact capital across a range of social outcomes. The Workforce and Education Investments team designs and manages financial solutions focused on addressing workforce challenges, including skills acquisition and training access. The Advisory & Public Sector Practice team partners with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven programs for advancing social impact. Through the Social Finance Institute, the organization aims to build the field and change systems through actionable research, communities of practice, and educational outreach. Social Finance is driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and operates from the conviction that the most meaningful and measurable change in communities occurs when governments and markets work together.

About this Role

Social Finance seeks an innovative and strategic leader to serve as Head of Communications. This position operates in a dual reporting role to the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Social Finance Institute. The Head of Communications will be responsible for leading a high-performing four-person communications team while overseeing communications efforts for the entire organization. This role plays a crucial part in enhancing the visibility of Social Finance’s work and both shaping and executing the organization’s comprehensive communications strategy. The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record of excellence in strategic communications, meaningful experience leading high-performing teams, and the ability to leverage existing networks to increase Social Finance’s influence. The Head of Communications will be instrumental in ensuring that the organization’s mission, impact, and initiatives are effectively communicated to diverse and new audiences. The position requires approximately 10 to 15 percent travel, including routine travel to Washington, D.C., for cross-functional collaboration, network development, and in-person events.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications vision and strategy that advances Social Finance’s mission, values, and objectives
• Develop a clear and compelling organizational voice that engages key audiences and advances the organization’s impact
• Leverage an established network of media and industry contacts to amplify Social Finance’s influence and thought leadership
• Provide vision and intellectual leadership to roadmap the future of communications efforts
• Lead and mentor the communications team, fostering a collaborative, efficient, and innovative environment
• Effectively engage and collaborate with other key stakeholders across the organization, including within the Institute, partnerships, and programmatic teams
• Model maturity and a service-oriented mindset, proactively supporting business teams
• Oversee day-to-day operations, including budget management, resource allocation, and performance evaluation
• Leverage existing contacts and cultivate new relationships with journalists and media outlets to secure media placements and interviews, including speaking on the record on behalf of Social Finance
• Develop and maintain media relationships with contacts working on a range of issues, both nationally and regionally, such as finance, labor markets, and policy
• Develop effective media relations strategies to generate positive coverage and raise awareness of Social Finance’s initiatives, impact, and thought leadership, including op-ed placement
• Drive the creation of compelling content that translates the value of the organization’s work to existing and new audiences, in coordination with Social Finance programmatic colleagues
• Develop press releases, articles, op-eds, reports, blogs, social media posts, and multimedia materials
• Ensure that all communications materials are accurate, engaging, and aligned with the organization’s brand voice and messaging
• Oversee digital marketing efforts, including website organization and management, email campaigns, and social media engagement
• Leverage digital channels to reach and engage with new audiences and amplify messaging
• Establish metrics and key performance indicators to track the effectiveness of communications efforts
• Monitor and analyze data to continuously optimize strategies and tactics for maximum impact and reach

Requirements

• 20 or more years of experience in communications, including experience successfully leading and implementing an organization’s communications strategy
• Strategic and visionary thinker with a creative mindset, proactive and energized by driving innovation and growth across communications activities
• Recognized for excellence in the communications field, with a demonstrated ability to build and leverage influential networks
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 10 to 15 percent for cross-functional collaboration, network development, and in-person events, with routine travel to Washington, D.C.
• Meaningful experience leading high-performing teams, including developing talent, creating a culture of excellence, and coaching new skillsets needed to achieve ambitious strategic goals
• Demonstrated success in managing and mentoring diverse teams, with a focus on achieving strategic vision through collaborative leadership
• Deep experience with public relations, including experience increasing and promoting brand visibility and reach to a range of audiences
• Demonstrated success in media relations at the national level, including broad range of media relationships, securing press coverage, and managing media inquiries
• Understanding of digital marketing tools and media, including social media platforms, customer relationship management platforms, content management systems, and analytics tools
• Policy communications experience desired, including translating and communicating research and findings to inform policy debate
• Demonstrated success with direct outreach and building trusted relationships with media contacts in policy, economics, and financial industries
• Editorial communications skillset, including excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft and oversee creation of compelling narratives and messages that are engaging, accurate, and accessible for diverse audiences
• Excellent quality control and maintainer of high editorial standards across all communications formats and channels
• Exceptional collaborator with a high degree of emotional intelligence, maturity, and a commitment to supporting colleagues and advancing shared goals
• Experience convening and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders
• Commitment to enhancing a team culture of inclusion, belonging, and equity
• Commitment to bringing skillset to mission-oriented organization with strong values alignment
• Some understanding of or connection to impact investing, social finance, or related fields highly desirable
• Permanent authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis
• Full COVID-19 vaccination, including booster shot, or request for reasonable accommodation for medical or religious reasons

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care coverage including medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee Healthy Actions programs
• Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
• Short-term, long-term, and life insurance policies
• Commuter benefits and cell phone reimbursements
• Hybrid work model with minimum of two days per week in office and ad-hoc basis as needed
• Dedicated budgets for team building and employee recognition
• Annual budget for external professional development opportunities
• Mentorship and onboarding programs
• Collaborative and energizing workspaces in downtown Boston, San Francisco, Austin, Washington D.C., and New York
• Paid vacation and paid holidays with December 24 through January 1 off every year
• Paid parental leave
• Eligibility to participate in firmwide annual bonus program (bonuses typically between 5 to 10 percent, though not guaranteed and dependent on organizational and individual performance)