Managing Director, Communications & Marketing

Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (WACIF); Washington, Baltimore (District of Columbia, MD); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Paid time off

Job summary

Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) in Washington, DC, seeks a Managing Director, Corporate Communications & Marketing, to lead organization-wide communications, marketing, brand, and storytelling strategy. This senior role reports to the CEO and serves as a strategic advisor to the executive team, shaping internal communications to engage employees and align with organizational priorities.

The role oversees the communications team, works with cross-functional leaders, and drives

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, business administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an organization-wide corporate communications strategy covering internal, external, executive, and crisis communications.
• Build and lead WACIF's internal communications strategy, establishing effective channels and practices to communicate organizational priorities, decisions, milestones, and changes to employees.
• Partner with the CEO and Executive Team to strengthen the quality, consistency, and timeliness of organization-wide communications.
• Lead executive communications, including speeches, presentations, talking points, opinion pieces, major announcements, and other high-profile communications.
• Lead media relations, issues management, and crisis communications, and advise leadership on matters that may affect WACIF's reputation.

Skills

Strategic communications

Leadership

Media relations

Crisis communications

Internal communications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Supervises: Director of Communications and other communications, marketing, or creative staff/consultants as assigned

Status: Full-Time - Exempt

The Managing Director, Corporate Communications & Marketing, leads WACIF's organization-wide communications, marketing, brand, and storytelling strategy. The role is responsible for how WACIF communicates with its employees and external audiences, strengthening the organization's reputation, increasing awareness and engagement, and ensuring a clear, consistent voice across all communications.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Managing Director serves as WACIF's senior leader for communications and marketing and as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Executive Team. The role will develop WACIF's corporate communications strategy, including a comprehensive approach to internal communications that strengthens information sharing, employee engagement, and organizational alignment.

The Managing Director will lead and develop the communications team and work closely with leaders across Programs, Lending, Development, the Anacostia Arts Center, Finance, and Operations to ensure that communications and marketing advance WACIF's strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate & Internal Communications

• Develop and execute an organization-wide corporate communications strategy covering internal, external, executive, and crisis communications.
• Build and lead WACIF's internal communications strategy, establishing effective channels and practices to communicate organizational priorities, decisions, milestones, and changes to employees.
• Partner with the CEO and Executive Team to strengthen the quality, consistency, and timeliness of organization-wide communications.
• Lead executive communications, including speeches, presentations, talking points, opinion pieces, major announcements, and other high-profile communications.
• Lead media relations, issues management, and crisis communications, and advise leadership on matters that may affect WACIF's reputation.

Brand, Reputation & Storytelling

• Lead WACIF's brand strategy and ensure consistency across positioning, messaging, voice, and visual identity.
• Develop a clear organizational narrative that conveys WACIF's mission, strategy, impact, and value to key audiences.
• Lead organizational storytelling by translating WACIF's impact, research, client experiences, and programmatic results into compelling content.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen WACIF's visibility, reputation, and position within the region and across the fields in which it operates.

Marketing & Audience Engagement

• Develop and execute integrated marketing strategies to increase awareness and engagement with WACIF's programs, lending products, Anacostia Arts Center, events, and other initiatives.
• Oversee WACIF's digital presence, including website, social media, email marketing, publications, campaigns, and other communication channels.
• Partner with Development on fundraising communications, donor storytelling, sponsorship materials, and support cases.
• Use audience insights, market intelligence, and performance data to assess effectiveness, guide investments, and improve results.

Team & Operational Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the communications and marketing team, including direct supervision of the Director of Communications.
• Establish clear priorities, roles, performance expectations, workflows, and accountability across the function.
• Manage the communications and marketing budget and oversee consultants, agencies, vendors, and other external resources.
• Establish and track key performance indicators, and regularly communicate results, insights, and recommendations to organizational leadership.
• Build the team's capabilities and create opportunities for staff growth and increased responsibility.

Strategic Leadership

Develops and executes integrated strategies that advance organizational priorities, strengthen WACIF's position, and deliver measurable outcomes.

Corporate Communications & Reputation Management

Builds communications strategies that strengthen organizational alignment and protect and advance WACIF's reputation with employees, partners, funders, clients, media, and other stakeholders.

Brand Leadership

Establishes a differentiated organizational narrative and protects the integrity, consistency, and credibility of WACIF's brand across audiences and channels.

Uses digital channels, social media, content, data, and emerging technologies to increase reach, engagement, and organizational visibility.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Uses audience insights, market intelligence, performance data, and financial information to set priorities, allocate resources, evaluate performance, and improve results.

Executive Influence & Collaboration

Builds trusted relationships with senior leaders and key internal and external stakeholders. Communicates complex issues clearly, exercises sound judgment and builds alignment around shared priorities.

People & Operational Leadership

Builds and develops a high-performing team, establishes clear accountability, allocates resources effectively, and creates a culture of collaboration, growth, and strong execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, marketing, public relations, brand management, or a related field, including experience leading organization-wide communications strategy.
• Proven experience serving as a strategic advisor to CEOs and senior executives on internal and external communications, executive messaging, media relations, reputation management, and sensitive or crisis communications. In addition to having the ability to anticipate communications opportunities.
• Proven strategic leadership experience developing and executing integrated communications, marketing, brand, and storytelling strategies that support organizational goals and produce measurable results.
• Strong people and operational leadership experience, including the ability to translate organizational strategy, complex issues, and business priorities into compelling communications that engage employees, clients, funders, partners, media, and other external audiences.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex organizational, financial, programmatic, or technical information into clear, compelling messages for diverse internal and external audiences.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

The requirements below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• This is a hybrid position. Work will be performed at the WACIF Office or home office.
• Position may require sitting, standing, walking, using a computer, speaking, hearing, lifting/carrying up to 15 pounds, and traveling.

Description Disclaimer

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. WACIF reserves the right to modify, assign, reassign, or eliminate duties and responsibilities as business needs require, subject to applicable law.

About the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF)

The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) advances equity and opportunity in the Washington, D.C. area’s underserved communities by providing financial capital, business advisory services, and strategic networking support to underinvested entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 1987, WACIF has deployed more than $50 million in capital, served more than 3,500 entrepreneurs with business advisory services, and helped create or retain more than 20,000 local jobs. To learn more about WACIF’s work, visit www.Wacif.org.

COMPENSATION

Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA, FSA, DCA, Life & Disability coverages available. 401(k) retirement plan (employer matching contribution eligible); paid time off (increased with tenure), paid holidays and sick leave days, transportation benefits, and education assistance benefits (professional development, tuition reimbursement, and student loan repayment).

WACIF is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

WACIF provides a flexible and hybrid working environment with the opportunity to work remotely.