Senior Communications Leader - Brand Strategy (Hybrid)

Heartland Alliance International; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Heartland Alliance International (HAI) seeks a Sr. Manager, Communications to build and lead a new global communications function from the ground up.

Based in Chicago with hybrid/remote options, you will design strategies, shape brand identity, and elevate HAI’s voice across programs, donors, and platforms. Reporting to the Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships & Development, you will oversee media relations, storytelling, donor communications, and stakeholder engagement, while guiding

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit communications, marketing, media relations, or public relations leadership.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing and implementing organizational communications strategies.
• Experience managing diverse stakeholder relationships and cross-functional teams.
• Significant experience within a human rights, social justice, or nonprofit organization.
• Ability to work effectively across cultures and in international environments.

Responsibilities

• Help establish the communications function’s strategy, systems, and processes.
• Serve as HAI’s primary communications subject-matter resource, ensuring consistent messaging, voice, and visual identity across external communications.
• Develop and implement an integrated communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Manage the organization-wide rollout and implementation of HAI’s new brand identity, ensuring adoption across programs, platforms, and materials.
• Provide communications guidance and recommendations to senior leadership on brand management, crisis communications, and stakeholder relations.
• Support efforts to increase the organization’s visibility and engagement globally and domestically.
• Develop and distribute donor communications to elevate programs and mission with new and existing institutional and individual donors.
• Collaborate with leadership and across internal programs, research, and partnerships teams to align communications objectives.
• Lead implementation of HAI’s organizational brand strategy and ensure consistent messaging, visual identity, and voice across all communications.
• Manage communications planning and implementation across HAI’s website, email, media, digital platforms, publications, and public engagement activities.
• Lead organizational storytelling and narratives that highlight survivors’ voices, program impact, and donor stewardship.
• Manage media outreach, press releases, op-eds, reports, speeches, and public statements.
• Assist the Sr. Director of Strategic Partnerships & Development in managing departmental budgets and work plans.
• Establish performance metrics that evaluate the effectiveness of communications initiatives.
• Manage external communications consultants, contractors, and agencies as assigned.
• Support planning and recruitment for additional communications resources as the function grows.

Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft 365

Crisis management ability

Ethical practice & confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, or a related field

Job description

Heartland Alliance International (HAI) seeks a Sr. Manager, Communications to build and lead a new global communications function from the ground up.

Based in Chicago with hybrid/remote options, you will design strategies, shape brand identity, and elevate HAI’s voice across programs, donors, and platforms. Reporting to the Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships & Development, you will oversee media relations, storytelling, donor communications, and stakeholder engagement, while guiding