Senior Director, Brand & Communications

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors; New York (NY); On-site; USD 195,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement benefits

Paid sick leave

Vacation and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development resources

Job summary

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors seeks a Senior Director of Brand & Communications to shape and steward the organization's voice, brand and narrative across all channels, advancing its justice-centered philanthropy mission worldwide.

Reporting to the Co-CEOs, this role leads strategy, media relations, digital storytelling and internal communications, guiding leadership messaging and partnerships to elevate visibility, credibility, and impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in communications, journalism, marketing or PR.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Senior-level experience developing and executing communications strategies in nonprofit/philanthropy.
• Strong understanding of social justice, equity-focused language and narrative change.
• Track record managing media relationships, digital platforms, and brand systems.
• Familiarity with philanthropy audiences and donor/stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop a communications and branding strategy aligned with mission and plan.
• Partner with leadership to ensure cohesive messaging across channels.
• Center justice and equity in voice, brand, and narrative.
• Align messages with donor development and partnerships.
• Elevate thought leadership and executive visibility.
• Provide strategic counsel on messaging and public speaking.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Verbal communication

Strategic communications

Media relations

Digital strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, or related field or equivalent experience

Job description

The Senior Director of Brand & Communications is a strategic and creative leader responsible for shaping and stewarding the voice, brand, and narrative of the organization across all internal and external channels, ensuring that every communication advances the organization’s mission, reflects its values, and tells the story of its impact and commitment to justice-centered philanthropy around the globe. This role leads the development and execution of a comprehensive communications strategy that advances the organization’s mission and business development, strengthens its visibility and credibility, and fosters alignment and engagement among staff, partners, and the broader philanthropic and social impact ecosystem.

Reporting to the Co-Chief Executive Officer, the Director oversees all aspects of brand management, digital and media strategy, Office of the CEO and executive leadership communications, storytelling, and internal communications. This role ensures the organization’s communications reflect its values, highlight its work and impact, elevate its voice and visibility, and connect authentically with diverse philanthropy audiences—including grantees, funders, staff, global collaborators, and the public. The Senior Director understands the power of narrative to; drive systems change, promote RPA’s mission, commitment to equity, community-centered messaging. the proven ability to translate complex work into compelling, accessible content.

Accountabilities

• Develop a communications and branding strategy aligned with the organization’s mission and strategic plan.
• Partner with leadership as relevant to ensure clear, cohesive messaging in RPA’s voice across all internal and external platforms including newsletters, website, social media, and publications.
• Refine the organization’s voice, brand, and narrative in a way that centers justice and equity and is grounded in cultural competence.
• Determine approaches and messages that align with mission and brand that support RPA’s continued viability and sustainability, including key audience channels and aligned messages that support donor development and partnerships.
• Elevate the visibility of RPA’s thought leadership in partnership with Inquiry and Insights.
• Serve as strategic advisor to the Co-CEOs on messaging and public speaking.

External Communications and Public Engagement

• Lead media relations, including proactive press outreach, rapid response, and relationship management with journalists and sector influencers.
• Oversee the digital strategy and content, including website, social media, newsletters, and multimedia storytelling and provide direction to the team on implementation.
• Partner with executive leadership and teams across the organization, including core teams, Advisory, and Sponsored Project leadership to support communication efforts around key initiatives, events, and campaigns and amplify programmatic, core operations, and thought leadership work.
• Maintains enterprise-wide awareness, including major sponsored project communications and provides executive counsel and risk-based communications guidance for complex, high-visibility, or sensitive matters that may impact the organization's reputation, stakeholders, or strategic objectives.
• Develop and oversee processes for tracking initiatives, campaigns, and outreach.

Internal Communications

• Design and implement internal communications systems that strengthen employee connection, clarity, and alignment.
• Collaborate with core teams to ensure transparent and timely communication during change, growth, or strategic planning efforts.
• Build resources to support staff in communications opportunities and engagements (e.g., media training, message alignment, sharing on social media, etc.).

Media, Brand Stewardship, & Visibility

• Refine and protect the organization’s brand identity and voice across all touchpoints, ensuring alignment with values of justice, equity, trust, and community.
• Oversee brand assets and ensure consistency across visual design, tone, and messaging.
• Manage organizational media presence, including pitching, placements, and media relationships.
• Partner with functional leaders to develop, manage, and curate strategic visibility opportunities for Co-CEOs, executive leadership, and colleagues, thoughtfully positioning them to represent RPA externally.
• Maintain and strengthen a coherent, values-aligned brand identity and experience.

Complexity and Problem-solving

• Uses expertise to act as an organizational authority on planning, organizing, prioritizing, and overseeing communications activities to efficiently meet RPA’s objectives.
• Exercises independent judgment in developing solutions to apply a comprehensive understanding of the sector environment and the organization’s objectives, developing solutions while providing guidance to others.
• Applies expertise to act as the organizational authority on maximizing RPA’s brand impact and market value by managing and developing all aspects of the brand.
• Works at an advanced level and exercises broad decision-making authority in developing communications and brand strategies, navigating ambiguity, balancing competing priorities, and aligning leaders to achieve organizational objectives.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Direct supervision of communications staff
• Management of external vendors, agencies, and consultants
• Collaboration with cross-functional leaders on integrated campaigns and messaging.

Travel Requirements

Some travel may be required.

Key Qualifications And Experiences

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, or related field or equivalent experience required (12+ years).
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communications skills
• Proven senior level experience developing and executing communications strategies, including digital strategy, in a nonprofit, philanthropic, or mission-driven organization.
• Strong understanding of social justice, equity-focused language, and narrative change principles.
• Track record of managing media relationships, digital platforms, and brand identity systems.
• Familiarity with philanthropy sector audiences and the communications nuances of donor/grantee/stakeholder engagement.

At Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, our mission is to accelerate philanthropy in pursuit of a just world, by providing deep global expertise to make philanthropy more thoughtful, equitable and effective.

• We believe that philanthropy can help create a better world
• We make decisions that center people and communities.
• We believe philanthropy has a responsibility to pursue equity.
• We uphold the highest standards of integrity and trust.
• We are committed to learning and sharing knowledge.

Compensation & Benefits

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including health coverage, retirement benefits, paid sick leave, vacation and holidays, tuition reimbursement and access to professional development resources.

The salary range is one component of the total compensation package for employees.

Pay Range: $195,000 - $205,000 salary per year

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors celebrates the uniqueness of our staff, our partners, and the communities we serve. We are committed to inclusion with the goal of cultivating a culture of belonging and acceptance. We strive to embed this value in our philanthropic work to advance a more just, equitable and sustainable world.

RPA is an equal opportunity employer.