Sr Manager, Brand Content & Thought Leadership

LE-1000 Blackbaud; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackbaud is seeking a Senior Manager, Brand Content & Thought Leadership to shape how our brand shows up through ideas, insights, perspectives, and stories we bring to market. This leader will own brand narratives and an integrated content strategy that strengthens our market position and supports corporate growth objectives.

Reporting to the Head of Brand Marketing, this role oversees a team spanning thought leadership, Blackbaud Institute research, customer storytelling, editorial content,

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in content marketing, thought leadership, or editorial strategy.
• Experience leading high-performing content teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven ability to develop integrated brand narratives and thought leadership strategies.
• Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Experience with content performance, SEO, GEO, AEO, and emerging AI-enabled content strategies.
• Preferred: experience in technology or social impact.

Responsibilities

• Own Blackbaud's brand narratives and integrated content and thought leadership strategy.
• Develop annual and quarterly content priorities spanning research, thought leadership, customer stories, expert perspectives, and editorial initiatives.
• Lead editorial strategy for ENGAGE, the ENGAGE Podcast, and future owned thought leadership channels.
• Partner with digital team on discoverability strategy, including GEO and AEO, and AI-enabled content development.
• Lead, coach, and develop a cross-functional content team and set clear goals.
• Establish KPIs and measure impact to optimize content investments.

Skills

Content marketing

Thought leadership

Editorial strategy

Communications

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

SEO

AI-enabled content strategies

Job description

Blackbaud is seeking a Senior Manager, Brand Content & Thought Leadership to shape how our brand shows up through the ideas, insights, perspectives, and stories we bring to market. This role will own Blackbaud's brand narratives and integrated content and thought leadership strategy, strengthening our brand reputation, building market authority, and supporting corporate growth objectives.

Reporting to the Head of Brand Marketing, this leader will oversee a team spanning thought leadership, Blackbaud Institute research and publications, customer storytelling, editorial content, and owned content channels. They will serve as the connective tissue across our brand narratives, proprietary research, customer evidence, expert perspectives, and thought leadership, ensuring everything works together to tell a differentiated and compelling story in the market.

Key Responsibilities

Content & Thought Leadership Strategy

• Own Blackbaud's brand narratives and integrated content and thought leadership strategy, defining the themes, perspectives, and priorities that strengthen our brand and market position.
• Develop annual and quarterly content priorities and plans that bring together research, thought leadership, customer stories, expert perspectives, and editorial initiatives around Blackbaud's priority narratives.
• Develop big-picture, creative content and thought leadership ideas that bring our brand narratives to life in distinctive and compelling ways.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen Blackbaud's brand-level authority on key industry topics and emerging trends.

Blackbaud Institute & Research Strategy

• Provide strategic oversight for the Blackbaud Institute, ensuring research and insights advance Blackbaud's priority brand narratives and thought leadership.
• Identify opportunities to connect proprietary research with customer evidence, expert perspectives, and broader content initiatives to create differentiated points of view.
• Partner with the Blackbaud Institute Research and Content Lead to ensure the Institute roadmap supports broader brand and business priorities.

Editorial & Owned Content Strategy

• Lead editorial strategy for ENGAGE, the ENGAGE Podcast, and future owned thought leadership channels.
• Ensure content themes, publishing priorities, and editorial plans are aligned across the organization.
• Establish content governance, standards, and editorial best practices.
• Drive consistency, quality, and audience relevance across all content types.

Search, Discoverability & Content Innovation

• Partner with Blackbaud's digital team to activate an effective brand-level discoverability strategy, including GEO and AEO.
• In partnership with Blackbaud's digital team, respond to evolving search behaviors and emerging AI-driven content consumption trends.
• Support team to best practices for AI-enabled content development and content engineering.
• Drive innovation and shared standards across Global Marketing for content creation, distribution, and performance measurement.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for research and insight-based content, customer storytelling, and editorial content.
• Set priorities, allocate resources and budgets, and create clarity around team goals and accountability.
• Partner across Vertical Marketing, Data Insights Center of Excellence, Digital Marketing, Corporate Communications, Customer Marketing, Customer Success, and Executive Leadership teams to advance a connected brand narrative and content strategy.

Measurement & Performance

• Establish KPIs and success metrics across content and thought leadership programs.
• Use performance, audience, and market insights to evaluate impact and continuously optimize content investments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in content marketing, thought leadership, editorial strategy, communications, or related disciplines.
• Experience leading high-performing content teams and complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated success developing brand narratives and integrated content and thought leadership strategies.
• Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Understanding of content performance, SEO, GEO, AEO, and emerging AI-enabled content strategies.
• Previous experience in technology or social impact is preferred
• Exceptional strategic thinking, prioritization, and team leadership capabilities.

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Blackbaud is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employme