Director of Marketing and Communications

Leader Dogs for the Blind, based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, has been making people unstoppable for 80 years, empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with lifelong skills for safe and independent daily travel. To learn more about our mission and campus follow the link to our website here.

Why work at Leader Dogs for the Blind?

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance after 30 days of employment
• Employer paid life insurance
• Employer paid disability insurance
• 401k with employer match
• Flexible spending account
• Paid time off front loaded on first day of employment
• Annual merit pay increases
• Workout room access
• Dog friendly office

SUMMARY

The Director of Marketing and Communications will lead efforts to promote, elevate, and consistently articulate the mission of Leader Dogs for the Blind. This critical role involves developing and executing local, regional, and national strategies to enhance the organization’s visibility, attract donors, recruit clients and volunteers and engage key stakeholders and community partners.

This individual will oversee branding, digital presence, media relations, content creation, and internal communications—with a keen focus on accessibility—while ensuring consistent messaging and alignment with the organization’s mission and goals.

This team member oversees a team of 5 employees and will work closely with senior leadership as the communications expert on a variety of strategic initiatives. This person will also serve as the main point of contact for agency partners.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement comprehensive marketing, communications, and public relations strategies to support the organization’s mission, vision, values, and business objectives.
• Ensure consistency and integrity of the Leader Dogs for the Blind brand and messaging through articulate and consistent communications to all internal and external constituents.
• Oversee the appearance of all print and electronic materials to ensure consistent graphic identity.
• Develop and implement local, regional, and nationally integrated communication and marketing initiatives that advance the organization’s position with relevant constituents; increase awareness of Leader Dog programs and priorities; grow donor support and visibility of its programs across key stakeholders; and oversee and participate in the creation of compelling, mission driven content for various platforms including the LDB website, social media, print, email, podcasts, and internal communications.
• Oversee Leader Dog’s web presence by ensuring the site is current, accessible, and fully meeting the goals for online fundraising and raising awareness.
• Oversee the organization’s digital presence including website management, search engine optimization, email marketing, and organic and paid digital media strategies.
• Build relationships with media outlets, manage press releases, and secure media opportunities to raise awareness of Leader Dog’s programs; assure regular contact with target media and send appropriate responses to media requests.
• Facilitate collaboration between the LDB philanthropy and marketing teams to create marketing campaigns that support fundraising efforts, donor engagement, special events, and online fundraising goals.
• Partner with client services, volunteer engagement, puppy development, and breeding, to create and execute marketing campaigns to support client and volunteer recruitment efforts.
• Lead cross-departmental collaboration by utilizing donor personas to ensure effective communication, align key initiatives, and foster meaningful engagement with stakeholders.
• Arrange, coordinate, and participate in LDB community activities, including on- and off-campus fundraising events, association and trade conferences, and Lions Club and other supporter functions.
• Recruit, mentor, develop, and successfully manage a team of marketing and communications professionals to achieve strategic objectives and promote the present and future needs of the organization.
• Lead team members and drive performance through goal setting, feedback, and individual development plans.
• Oversee the marketing and communications budget, ensuring cost-effective solutions and maximal impact.
• Engage with senior leadership to develop and implement crisis communication strategies to handle potential PR challenges effectively and responsibly.

Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

This position requires a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or related field. The candidate should have seven to ten years (7-10) of experience in marketing, communications, or public relations and at least three years in a leadership role managing a team.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design, best practices, and execution of marketing, communications and public relations activities.
• Experience working in the nonprofit sector or with mission-driven organizations.
• Familiarity with accessibility best practices in marketing and communications.
• Strong creative, strategic, analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in the latest version of Microsoft Office products.
• Commitment to working with shared leadership and in cross-functional teams.
• This position may be required to be on campus when deemed necessary at the direction of management.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline driven, changing environment, manage multiple demands, work well under pressure, and work independently.
• Sound business judgment, exercise professional conduct, understand and follow business ethics and standards, and maintain a high level of confidentiality in all duties.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills along with strong organizational abilities.
• The ability to function effectively as a member of a team, and a willingness to participate in activities and assignments that will benefit other members of the team or will contribute to the accomplishment of team objectives.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, take initiative and make recommendations in resolving problems and provide guidance to other staff.
• Willingness to travel.
• Comfort with and willingness to work around large dogs.
• Willingness to perform public relations duties on behalf of Leader Dog (perform tours, answer general questions, be a professional and courteous representative of Leader Dog, etc.).
• Ability to establish and maintain professional, productive and courteous interactions with employees that promote positive teamwork, as well as with volunteers, donors, clients and all constituents of Leader Dog. This encompasses going beyond giving and receiving instructions and includes but is not limited to (a) performing work activities requiring interacting or speaking with others; and (b) responding appropriately to constructive feedback or suggestions for improvement from a supervisor.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Upon receiving notice, reasonable accommodations may be made, if possible, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, use the phone, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Leader Dogs for the Blind reserves the right to change, amend, add, delete, and otherwise assign any and all duties, responsibilities and position title as it deems necessary to meet the needs of its business.

Leader Dogs for the Blind is an at-will employer. This means that the employment relationship may be ended at any time without notice by the employer or employee for any reason. Neither this document, nor any manual issued by Leader Dogs for the Blind, is a contract of employment.