Title

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Department

Marketing

Reports To

President & CEO

Summary

The Vice President of Marketing and Communications at United Way of the Coastal Empire (UWCE) is responsible for leading all aspects of the organization’s marketing, branding, media and public relations, campaign promotion, crisis communication, and engagement strategies. This role is critical in strengthening UWCE’s reputation, expanding community support, and driving philanthropic giving. The Vice President plans and oversees the work of marketing staff, contractors, and volunteers, ensuring cohesive, strategic communications that position UWCE as a trusted leader, storyteller, and convener in the region—advancing both community impact and organizational objectives.

Employee Expectations

UWCE is synonymous with charitable service and strives to positively impact the issues people care most about in our community. All UWCE employees are critical to our work and expected to present the best image or our organization as they represent the United Way in our community. All employees are expected to accept their responsibilities, adhere to acceptable principles in matters of personal conduct and exhibit a high degree of personal integrity at all times.

Position Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in English, Marketing, Public Relations, or Communications field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of ten years’ experience in increasingly responsible marketing and communications positions. Experience in marketing for fundraising preferred.
• Excellent writing, editing, presenting, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and ability to engage and influence a variety of diverse groups/individuals.
• Experience working in collaboration with print and broadcast media leaders and managing volunteer relationships.
• Ability to lead or support teams of experts in cause marketing, media, advertising, event management, and creative arts.
• Proven ability to direct and manage department staff and internal systems for effective achievement of strategic goals, budget management, and delivery of marketing materials as needed and on time.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Marketing & Branding

• Develop and lead a comprehensive, organization-wide communications, marketing, and branding strategy aligned with United Way of the Coastal Empire’s strategic goals and vision.
• Direct the design and production of all marketing and communications materials—including annual reports, brochures, and publications—from concept to completion, with a strong emphasis on graphic design, layout, typography, and brand consistency.
• Oversee the creation and execution of public awareness and advertising campaigns, including campaign videos and public service announcements, ensuring alignment with brand standards and key messaging.
• Manage all advertising efforts across electronic, print, and broadcast platforms to maximize visibility and community engagement.
• Safeguard and promote the United Way brand, ensuring consistent application of national and local brand guidelines across all materials and platforms.

Strategic Communication

• Lead the development and execution of clear, consistent communication strategies that translate complex initiatives and information into accessible messaging tailored to diverse audiences, including donors, partners, staff, volunteers, and the broader community.
• Craft and manage internal and external communications that support strategic planning efforts, ensuring stakeholders—from board members to frontline staff—understand organizational priorities, direction, and impact.
• Ensure clarity and alignment across all levels of communication, fostering transparency, unity, and shared understanding throughout the organization and among community stakeholders.
• Partner with senior leadership to position United Way of the Coastal Empire as a trusted source of information, thought leadership, and community collaboration.

Media Relations

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with media contacts as well as advertising representatives from the print, electronic, and broadcast media.
• Serve as the primary media contact, responding to press inquiries in partnership with the President to ensure accurate, timely, and strategic communication.
• Coordinate with President's office for the preparation of news releases and press coverage related to United Way.

Events Management

• Collaborate the planning and execution of mission-driven events in close collaboration with internal teams and external partners, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, brand standards, and stakeholder engagement objectives.
• Coordinate cross-departmental efforts to produce high-quality events that enhance visibility, strengthen community connections, and support donor cultivation.

Writing & Editing

• Collaborate the planning and execution of mission-driven events in close collaboration with internal teams and external partners, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, brand standards, and stakeholder engagement objectives.
• Coordinate cross-departmental efforts to produce high-quality events that enhance visibility, strengthen community connections, and support donor cultivation.

Digital Media

• Lead the development and execution of a digital marketing strategy to increase brand visibility, community engagement, and donor support.
• Manage and curate content across all social media platforms to ensure consistent voice and mission alignment.
• Oversee the maintenance and optimization of the organization’s website, ensuring up-to-date content, usability, and brand consistency.

Collaboration & Team Support

• Coordinate and support the Marketing Committee, engaging community experts to review and strengthen the organization’s marketing and communications strategies.
• Actively contribute to organizational planning, including the development of the strategic plan, operational initiatives, and annual budget, ensuring marketing is integrated into broader decision-making. 
•  Support Board engagement by providing timely, strategic communications that keep members informed, aligned, and equipped to serve as ambassadors of the organization.
• Remain competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the President and CEO.
• Contribute to the overall success of the organization by performing all other duties as assigned.

Project Management

• Lead complex projects across marketing and communications initiatives, from concept to execution, using structured project management tools and strategies to ensure deadlines, budgets, and objectives are met.
• Develop and maintain detailed project timelines, assigning roles and responsibilities, tracking progress, and proactively addressing any risks or barriers to success.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to align teams around shared goals, ensure accountability, and deliver high-quality results.
• Continuously evaluate project outcomes to inform future planning and process improvements.

Traits & Distinguishing Characteristics

• Maintains exceptionally high standards of integrity and confidentiality.
• Takes ownership of work and demonstrates a willingness to accept responsibility for decisions and actions
• Seeks and receives feedback graciously and with a dedication to continuous improvement.
• Demonstrates commitment to quality in every task performed.
• Team leader and team player who collaborates easily.

United Way Core Competencies for All Staff 

• Mission-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.  This drives their performance and professional motivations. 
• Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal. 
• Collaborator: understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement. 
• Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good; creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact. 
• Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network. 

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Much of the work of this position is completed while sitting at a desk, using a computer and phone. Requires talking, hearing and visual acuity sufficient to perform these major functions. 
• Occasionally includes reaching above shoulder heights, below the waist or lifting up to 25 pounds for office equipment, supplies and materials.

Status

Exempt (Salaried)