Vice President, Marketing & Communications

The Vice President of Marketing & Communications is responsible for building and leading Fitch Irick's first dedicated Marketing & Communications department. This executive leads the development and execution of a fully integrated marketing strategy encompassing brand identity, digital marketing, content strategy, campaign management, public relations, and corporate communications, at both the enterprise and individual community levels. The VP drives the evolution of Fitch Irick's market presence from a historically referral-based regional affordable housing developer and manager to a nationally recognized industry leader, thought leader, and community asset. This role ensures that Development, Acquisitions, and Property Management teams, as well as the communities Fitch Irick serves, receive best-in-class marketing and communications support that accelerates strategic growth, strengthens brand equity, and drives revenue performance.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING THE ROLE

• Build and lead Fitch Irick's Marketing & Communications department from inception, including establishing team structure, workflows, tools, vendor relationships, and departmental infrastructure to support long-term organizational growth.
• Develop, implement, and continuously optimize an enterprise-wide integrated marketing strategy encompassing brand identity, digital marketing, content marketing, paid and organic campaigns, public relations, social media, and corporate communications.
• Own and direct all digital marketing efforts, including SEO/SEM, email marketing, paid media, social media strategy, website content, and online reputation management, ensuring consistent brand voice and measurable performance across all channels.
• Define and articulate Fitch Irick's value proposition across distinct audiences; including investors, residents, prospective employees, community partners, and policymakers; developing tailored messaging frameworks and content strategies for each.
• Builds and maintains relationships with owners, investors, elected officials, community leaders, media professionals, and regulatory agencies.
• Plan and execute integrated marketing campaigns; aligned with company growth objectives, including lead generation, brand awareness, community lease-up support, and thought leadership initiatives.
• Designs and executes a comprehensive Marketing & Communications department business plan aligned with the Company's overall business plan and strategic direction.
• Establish, track, and report on key marketing performance metrics and KPIs, including brand awareness, digital engagement, campaign ROI, lead generation, and occupancy support; use data-driven insights to continuously optimize strategy and investment.
• Actively recruits and develops internal staff and external vendor/supplier resources to support and extend the capacity of the Marketing & Communications team.
• Provides direction and leadership to the Marketing & Communications team. Develops and implements training and advancement opportunities. Evaluates team members' performance, including completion of quarterly performance dialogues.
• Conducts market research, develops individual marketing plans, and drives marketing-related customer relationships and engagement activities.
• Develop and oversee a comprehensive content strategy, including editorial planning, brand storytelling, thought leadership content, case studies, and multi-channel content distribution; maintain brand standards and messaging consistency across all output.
• Maintains effective operations of the Marketing & Communications department, including budgeting and planning.
• Identifies and executes earned media opportunities; cultivates relationships with journalists, industry publications, and influencers to secure proactive press coverage and manage Fitch Irick's public narrative.
• Maintains current knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations governing the marketing and leasing of affordable housing properties, ensuring all marketing practices, materials, and communications remain fully compliant.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING THE PERSON

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive marketing and communications experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role; experience in real estate, affordable housing, or property management a plus.
• Demonstrated experience building or scaling a marketing department or function; proven ability to lead and grow high-performing teams.
• Master's degree or MBA a plus.

SKILLS

• Deep expertise across the full marketing mix: brand strategy, digital marketing (SEO/SEM, paid media, email, social), content marketing, campaign management, and public relations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling narratives and present complex strategies clearly to executive leadership, boards, and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to develop and present marketing strategies and performance results to C-suite leadership, ownership groups, and board-level audiences.
• Creative and strategic thinker with the ability to translate brand vision into compelling campaigns and tangible business outcomes.
• Data-driven decision-maker with proficiency in marketing analytics platforms, CRM tools, and marketing automation systems; comfortable using performance data to optimize campaigns and inform strategy.
• Highly collaborative leader with strong cross-functional communication skills; able to build trust and alignment with internal teams, ownership, and external partners.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple campaigns, projects, and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Comfortable operating in a start-up mindset within an established company; thrives in ambiguity and adept at building structure and process where none previously existed.
• Proven ability to operate autonomously as a senior leader while maintaining strong alignment with executive leadership and company objectives.
• Resourceful and solutions-oriented; skilled at achieving outsized impact with lean resources and building scalable marketing infrastructure over time.
• Passionate about affordable housing and community impact; brings authentic enthusiasm for Fitch Irick's mission to every aspect of the role.
• Entrepreneurial and forward-thinking; proactively identifies emerging marketing trends, technologies, and opportunities to keep Fitch Irick ahead of the curve.
• Polished executive presence with sound business judgment; represents Fitch Irick with professionalism and credibility across all external and internal engagements.

Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.


WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU THE BENEFITS

• Comprehensive Benefits:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Short-term & long-term disability.
  • Life insurance & AD&D coverage.
  • Pet insurance.
  • Paid company holidays & floating holiday of choice.
  • Employee Assistance Plan for you and your family.

Company Overview: Fitch Irick Corporation, based in Charlotte, NC, has over 30 years of experience in affordable housing development and property management. The company specializes in navigating the complexities of Rural Development, HUD, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Programs. Fitch Irick currently manages more than 12,000 units across 250 properties in the southeastern United States, committed to providing quality affordable housing to residents in need.

Company Statement: We make a positive difference in the world, one resident at a time, utilizing local, state, and federal tax-advantaged programs to enhance communities through the acquisition, development, and management of affordable housing.