Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications is a direct report to the President/CEO and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. The SVP of Marketing and Communications leads the Association-wide Marketing and Communications function and provides strategic leadership for brand stewardship, integrated marketing, public relations, media relations, internal and external communications, digital engagement, community storytelling, and signature-event communications.

The SVP exercises substantial independent judgment within the delegated department and is accountable for strategic execution, measurable results, and the effective use of Association resources. The position advances the YMCA’s charitable mission; strengthens public understanding of the Y’s impact; supports membership, program, philanthropic, partnership, and community-engagement goals; and ensures a consistent, compelling, and mission-aligned voice across the Association.

The SVP contributes marketing, communications, brand, public-affairs, and audience-engagement expertise to enterprise planning and works closely with the President/CEO, Senior Strategy Team, Senior Leadership Team, branch leaders, program leaders, philanthropy, membership, and external partners. The SVP is not a standing member of the Senior Strategy Team unless formally designated by the President/CEO.

This position will receive a minimum of 4 weeks Paid-Time Off, Holiday Pay, Full-time benefits to include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life insurance, a Retirement 403(b) pension plan upon eligibility and a Free YMCA Membership.

OUR CULTURE:
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Senior Leadership

1. Serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and provides strategic counsel to the President/CEO and senior leaders on brand positioning, reputation, public engagement, communications, media relations, and marketing investment.
2. Maintains a visible, accessible, and consistent leadership presence to strengthen collaboration, coach staff, and advance Association priorities.
3. Develops and executes an Association-wide integrated marketing and communications strategy that advances the YMCA’s mission, strategic plan, brand identity, public voice, membership growth, program participation, philanthropy, partnerships, and community impact.
4. Translates Association priorities into annual marketing plans, campaigns, communications calendars, and budgets.
5. Establishes success milestones and uses data to identify trends and adjust strategies.
6. Partners with all Association department leaders to ensure marketing and communications priorities, resources, and campaigns support Association-wide goals and operational needs.
7. Protects and advances the YMCA’s brand and reputation by ensuring consistent standards for messaging, visual identity, accessibility, and communications across all channels; leading crisis-communications and stakeholder-engagement strategies as needed; and representing the Association with media, community leaders, partners, donors, vendors, volunteers, and other key stakeholders.
8. Provides leadership and oversight for the recruitment, selection, hiring, and onboarding of Marketing and Communications staff; partners with Human Resources to ensure all hiring activities follow established YMCA policies, procedures, approval processes, and applicable employment requirements.
9. Provides oversight of departmental payroll and timekeeping processes, ensuring employee time, payroll information, and required approvals are accurate and submitted in accordance with established deadlines and procedures; partners with Human Resources and Payroll to address and resolve discrepancies as needed.

Marketing and Brand Awareness

1. Leads the development, execution, and evaluation of integrated, multi-channel marketing strategies that increase YMCA brand awareness, membership, program participation, charitable giving, event participation, and community connection.
2. Oversees Association-wide brand strategy and ensures that all advertising, collateral, signage, digital content, program communications, and public-facing materials are mission-aligned, visually consistent, accessible, compelling, and compliant with YMCA brand standards.
3. Develops targeted marketing strategies for priority audiences and communities, including current and prospective members, program participants, donors, volunteers, partners, employers, schools, public agencies, and underserved populations.
4. Partners with other senior leaders to develop marketing strategies that support lead generation, membership conversion and retention, program enrollment, member engagement, and achievement of Association and branch revenue goals.
5. Directs paid media, digital marketing, website, email, social media, print, video, and other marketing channels; manages related vendors and investments; and evaluates performance, cost effectiveness, and return on investment.
6. Uses market research, audience insights, customer feedback, competitive analysis, and emerging marketing technology and trends to improve marketing effectiveness, strengthen community relevance, and advance equitable access to YMCA programs and services.

Public Relations and Communications

1. Develops and implements proactive public relations, media relations, thought-leadership, community engagement, and storytelling strategies that strengthen awareness of the YMCA’s mission, impact, programs, leaders, and charitable purpose.
2. Builds and manages productive relationships with media representatives, journalists, editors, content creators, community influencers, and other external partners to increase positive visibility and strengthen the YMCA’s public voice.
3. Serves as a key Association spokesperson and prepares the President/CEO, Board leaders, senior leaders, and subject-matter experts for media interviews, public presentations, community events, and stakeholder communications.
4. Partners with the President/CEO and Chief People and Strategy Officer to develop and deliver employee communications, leadership messaging, organizational-change communications, culture and recognition initiatives, recruitment messaging, and staff-engagement efforts.
5. Oversees the development of press releases, media advisories, statements, key messages, talking points, executive communications, speeches, bylined articles, newsletters, and other public-relations materials.
6. Monitors media coverage, public sentiment, social-media activity, and emerging issues; coordinates timely, accurate, and consistent responses to media inquiries and other reputation-related communications.
7. Develops and implements crisis-communications plans, protocols, and messaging in partnership with the President/CEO and SST, ensuring communications during emergencies, incidents, and sensitive matters are coordinated, compassionate, and accurate.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

• Collaboration

• Communication & Influence

• Philanthropy

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communications or related field is preferred.
2. Five years of progressive marketing experience, including at least two years of online digital marketing experience.
3. Proven experience in creating advertising/promotions and collateral that produces desired results.
4. Marketing management experience.
5. Excellent writing and verbal communication skills, as well as excellent proofreading skills.
6. Ability to work in collaboration with cross-functional teams to achieve consensus and desired results.
7. Ability to direct and coordinate the creative process internally and with outside resources.
8. Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet hard deadlines.
9. Understanding of interactive media production.
10. Expertise in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, and Flash with the ability to design various materials.
11. Proficient in email marketing and web-based content management software.
12. Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations.
13. A valid driver’s license is required as well as capacity to drive to various locations within the greater San Antonio metropolitan area.
14. Certifications required within the first week of hire: Bloodborne Pathogens, Hazardous Communications, and Defensive Driving.
15. Certifications required within the first 60 days of hire: CPR Pro and First Aid. If working at a location with a pool, must also complete O2 certification

WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Work is performed in a fast-paced office environment.
2. Visual acuity is required for reading computer screens and/or documents and making changes as necessary/required.
3. This position requires analytical abilities and multitasking in order to identify problems and recommend solutions.
4. Job requires accuracy and attention to detail, organizational, and time management skills, while maintaining high levels of initiative in order to work within deadlines.
5. Occasional stooping and bending with regular lifting of up to 20 pounds is required.
6. Incumbent must be able to stand for long periods of time, as well as be able to use keyboards, telephone keypads, and writing utensils.
7. Uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.