Director of Communications and Public Affairs

Organization: The Midtown Association (MA) is a non-profit organization that is making Midtown the center for culture, creativity and vibrancy in Sacramento’s urban core. We were recently selected by our team and the Sacramento Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in Sacramento.

Our Culture and Values: Our small but mighty team is fast-paced, creative, and mission-driven. We value:

• Integrity: High standards and personal accountability
• Responsiveness: Empathetic, thorough service to all stakeholders
• Growth: Personal, team, and organizational growth celebrated often
• Collaboration: Helping others succeed as part of a collective mission
• Resiliency & Resourcefulness: Adaptability in a changing environment
• Efficiency Through Technology: Tech-driven transparency and results

Our modern, open-concept office is surrounded by more than 20 restaurants, coffee shops, and cultural amenities. Our team enjoys a smart casual/business dress code.

Position Summary and Requirements: The key measures of success for the Director are (a) lead an effective strategic communications and advocacy strategy for Midtown and the organization including organizational communications, stakeholder and media relations, electronic and digital communications, community committees, advocacy efforts, and presentations that results in Midtown’s programs and initiatives success, (b) increase visits to and sales tax in the Midtown district through effective story telling, (c) advise internal teams and community partners on efforts to enhance and preserve the reputation and investment value of the district, (d) collaborating effectively across Admin, Communications, Events, Placemaking, and Clean and Safe teams to align communication efforts with organizational priorities. Manage direct and indirect reports, launch and scale program enhancements, advocate and negotiate with stakeholders/public agency partners, and manage external consultants/contractors to streamline system improvements.

What is a Midtown Association Director ? Directors have successful supervisory experience of staff and consultants, are able to act as the staff support to committees of board members and expert community members, are politically astute, drive program budget development and deliver program projects within developed budgets, operate with high integrity to uphold company policies, and can plan program performance to generate specific outcomes. Directors develop efficiencies and drive improvements for service delivery Directors create partnerships to generate funds for the organization. Directors should have no less than ten years of professional experience in a relevant area and a bachelor’s degree in a relevant area of study.

Specific Qualifications and Requirements:

• Be a politically astute, strategic thinker with a proven ability to design a successful public affairs and communications strategy.
• Possess an awareness of Sacramento’s economic and political landscape, being able to understand the objectives and opinions of a diverse group of stakeholders, colleagues, and community members.
• Be experienced in developing both organizational and campaign-specific communications plans.
• Be an effective people manager to guide high-performing staff and consultants to set and achieve team and individual goals and objectives within the communication strategy as well as personal and professional development goals.
• Be an effective collaborator with other program leaders to ensure their projects and programs are effectively integrated into the communications strategy.
• Be an excellent written, verbal, and visual storyteller to guide and protect the Explore Midtown brand voice, messaging coherence, and identity within the communications strategy.
• Be able to cater storytelling appropriately to different audiences and seamlessly integrate into the organization’s existing voice.
• Be a strong public speaker to deliver media interviews and presentations to engage donors or stakeholders to support the health and growth of the organization.
• Be a thought partner to the executive team to design public meetings/public engagement efforts to support the communications and fund development strategies.
• Be a strong advocate of Midtown and Sacramento, including helping problem-solve difficult community challenges that the association is engaged with, such as mitigating the impacts of homelessness and ensuring a safe and welcoming nightlife.
• Be experienced in navigating crises as a part of a team, with the ability to display tact and demonstrate discretion when dealing with sensitive matters or difficult subjects.
• Be in a continuous improvement mindset to look for new opportunities to grow and shape the organization.
• Be familiar with digital tools and tactics, including SEO/SEM best practices, Facebook Business Manager, Google Ads, geofencing, website management, and keyword advertising.

All candidates should anticipate pre-employment background checks, driving record checks, and drug screening (cannabis is allowable).

Work Hours: This is a full-time, exempt position at no less than 40 hours per week. The schedule is generally Monday through Friday professional hours with variations for meetings, events, and community programming including occasional evenings or weekends. Offsetting flex days are offered for days when a full Saturday is worked if this position engages on a special initiative, or event such as Second Saturday or Midtown Farmers Market.

Work Environment: The work environment is in the office four days per week with one remote day per week in addition to a bank of work from anywhere time. The office environment is located primarily inside and consists of working in meetings, via email, via phone, independently, or in collaboration with external partners to complete tasks involving communications, public relations, and public affairs. The office is generally an open environment. We have a very collegial and community/customer-facing office, and interruptions of work can be routine so this position is best suited for someone who can be flexible, focused, results-oriented, and can set priorities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Public Affairs and Campaign Leadership/Strategy: Keep the Explore Midtown and Midtown Love brand strategies in action to increase visitations to the district, maintain the value of Midtown as desirable for investment, and showcase the creative Midtown ethos through high-quality design and brand voice, leading long-range and short-term key campaigns on behalf of the organization, ensuring the messages are appropriately threaded through all visitor facing channels (@ExploreMidtown social channels, earned media, e-newsletters, and event) and through all strategic communications and public affairs channels (board communications, website, strategic communications to board and stakeholders including presentations, committees, and a few limited paid media opportunities, and 5-7 semi-evergreen print pieces).
  • Long-range key campaigns include (a) demonstrating organizational program outcomes to and engaging with stakeholders on key initiative such as public safety, economic development, multimodal transit and development, (b) promoting specific clusters of businesses to consumers to increase the economic health of the district, (c) advancing the organization’s position on an advocacy matters with government agencies, (d) ensuring the community is well-viewed to receive outside investment.
  • Short-term key campaigns include specific public space installments, advocacy efforts for harm reduction strategies or future development projects, or an upcoming special event.
  • Evergreen print pieces include an annual report for Midtown Association, a prospectus for Midtown Parks, descriptions of organizational programs, consumer-facing rack cards, economic development reports, and others.
• Stakeholder and Fund Development Support:
  • Stakeholder support - Ensure new businesses and property owners are welcomed into the district by providing templates of resources and ensuring they are represented in electronic communications and media strategies. Support stakeholders by amplifying their communication efforts for openings, special events, and milestones. Support the economic development of the district through storytelling.
  • Fund Development Support: Generate the communications strategy and materials to support the fund development plan, which includes corporate sponsorship, grants, and individual donors.
  • Demonstrate district value by working collaboratively across departments to produce and maintain print and digital collateral materials which demonstrate the value of Midtown and its businesses.

• HR and Leadership:
  • Lead the organization’s communications strategy in partnership with the Executive Director, Deputy Director, and senior leadership team. Support organizational planning, budgeting, and strategic initiatives that strengthen Midtown Association’s long-term sustainability and community impact. Help cultivate a culture of responsiveness, innovation, and high performance throughout the organization.
  • Lead and support staff, and contractors to achieve their professional development goals and company goals including facilitating strong 1:1s, motivating and developing the team dynamics, conducting annual review for direct reports and supporting annual reviews for indirect reports.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Administration, Development, Events, Placemaking, Clean and Safe, and leadership teams to align goals, stakeholder engagement, fundraising strategies, and public impact initiatives.

Benefits: Midtown Association has a very generous benefits package after the introductory period: 8 days of sick time, 12 days of vacation plus several paid public holidays, 401k with match and immediate vesting, flex-spend account, fully paid insurance (Medical, Life, Dental, Vision, Alternative Care Insurance), parking/transit reimbursement, unlimited in office refreshments, wellness program and more.