Manager, Communications

FLSA Status: Salaried, Exempt Department: Advancement Reports To: Chief Advancement Officer Employment Type: Full-Time Location: Chicago, Illinois / Hybrid Organization Overview Chicago Cares is redefining volunteerism through community-driven service—service co-designed with Chicago’s most impactful community leaders and organizations on the South and West Sides. We serve “with,” not “to.” Through service, we build connections and bridges among diverse people and help create a more caring, connected, and just Chicago. Position Overview The Advancement team leads Chicago Cares’ fundraising, marketing, public relations, communications, and stewardship efforts to deepen engagement, expand our reach, and increase investment in a stronger, more connected Chicago. The Manager, Communications leads the implementation of Chicago Cares’ communications strategy, with primary responsibility for social media, digital communications, storytelling, and content creation. This position translates Chicago Cares’ mission, programs, partnerships, and community impact into compelling communications across digital and traditional channels. The Manager serves as a cross-departmental communications partner, connecting organizational priorities and stories while helping staff strengthen their communications capacity. This is a hands-on role that regularly requires attendance at service projects, volunteer and community activities, fundraising events, and other organizational events to capture photos, video, interviews, stories, and other content. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Communications Strategy & Campaigns Develop and implement communications strategies aligned with Chicago Cares’ mission, values, organizational priorities, and Advancement goals. Develop communications plans for organizational campaigns, programs, fundraising efforts, events, and major initiatives. Lead communications campaigns from concept through execution, coordinating audiences, messaging, channels, timelines, creative assets, and measurement. Maintain an organization-wide communications and editorial calendar. Ensure communications are accurate, accessible, compelling, consistent, and aligned with Chicago Cares’ brand and community-driven approach. Identify opportunities to strengthen and evolve the Chicago Cares brand. Social Media & Digital Communications Lead Chicago Cares’ social media strategy and day-to-day implementation, including content development, scheduling, publishing, audience engagement, growth, and performance analysis. Create and coordinate written and visual content, including photography, short-form video, graphics, interviews, testimonials, and impact stories. Lead or coordinate newsletters and priority email communications. Support website content and other digital platforms, ensuring information is timely, engaging, accessible, and aligned with organizational messaging. Use audience insights and digital performance data to improve content and engagement. Storytelling & Content Capture Identify and develop compelling stories from Chicago Cares’ communities, programs, volunteers, partners, donors, staff, and events. Regularly capture photos, video, interviews, testimonials, and other storytelling assets for communications, fundraising, presentations, reports, and digital channels. Ensure storytelling reflects Chicago Cares’ commitment to community-driven service, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism and respects the dignity, agency, and voices of the people and communities represented. Develop and maintain an organized library of communications and storytelling assets. Support communications before, during, and after priority events to maximize visibility and engagement. Cross-Departmental Collaboration Partner with departments across Chicago Cares to identify and amplify stories, programs, partnerships, events, milestones, and calls to action. Build strong relationships with staff and organizational leaders to understand priorities and coordinate communications opportunities and timelines. Provide tools, templates, guidance, and training to strengthen organization-wide communications capacity. Help establish systems that make communications a shared organizational responsibility while maintaining strategic direction, quality, and brand consistency. Data & Continuous Improvement Track communications performance across social media, email, web, and other platforms. Monitor key indicators such as audience growth, reach, engagement, email performance, web traffic, and campaign results. Translate data and audience insights into recommendations that strengthen future communications and organizational decision-making. Maintain effective communications systems and use Salesforce and other organizational platforms as needed. Advancement & Fundraising Partner with Advancement colleagues on fundraising messaging, appeals, donor communications, stewardship, campaigns, events, and impact stories. Help communicate a compelling and consistent case for investment to donors, corporations, foundations, partners, volunteers, and other stakeholders. Provide communications leadership for major fundraising events, organizational initiatives, and special projects. Organizational Leadership Advance Chicago Cares’ brand, strategic messaging, and community-driven storytelling. Contribute to organizational strategy and cross-departmental initiatives. Represent Chicago Cares at relevant external events and forums. Participate in and support fundraising activities and events. Provide supervision or management support for staff, consultants, contractors, interns, and volunteers as needed. Continue developing expertise in strategic communications, nonprofit storytelling, digital engagement, fundraising communications, and community-centered approaches. Perform other duties as assigned. Competencies Strategic Communications: Ability to translate organizational goals and complex ideas into clear, compelling communications strategies and content. Storytelling: Strong ability to identify meaningful stories and communicate them through written, visual, digital, and multimedia formats. Social Media & Digital Fluency: Strong understanding of social media strategy, content development, audience engagement, and digital trends. Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects, campaigns, timelines, stakeholders, and deliverables. Audience-Centered Thinking: Ability to develop communications based on audience, desired action, and organizational objectives. Creativity & Adaptability: Ability to develop engaging content, solve problems, and respond effectively to changing priorities and opportunities. Data-Informed Decision-Making: Ability to use data and insights to assess performance and strengthen strategy. Cultural Competence: Demonstrated commitment to equity and anti-racism, with strong emotional intelligence and diplomacy. Collaboration & Relationship Building: Ability to build strong relationships across departments and with community partners, volunteers, donors, and other stakeholders. Accountability & Influence: Ability to give and receive feedback, navigate conflict, establish expectations, and serve as a strategic communications advisor and partner. Qualifications & Requirements At least three years of experience in communications, marketing, social media, digital communications, content development, campaign management, or a related field. Demonstrated experience developing social media strategies, managing organizational or brand channels, and creating digital content, including photography and video. Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex priorities into clear, cohesive communications. Experience using analytics to evaluate communications performance and inform strategy. Experience with Salesforce, Canva, Feathr, or similar platforms preferred. Proficiency with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, and common workplace technology. Commitment to service, civic engagement, and/or social justice and experience working effectively with diverse communities. Strong organizational, collaboration, problem-solving, and conflict-management skills, with the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, provide feedback, and hold others accountable. Ability and willingness to attend service projects, volunteer and community activities, fundraising and special events, including occasional evenings and weekends, to support communications and content capture. Must comply with Chicago Cares’ Residency Policy. Salary & Benefits This is a full-time, exempt position with a starting salary of $60,000–$63,000 per year, determined by candidates’ skills and experience. Benefits include: Flexible work schedule. Hybrid work environment; currently, all staff are expected to work in the office two days per week. Group medical coverage (PPO or HMO) for employees and dependents, with 90% coverage. Group dental coverage available for employees and dependents. Vision coverage for employees, 100% covered by Chicago Cares. Group life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance for employees, 100% covered by Chicago Cares. Access to a 401(k) retirement plan after three months, with a 4% employer match. Generous paid time off, wellness days, and holiday pay. Paid parental leave. Organization-wide paid wellness days when the office is closed. Access to sabbatical leave after three years of service. Position Location & Hybrid Work Expectations Chicago Cares operates in a hybrid work environment, with staff currently expected to work from the office two days per week. Due to the nature of the role, the Manager, Communications is also expected to maintain a visible presence at priority service projects, volunteer and community activities, fundraising and special events, and other organizational activities throughout the Chicago area. Some evening and weekend availability is required to capture content that authentically represents Chicago Cares’ work and impact. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of the pre-employment process and compliance with the Chicago Cares Residency Policy. Employees must establish and maintain residency within the six-county Chicago Metropolitan Region: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will County. Commitment to Equity & Equal Employment Opportunity Chicago Cares is committed to a community-driven, anti-racist approach to service and to meaningfully integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our practices, structures, and culture. Chicago Cares is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal law. We strongly encourage all interested candidates, including Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other candidates who identify as nonwhite, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with lived experience with racism and/or misogynoir, to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr Chicago Cares