Director of Marketing and Communications

New Horizons is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving individuals with special needs. With over 70 years of experience, we are committed to enhancing their quality of life and promoting their independence and inclusion in the community.

SUMMARY:

The Director of Marketing \& Communications position is a rare opportunity to work with an organization during an exciting time of growth. This role will lead and strengthen the organization's brand, visibility, and strategic communications in direct support of revenue growth and long-term sustainability. With a new multi-year development strategy underway and a focus on expanding major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation support, and community visibility, we are ready to invest in a cohesive, high-performing marketing function. We are seeking a strategic, creative leader who thrives in environments poised for growth—someone who brings a forward-thinking, integrated approach to marketing and is motivated by building collaborative systems that drive measurable impact.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Reporting to the CDO and partnering closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, the Director of Marketing \& Communications will lead the evolution of our marketing function — modernizing systems, strengthening our brand voice, and building integrated campaigns that support fundraising and amplify our mission. This role requires a hands-on leader who is equally comfortable developing strategy and executing day-to-day marketing initiatives.

The Director will design and lead a comprehensive marketing and brand strategy that advances New Horizons' mission and drives philanthropic growth, community engagement, and organizational visibility. This leader will generate and manage all digital platforms, campaigns, storytelling, and marketing materials that support fundraising initiatives, events, and program growth. The role is responsible for creating compelling content that resonates with families, donors, corporate partners, foundations, volunteers, and community stakeholders.

As a member of the leadership team, the Director will collaborate cross-functionally to align communications with development strategy, board engagement, and organizational priorities — helping position New Horizons for long-term sustainability and expanded impact. This role offers a unique opportunity to build and shape a modern marketing function within a growing organization.

Strategic Brand Leadership

• With support from the CDO, align brand strategy directly with revenue priorities, donor engagement, and long-term growth objectives
• With support from the CDO, develop and execute a strategic marketing plan that positions New Horizons as a leading voice in disability services, inclusion, and community impact
• Ensure brand consistency across all channels, materials, campaigns, and stakeholder communications
• Create and maintain brand guidelines, messaging, and visual standards that unify fundraising, program, and community communications

Content Development

• Establish and execute an annual content calendar aligned with organizational priorities and designed to drive engagement, visibility, and revenue
• Develop, design, and produce high-quality marketing collateral including pitch decks, sponsorship decks, impact reports, one-pagers, event materials, digital campaigns, video content, and donor-facing communications
• Establish a data-driven and story-driven content pipeline that supports year-round fundraising campaigns, events, stewardship efforts, and organizational storytelling
• Write compelling, mission-driven copy tailored to diverse audiences including personalized and segmented messaging to major donors, foundations, corporate partners, families, volunteers, and community stakeholders
• Apply a data-driven approach to oversee and improve the New Horizons website and digital channels to ensure messaging is current, optimized, accessible, and conversion-focused
• Develop templates and tools to support program-level marketing needs while ensuring alignment with brand standards

Revenue \& Partnership Marketing Alignment

• Collaborate with the CDO and front-line fundraisers to develop integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns that support major gifts, annual giving, a branded monthly giving program, and corporate sponsorships
• Incorporate best practices in digital fundraising to drive engagement, event participation, and philanthropic support
• Collaborate closely with the Development team to create impact reports and success stories that demonstrate measurable program outcomes and return on philanthropic investment
• Support event marketing strategy for signature fundraising events, ensuring cohesive messaging and sponsorship materials, strong community engagement, and excellent storytelling

Digital Strategy, Innovation \& AI Integration

• Lead digital strategy across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, email, website and emerging platforms, ensuring alignment with brand and revenue goals
• Monitor and analyze digital performance metrics (engagement, conversion, growth, campaign ROI) and adjust strategy based on data insights
• Oversee and implement emerging digital marketing opportunities including SEO/SEM, paid social, automation tools, and content optimization platforms
• Evaluate and integrate AI-driven tools and technologies to improve efficiency, content development, audience segmentation, and campaign performance
• Stay informed by trends in nonprofit digital engagement, generative AI, marketing automation, and analytics to ensure New Horizons remains innovative, data-driven, and competitive

Public Relations \& Organizational Communications

• Collaborate with board committee leadership to identify and pursue media connections and opportunities that elevate New Horizons' visibility and thought leadership in the disability and nonprofit sectors
• Draft press releases, media kits, executive talking points, and external communications as needed
• Support executive communications in partnership with leadership as needed, including speechwriting, presentations, and board-level materials
• Provide guidance, support, and systems for internal communications that strengthen alignment across staff, programs, and leadership

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing integrated marketing strategies and campaigns aligned to organizational growth and revenue goals
• Proven ability to elevate brand positioning and drive measurable engagement across digital and traditional channels
• Strong experience creating high-impact marketing collateral including presentations, sponsorship decks, impact reports, one-pagers, and campaign materials
• Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences including donors, foundations, corporate partners, families, and community stakeholders
• Experience managing digital platforms (website, email marketing systems, social media channels) and analyzing performance metrics to inform strategy
• Demonstrated success overseeing external vendors, agencies, or contractors to deliver high-quality creative and digital work
• Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills. A writing sample may be required
• Proficiency in modern marketing tools and platforms (e.g., Canva, CRM-integrated email systems, social scheduling platforms, website CMS, analytics tools) and willingness to identify and lead AI integrations where appropriate
• Must be highly computer literate in Zoom, Teams, Word, Excel, MS Business Suite, and Canva, and have the ability to learn database software in a very short time. Must be able to conduct research through the internet and other sources
• Must be a self-starter with the ability to work individually and in an integrated team environment
• Must be a creative thinker with an eye for detail and design
• Ability to take on responsibility and use initiative to prioritize and work effectively, under pressure and under tight deadlines. Excellent time management skills. Must be flexible to meet the needs of unexpected assignments and to work evening and weekend hours as needed
• Must be able to work effectively with the Development team, other staff, volunteers, the public, and members with developmental disabilities

Preferred Experience

• Experience in nonprofit fundraising environments with clear alignment between marketing and development strategy
• Knowledge of philanthropic communications, donor engagement, and campaign-based marketing
• Familiarity with marketing automation, SEO/SEM, paid social campaigns, and digital growth strategies
• Experience integrating emerging technologies, including AI-driven tools, to enhance content development, audience targeting, and performance tracking

The individual should have a dependable vehicle, proof of vehicular insurance, and a driving record acceptable to the agency's insurance carrier.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and revenue awareness
• Creative visionary who can translate complex mission-driven work into compelling narratives
• Data-informed decision maker comfortable using analytics to guide direction
• Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort in evolving environments
• Highly organized and execution-oriented, with strong project management skills
• Collaborative leader who builds trust across teams and with external partners
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in both messaging and practice

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required. At least 6 to 10 years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, or brand leadership roles, with demonstrated success driving engagement and revenue growth in mission-driven, nonprofit, or similarly complex stakeholder environments.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401K Matching
• Vacation Hours
• Paid Sick Leave
• Holiday Pay
• Discounts Program
• Referral Program
• FSA
• And more..