NOW HIRING: Communications Officer

Communications Officer

About Foundation for Louisiana

Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) is a social justice philanthropic intermediary founded in 2005 as the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation to invest in the immediate recovery of Louisiana’s communities after Hurricane Katrina. While FFL was founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, our founders recognized the need to address the longstanding inequities that have shaped life outcomes for the most marginalized of Louisianans. FFL’s work grew in response to these needs, and today FFL focuses on racial justice, climate justice, criminal justice reform, economic justice, gender justice, and support for Louisiana's vibrant arts and culture via a three-pronged strategy:

• Invest: FFL makes grants and loans to support organizations and movements throughout Louisiana in our key program areas. We attract and invest resources to support on-the-ground projects, many of which can’t access traditional philanthropy. Through fiscal sponsorship, Foundation for Louisiana also supports innovative ideas responding to unmet needs throughout Louisiana.
• Build: We build power to effect change in Louisiana communities. Our leadership programs convene community leaders and provide training in organizing, policy change, leadership, public speaking, and facilitation to tackle issues of climate change, police accountability, health disparities, housing access, and more.
• Transform: By fortifying movements, we shift systems and shape regional and national narratives. We re-imagine how our communities are governed and funded in order to redefine how residents are able to thrive in them.

Since inception, FFL has invested $55 million in more than 250 equity-centered nonprofit organizations working across the state toward building a more just Louisiana. As a social justice philanthropic intermediary, FFL’s work unapologetically advances racial justice while moving Louisiana forward. FFL engages communities in both program co-design as well as its grant-making process, in order to expand opportunities and move communities toward a more just future.

Position Overview

Foundation for Louisiana seeks a creative, dynamic and entrepreneurial Communications Officer with a sophisticated racial and social justice analysis who is passionate about telling the story of Louisiana. The Communications Officer will be responsible for evolving FFL’s communications strategy and narrative shift work, and leading the strategic output of all communications by being the organization’s content visionary, who establishes FFL’s voice. The Communications Officer will manage integrated marketing and communication products, such as print publications, web presence, social media, newsletters, CEO communications, and more. In collaboration with colleagues, the Communications Officer will develop and tell the story of FFL, aggregating annual data to produce impact reports, circulations, promotional materials, and more. The Communications Officer will develop the strategy for all communications and collateral to consistently articulate FFL’s mission and priorities. The Officer will have the opportunity to build and manage a small communications department, including external vendors, to support FFL’s strategic communications goals. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of communications experience. 

All Foundation for Louisiana employees are currently working remotely. While the Communications Officer can be based anywhere in the state, they may require work in New Orleans when conditions allow.  Office space is available in New Orleans; however, public health conditions and potential climate hazards are monitored closely, and FFL observes all municipal, parish, and state guidelines as well as Center for Disease Control recommendations to prioritize the health and safety of our staff, partners, and the communities we serve.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance Foundation for Louisiana’s mission, broaden awareness of its programs and results, and increase visibility across key stakeholder audiences in service of deepening and expanding donor partnerships, amplifying grantees’ work and stories, and influencing the philanthropic field to center the experiences of Louisiana communities most impacted by injustice.
• Develop a strong brand voice across several platforms and marketing channels and develop targeted messaging for different constituents.
• Lead FFL’s narrative shift work through facilitating campaign-based framing, messaging, and narrative development around FFL’s key issue areas, including criminal justice reform, racial justice, climate change, LGBTQ justice, and more (Note: The Officer will manage a small team, including a new role who will eventually take over as the lead to supporting narrative strategy). 
• Collaborate with colleagues to create messages and stories that advance FFL’s mission and programs around climate justice, racial justice, criminal legal system reform, gender justice, and more.
• Oversee press strategy and expand FFL’s national presence to reflect our growth and the outsized impact our grantees have had across movements. 
• Develop and draft content and stories for online, print, audio, and video platforms, including the annual report, collateral materials and electronic communications, the FFL website; and manage relationships with associated vendors.
• Lead the organization’s social media strategy and execution (Note: The Officer will manage a small team, including a consultant who currently develops social media content). 
• Provide monthly reporting on digital analytics of website and social media engagement, page-views, and other relevant insights and trends; incorporate data into digital components of communications plans.
• Develop and manage communications infrastructure including editorial calendar, social media plan and calendar, and press and influencer database.

Required Competencies

In addition to having deep knowledge of Louisiana, and respect for its people,

You Are:

• A skilled manager – You know how to lead and implement a project from visioning to execution. You have experience training and supporting communications staff and contractors, including managing work plans and leading editorial meetings. You know how to create a supportive environment with team members that is collaborative, values-driven, and results-oriented.   
• A creator and storyteller - You have demonstrated experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of content, potentially including press releases, print pieces, video, podcasts, radio, and web content. You know which platforms are best for reaching different audiences and are excited about the rich possibilities that exist around telling the story of FFL, and of Louisiana’s movements, leaders, and future.
• An experienced communications strategist - You have demonstrated experience leading framing, messaging, and narrative development that centers racial and social justice. You know how to craft stories and messages to reach different audiences. You have experience with developing and implementing digital strategies and tactics across digital platforms.
• A relationship builder – You have demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with editors, connectors, and community members in order to move narratives forward, and in successfully positioning narratives with media to achieve high-impact placements.
• An accountable team player who also works well independently. You are innovative, energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive. You have the ability to function smoothly under strict deadlines and shifting priorities.

You Have:

• 5+ years minimum experience in the communications or marketing field.
• An advanced intersectional analysis around racism, transphobia, homophobia, and other systemic oppressions. You have the ability to translate analysis into impactful and accessible communications.
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior leadership, Board of Directors, donors, grantees, and community members.
• Experience using analytics, monitoring, and measurement tools to grow audiences and inform strategic direction.
• Familiarity with organizational capacity building for communications.

Compensation

The Communications Officer is a 40 hour/week, full-time exempt position. Salary is between $76,000 - $84,000 DOE with a generous benefits package and PTO package including:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums
• Up to $50,000 employer-paid life insurance
• 403(b) retirement employer match
• Up to 27 days of paid time off (PTO)
• Up to 8 weeks of family leave
• Home office stipend

To Apply

Please send your cover letter, resumé, a writing sample, and three references in a single pdf to Foundation for Louisiana, via email to jobs@foundationforlouisiana.org. Review of applications will begin on August 18, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received by August 25, 2023.

We encourage applications from people with disabilities and are available to discuss reasonable accommodations for any applicant who may need them. To inquire about accommodations, please email jobs@foundationforlouisiana.org or call FFL at (225) 236-7016.  Please refrain from making phone calls for any reason other than to request application accommodations.    

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

Foundation for Louisiana aspires towards freedom for all Louisianans and aims to create a fully inclusive and affirming workplace for all people.  We welcome and encourage applications from people who have been involved with the criminal legal system. FFL is committed to providing staff with resources to work from home effectively.  Reasonable accommodations may be requested to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of the position.

Foundation for Louisiana follows an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, criminal legal background, and marital status.

This policy also applies to internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, outside vendors, members and customers, service clients, use of contractors and consultants, grant partners, board members and dealings with the general public.

For more information about Foundation for Louisiana visit our website at www.foundationforlouisiana.org