Director of Marking and Communications. Location: Redwood City, CA. Search conducted by:

Transcription

1 1 Director of Marking and Communications Location: Redwood City, CA Search conducted by:

2 Hope Lab I Director of Marketing & Communications

3 3 The Organization In 2001, Pam Omidyar had the bold idea to create a video game that helps children with cancer fight their disease with fun, excitement, and humility. HopeLab was founded on the principle of improving the health and well-being of young people through engaging technologies and rigorous research. Today, the organization combines research design and technology to create digital solutions for kids and young adults that drive healthy behaviors and bolster resilience, with the goal of attaining and sustaining measurable impacts on health. HopeLab is part of the Omidyar Group, which represents the philanthropic, personal, and professional interests of Pierre and Pam Omidyar. The Opportunity HopeLab is seeking a Director of Marketing & Communications to develop bold, cutting-edge strategies to help advance its mission as a research-informed, values-based Foundation committed to delivering innovative solutions with impact. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director is responsible for leading the Marketing & Communications Department to identify and reach target audiences, manage brand communications and product marketing, and creatively articulate HopeLab s work in compelling ways. The Director will also partner with the management team to support internal communications and enhance their roles as ambassadors of HopeLab s work. The new Director will continuously maintain and refine the organization s website as well as manage all online communications, including branding and social media strategies. As part of the effort to enhance HopeLab s brand and profile, the position will seek out opportunities to showcase the cross-cutting nature of the organization s initiatives and maximize publicity for its work. Supported by a Communications Manager as well as outsourcing partners, the Director will occasionally represent the organization at local, national, and global events. This role requires the ability to cultivate key relationships both inside and outside the organization, as well as engage media partners to spurn targeted coverage of HopeLab s activities and accomplishments. The Director will also collaborate with, and learn from, the communications teams at the other organizations in the Omidyar Group.

4 Hope Lab I Director of Marketing & Communications Key Priorities Building Relationships HopeLab has cultivated a passionate, ambitious, and mission-driven workforce with a culture built on collaboration, trust, and respect. It is paramount that the Director of Marketing & Communications spend the necessary time getting to know the organization and its staff in order to genuinely understand their collective needs. Establishing credibility and a service-oriented ethic for the Marketing & Communications function will be a priority for the Director in the early months of onboarding. Communications Strategy An immediate priority for the new Director will be to take the existing communications framework and develop a refined strategic approach aligned with the organization s broader operational objectives. This includes taking a fresh look at how the communications function serves the organization now and also review the resources required to implement future activities. Of particular importance is to ensure that communications is fully integrated cross-functionally, especially with the Research and Programs teams, so that messaging is not only crisp and magnetic, but also consistently deployed across all platforms. A key element of HopeLab s brand and profile building efforts will be to more acutely understand its target audiences and relevant media channels. In partnership with the Board of Directors, the CEO, and management team, the Director will help refine and further delineate the organization s stakeholders and constituency groups. Partnerships HopeLab is instituting a new partnerships approach to scaling its organizational initiatives. The Director will play an integral role in identifying potential partners for HopeLab as well as crafting the appropriate strategies for engagement and coordination for joint messaging / storytelling. This position must be savvy about partners needs and what it takes to successfully navigate complex, highly interconnected relationships. Promoting Learning The Director will develop creative dissemination strategies to ensure that HopeLab s initiatives are more widely understood and shared in communities of practice. Promoting peer learning, designing effective two-way communications, and enabling knowledge sharing and impact storytelling in an accessible way will be essential. Encouraging stronger levels of participation in HopeLab s work, inspiring new audiences, and creating momentum for its initiatives must be woven into the broader objectives for communications.

5 Ideal Candidate The next Director of Marketing & Communications will have a genuine connection to HopeLab s mission and to a science-centered approach to social impact. Candidates must be highly entrepreneurial and thrive in environments that require an adaptive and flexible work ethic. The new Director will be joining an impressive and credentialed team, and therefore must bring the gravitas and a strategist mindset to effectively devise sophisticated communications techniques. The Director will play a key role in advancing HopeLab s growth strategy by creating a clear communications vision to amplify its endeavors and engage partners. This includes facilitating internal discussions and crafting mission, vision, and values statements and accompanying collateral. The position will require a broad-based background in both traditional and new media to reach a variety of audiences. Candidates should also be able to demonstrate how leading-edge social media approaches can apply to HopeLab. The Director will be results-oriented and will have the motivation to pursue innovative approaches to help HopeLab achieve its strategic goals. An eye for design and the ability to build visually appealing narratives that take nuanced issues and make them exciting or to help find leverage points is essential. The ideal candidate will have a creative mindset and be an accomplished strategist. HopeLab is seeking a Director who will be excited by the opportunity to pursue unique and innovative approaches; someone who is an experimental thinker, yet knows how to translate ideas into a concrete course of action. Candidates must also have real experience taking complex and technical information and developing content for a wide range of professional and lay audiences. The next Director will be a self-starter who is well organized and poised under pressure. Stellar problem solving skills are essential as is having a naturally curious and collaborative disposition in order to fully participate in a learning culture. This role requires emotional intelligence in order to balance being practical and solution-oriented with being creative and intuitive in the design and implementation of communications strategies. Minimum Qualifications Candidates must have a minimum of ten years of experience in a leadership role with a track record of success in developing and executing multiple communications strategies and public relations campaigns in a national context. A demonstrated background in developing and refining an organization s mission, vision, and values is necessary. An undergraduate degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field is required. An advanced degree is preferred. Experience in the fields of science / peer review, health, technology, and social innovation design, or any combination thereof, are highly desirable. Outstanding writing, editing, and interpersonal skills are essential for the role, as is developing content in a collaborative, professional environment. Candidates should have a demonstrated track record defining, positioning, differentiating, and building strong brands.

6 HopeLab I Director of Marketing and Communications To Be Considered HopeLab is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To be considered, please go to and submit your resume and a cover letter expressing your passion for the mission and fit for the role. The search for a Director of Marketing & Communications at HopeLab is being assisted by a team from Waldron: Jeff Waldron, Managing Director jeff@waldronhr.com Mary Pelleriti, Search Engagement Manager mary@waldronhr.com

7 Waldron is honored to work with HopeLab in the search for a Director of Marketing & Communications. We believe in and support the work of HopeLab and we are doing our best to recruit a talented team member who will accelerate this mission. As the consulting partner strategic leaders choose to help attract, engage, and inspire effective leaders, Waldron provides a unique combination of executive search, leadership development, and career transition services across sectors and industries. Our passion is helping people and organizations realize their full potential and increase their impact. Seattle Portland San Francisco