TITLE: Director, Impact

STATUS:  Full Time Exempt

LEVEL:  Director

DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Sr. Director, Impact

SUPERVISORY POSITION

LOCATION:   Remote in the United States

POSITION DESCRIPTION SUMMARY:

This position manages communications, marketing, branding, and media relations for the Foundation, ensuring all efforts align with the Foundation’s mission and strategic vision. This role oversees the Foundation’s online presence, editorial plan, print/digital design, and media relations, while collaborating with departments to execute campaigns. Additionally, the Director supervises a direct report, ensuring day-to-day operations and communication strategies are effectively implemented and consistent with the Foundation’s goals. The position also works collaboratively with ACR communications and marketing staff where appropriate to advance the Foundation’s efforts.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational Implementation 

• Manage the implementation of the comprehensive marketing and communications plan, overseeing project timelines, resource allocation, and coordination to ensure alignment with strategic objectives. 
• Manage and execute departmental ancillary marketing requests from inception to completion. Ensure deliverable aligns with strategic goals and within scope.  
• Develop and execute editorial plan, ensuring content deliverables are vetted through the internal and external approval processes to ensure message consistency and maximize cross-promotion opportunities across all departments. 

Project Management 

• Establish and monitor project management processes to ensure the timely and effective delivery of marketing and communication deliverables and larger initiatives, utilizing project management tools to enhance efficiency and tracking.  
• Lead creative strategy and design for Foundation booth at Convergence; manage end-to-end project coordination with exposition services vendor, oversee onsite setup, materials ordering, and staffing to ensure successful execution. 
• Oversee planning and implementation of the Foundation’s presence at Convergence.  

Media Relations 

• Manage all media relations activities, including cultivating relationships with the press, writing press releases, and responding to media inquiries, writing Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor, pitching stories to the media, etc. 

Content Management 

• Oversee the execution of the Foundation’s social media strategy, ensuring consistency with the broader communication plan. 
• Ensure consistency and adherence to the Foundation’s Style Guide in all external communications, providing senior editorial support as needed. 
• Operationalize web design strategy by managing content updates, implementation of design elements, ensuring the website remains aligned with strategic goals and effectively engages target audiences.  
• Develop and maintain materials fulfillment process for the Foundation’s presence at professional meetings, events, and conferences, ensuring all aspects reflect the Foundation’s brand and strategic objectives. 
• Develop and refine talking points, speeches, and presentations for volunteers, staff and the Executive Director for Convergence, internal meetings, and rheumatology association/state society meetings and special events. 
• Review all designed pieces (including print and digital designs) for consistency with brand standards. 

Volunteer Leadership  

• Provide operational oversight of the Rheum Champion program, acting as a liaison between patient advocates and the organization to increase public awareness of the Foundation’s impact. 
• Serve as the staff liaison to review panels and subcommittees of the Impact Advisory Council. 

Team Supervision 

• Supervisor of a direct report, providing guidance, support, and feedback to ensure effective execution of responsibilities. 
• Ensure clear communication pathways are established within the team, maintaining alignment with the Foundation’s operational goals. 

Other Responsibilities 

• Execute any additional duties as assigned by the Foundation’s Executive Director or the Senior Director, Impact. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA/BS plus eight (8) years’ experience in a communications or marketing setting, or MS/MA/MBA/JD with five (5) years’ experience in related field, or more than twelve (12) years’ experience with no post-secondary degree.
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, including the ability to translate complex topics for a lay audience
• Outstanding public speaking skills, and the ability to give persuasive, informative and captivating presentations
• Demonstrated experience working with the media
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and productive working relationships with a variety of individuals including donors, prospective donors, volunteers, and staff
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining focus on long-term strategy and products.
• Experience with organizational use of social media channels - including Facebook, Twitter, and other new media.
• Must have experience with PowerPoint and website management
• Experience in a 501c (3) environment, preferably with a health-related or patient advocacy organization.
• Professional proficiency with Microsoft Office programs including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word is required. Web browsing proficiency is also required.
• Familiarity with virtual meeting software applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or similar is required

The ACR provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The ACR complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities or conducts business.

This is not a contract. The description and duties as they relate to this position are subject to change as reasonable business necessity dictates. In the event of such changes, a new job description may be created.

About American College of Rheumatology

With nearly 8,500 physicians, health professionals, researchers, medical students, and scientists worldwide, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is the home of the rheumatology community. The ACR is a values-based organization, and as such focuses on the cultural values of transparency, accountability, collaboration, community, inclusion, and innovation across all interactions within and across departments, with members and volunteers, and external organizations with whom we work. We believe culture, communication and collaboration leads to excellence and allows our employees to fully flourish.

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