PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Resource Development (RD) department works in three main areas: 1) fundraising: raising private funds and cultivating and maintaining relationships with private donors and corporate partners; 2) marketing: effectively bringing the organization’s brand to life in an effort to elevate our profile to advance strategic goals 3) engage the public in global issues that matter to Mercy Corps through public outreach and education through the Mercy Corps Action Center.
The RD team includes several dozen dynamic professionals who possess a wide range of skills. We are database managers, web developers, marketers and public relations experts. We are donor services professionals, designers, photographers and teachers. Most of all, we are passionate about Mercy Corps’ mission and dedicated to advancing the goals of our worldwide team who are powered by a belief a better world is possible.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Vice President, Brand Marketing is a recognized global marketing leader who will strategically guide the organization’s approach to marketing, brand stewardship, communications and public engagement. S/He will raise our profile and drive the teams to tell the best stories we can, for the purposes of advancing Mercy Corps’ mission, fundraising and marketing goals.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Strategy and Vision:
- Oversee Mercy Corps’ global brand marketing and communications efforts.
- Build the brand marketing function which will leverage the department’s online, creative, partnerships, executive positioning, and earned media assets – for the purposes of connecting Mercy Corps with target audiences on a greater scale.
- Work closely with colleagues from development, programmatic and operational departments to ensure our marketing and communications advance our fundraising, marketing and mission goals.
- Responsible for overseeing dynamic multichannel marketing campaigns. Ensures clear plan is developed, cross-functional teams are coordinating and metrics of success are established and met.
- Works with Chief Development and Marketing Officer (CDMO) on effective implementation and evolution of the brand strategy. Manage Mercy Corps’ brand identity and evolution across channels. Partners with creative agencies to ensure consistency in positioning and creative execution.
- Drive research on current and potential supporter profiles and Mercy Corps’ position in the marketplace.
- Successfully leads marketing function during global emergency responses.
- Effectively builds partnerships.
- Builds media/entertainment partnerships that leverage others’ platforms to advance our mission. Partners with Corporate Relations team to develop and advance cause marketing partnerships.
- Serve as message and content czar, ensuring that we are telling consistent stories across Mercy Corps’ various platforms.
- Help add several high-value media, creative, and/or entertainment leaders to the Mercy Corps board.
Leadership and Development:
- Directly supervise marketing teams including media relations, communications strategy, creative and community relations teams.
- Shares information proactively and appropriately, creating a trusting, collaborative team environment.
- Clearly and transparently states expectations and is accountable to high standards.
- Manages performance proactively, taking steps to address poor performance.
- Coaches, develops and provides feedback to others to help them succeed and achieve their potential.
Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Marketing team members throughout the US. Dotted lined coordination with colleagues in Europe and globally.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Chief Development and Marketing Officer
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: VP of Corporate & Foundations Team, Senior Directors in Major Gifts and Direct Response. Creative, Media Relations, Communications, Mercy Corps Action Center, Digital Teams. Executives and Program Leaders, the Chief Development and Marketing Officer and the Chief Executive Officer.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Track record of marketing success at a large organization.
- Executive level experience leading high-performing teams.
- 10-12 years agency and/or in-house marketing experience.
- Ability to understand a complex competitive landscape, effectively steward our brand while raising the organization’s global profile and advancing fundraising goals.
- Understanding of emerging marketing trends, including effective use of digital, multimedia and experiential marketing platforms.
- Experience managing complex news stories for a high profile company or organization.
- Track record of building creative, productive partnerships.
- Strong personal network of media and creative relationships.
- Understanding of fundraising and our sector preferred.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
A successful candidate will be a smart, aggressive, connected, and 21st century marketer who will bring our brand to life effectively across all touchpoints in order to advance our mission and capture share of mind, heart and wallet. A solution-oriented team player with the ability to strategically and operationally lead teams to develop and implement integrated marketing plans to advance strategic organizational objectives. S/He builds effective partnership with development leaders to drive marketing efforts to advance fundraising goals and creates smart, aggressive, pro-active integrated marketing operation.
The VP Brand Marketing will show fast, creative and effective leadership during global emergencies and ensure powerful storytelling, creative products and media pitches that cut through the clutter.S/he will demonstrate the ability to envision development and sell in partnerships that use others’ platforms to bring honor, glory and financial support to our mission.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The position is based in Portland, Oregon. As much as 25 percent travel required in the US and abroad.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
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