Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

# **About Cradles to Crayons**

Cradles to Crayons (C2C), founded in 2002, provides children living in homeless or low‑income situations with the essential items they need to thrive—at home, at school, and at play. We supply clothing, shoes, diapers, school supplies, and more, free of charge. Our vision is that one day all children will have the essentials they need to thrive.

Two in five kids in the United States are currently facing Clothing Insecurity, going without basic essentials like pants, shoes, diapers, and school supplies during their critical development years. Three of the top ten reasons kids miss school are rooted in Clothing Insecurity—just one example of the significant short‑ and long‑term social and economic costs when these needs go unmet.

Cradles to Crayons keeps Clothing Insecurity at the core of our mission and is the only large‑scale nonprofit organization to focus on this resource gap. Since its founding, Cradles to Crayons has distributed more than four million customized packages of essentials to children in Massachusetts, Greater Philadelphia, Chicagoland, and nationally.

Cradles to Crayons takes a two‑pronged approach to mitigating Clothing Insecurity:

– **In‑person Engagement** — through tens of thousands of children and adults volunteering at our Giving Factory warehouses to sort and package high volumes of new and like‑new donations from our communities for our Service Partners to distribute to the children they serve.
– **Advocacy and Awareness** — raising Clothing Insecurity as a national issue through awareness campaigns, data/evaluation, and legislative outreach.

Cradles to Crayons’ strong financial health and ongoing effectiveness have helped it earn a Four‑Star rating from Charity Navigator since 2009. C2C has a budget of $20M for FY26 and a staff of approximately 100.

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# **Position Overview**

This position has a flexible base location within any of our three Giving Factory markets—Greater Boston, Chicagoland, or Philadelphia. This role is primarily remote but is expected to be in‑person in one of our Giving Factories at least one day per week.

The **Senior Director of Marketing & Communications (SDMC)** is a critical member of the National Team, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer. The SDMC is a data‑driven, results‑oriented leader who oversees the strategy, implementation, and management of Cradles to Crayons’ marketing, public relations, and communications. This position serves as a lead strategist, steward, and champion for advancing C2C’s mission and brand.

This leader will join the organization following our strategic planning process and will be essential in leading the mindset shift to nationally aligned, locally relevant execution, along with the associated change‑management work. The SDMC will create the national‑to‑local marketing and communications architecture, building and leading the shared‑service model across markets, including developing and managing partnership agreements that enable efficient, aligned delivery at scale.

All Cradles to Crayons team members contribute to a culture of shared mission by participating in one volunteer shift per month.

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# **Marketing Responsibilities**

The SDMC will develop and execute comprehensive marketing plans that advance Cradles to Crayons’ goals in mission delivery, vision fulfillment, thought leadership, and growth.

Marketing functions include strategic brand placement, strategic partnerships, interactive media marketing, key constituency engagement, national sponsorship campaign support, fundraising support, and market research/trend analysis.

This role sits at the intersection of shaping a national future view and overseeing local marketing needs.

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# **Communications Responsibilities**

The SDMC will oversee all communications functions, including public relations, media relations, and both external and internal communications.

Key responsibilities include:

– Developing and managing an annual executive communications calendar, in partnership with the Chief of Staff, coordinating stakeholder engagement, platform strategy, and content across multiple channels (quarterly newsletters, LinkedIn, social media, media opportunities, PR placements, conference engagements).
– Partnering with the Chief of Staff to draft and edit all‑staff communications, ensuring alignment between internal and external messaging.
– Developing and managing frameworks for crisis communications, responses to external events, and messaging during major organizational change.
– Crafting brand positioning and thought‑leadership papers.

The SDMC must be both a strategist and a practical implementer, with experience across multiple channels, online and offline marketing, partnerships, and events. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential.

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# **Major Responsibilities**

– Modeling and leading a positive “One Cradles” culture.
– Leading the shift to nationally aligned, locally relevant execution and associated change management.
– Building and leading the shared‑service model across markets, including partnership agreements for aligned marketing and communications delivery at scale.
– Creating national‑to‑local marketing and communications architecture with milestones and goals.
– Supporting the CEO, VP of Philanthropy, and Senior Executive Team in strategic goal development and implementation.
– Building strong relationships across the organization to stay current on programs and infuse marketing awareness into the work.
– Developing and executing comprehensive marketing plans that advance mission delivery and growth.
– Overseeing planning, development, and implementation of all marketing functions including digital content, website, email marketing, collateral, and advertising.
– Leading strategic brand placement, partnerships, national sponsorship support, and fundraising support.
– Collaborating with the VP of Philanthropy on an annual communications calendar for financial stakeholders.
– Conducting market research and trend analysis.
– Measuring, tracking, analyzing, and communicating marketing results.
– Ensuring brand identity and messaging are infused across organizational efforts.
– Developing and managing the annual executive communications calendar.
– Drafting and editing all‑staff communications in partnership with the Chief of Staff.
– Developing crisis‑communications frameworks.
– Overseeing public relations, media relations, and all external communications.
– Serving as lead writer and editor for internal and external communications.
– Developing organization‑wide messaging and program‑specific campaigns.
– Crafting brand positioning and thought‑leadership papers.
– Managing a team of five, setting goals, and conducting performance reviews.
– Overseeing daily Marketing Department activities including budgeting, planning, and staff development.
– Promoting a culture of entrepreneurship, high performance, and continuous improvement.
– Maintaining strong relationships with internal and external partners, including board‑level contacts.

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# **Required Experience / Knowledge / Skills / Abilities**

– Passion for Cradles to Crayons’ mission.
– 15+ years of progressively responsible marketing experience across multiple facets.
– BA or higher in marketing, public relations, or related field.
– Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
– Experience overseeing design and production of email and print materials, website management, digital/social content, and public relations.
– Experience building or working in lean, nimble marketing teams.
– Strong budgeting and cost‑management skills.
– Ability to work independently while managing multiple projects.
– Demonstrated skills in designing and executing marketing and communications activities.
– High competence in Google Analytics and other performance tools.
– Excellent collaboration and stakeholder‑engagement skills.
– Strong listening and persuasive public‑speaking skills.
– Experience mentoring and coaching marketing teams.
– Excellent judgment, creative problem‑solving, negotiation, and conflict‑resolution skills.
– Experience working with media outlets and crisis communications.
– Demonstrated leadership in strategic thinking and managing comprehensive communications programs.
– Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, marketing automation platforms, Salesforce or other CRM, WordPress or other CMS, social media, analytics tools, and app technologies.
– Strong analytic and reporting skills.

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# **Compensation and Benefits**

Estimated salary range: **$120,000–$135,000**, based on geographic labor market.

Compensation may vary based on experience, education, and skill level.

Benefits include:

– Medical, dental, vision, and HRA
– Monthly cell phone and internet stipend
– Employer‑sponsored disability and life insurance
– Retirement plan matching
– Annual professional development stipend

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# **Diversity Is Our Strength**

Cradles to Crayons is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

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# **Working Conditions**

Remote work environment with occasional visits to Giving Factories. No hazardous conditions.

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# **Accommodation**

Reasonable accommodations may be made under the ADA unless they pose health/safety risks or undue hardship.

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# **To Apply**

Submit a resume at:
[https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/what-we-do/careers/]