Chief Communications Officer

The Chattanooga Area Food Bank (CAFB) is seeking a dynamic, team-oriented individual to join our dedicated team, build relationships, and create and execute a comprehensive communications, advocacy, and grants strategy. Serving twenty counties with two locations in Chattanooga and one in Dalton, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank’s mission is to lead a network of partners and unite the community to eliminate hunger by feeding, nourishing, and empowering those we serve.

Job Description:

The Chief Communications Officer, in partnership with the executive team at the food bank, will provide leadership and strategic vision to the organization in all areas associated with government relations, advocacy, storytelling, communications, and grant-writing. The Chief Communications Officer (CCO) will lead the development and implementation of all external communications strategies, ensuring alignment with the company's vision, mission, and strategic goals. This role develops and executes grant application and compliance, public and government relations, and advocacy strategies to increase public passion to end hunger.

The Chief Communications Officer oversees a team of two that is responsible for communications, grants management and creative design.

Job Responsibilities Include:

Communications & Community Relations

· Execute comprehensive communication strategies that support the organization's goals

· Oversee the development and maintenance of the branding guidelines, ensuring consistent messaging across all platforms

· Supervise the creation of high-quality content for various channels, including websites, social media, and communications materials

· Ensure consistency on all written materials and branding for policy programs and events, draft programming content, presentations, and website content for internal and external audiences

· Develop talking points and strategic messaging frameworks for staff and board for an aligned organizational voice

· Manage relationships with media outlets, including press releases and media inquiries

Advocacy, Government & Public Relations

· Systematically build relationships with members of the local government entities and the states’ congressional delegation and legislators

· Execute advocacy strategies to support the Food Bank’s immediate priorities and long-term local and state-level public policy and funding goals

· Plan and collaborate in statewide advocacy and policy across Tennessee & Georgia

· Manage public support: grants, appropriations, relationships, and opportunities

· Build multi-year plans to increase local, state and federal advocacy activities; recruit and mobilize grass tops advocates

· In concert with the President & CEO, build and maintain relationships with local, state and national partners and coalitions to further the CAFB’s public policy priorities

· Plan, manage, coordinate and participate in legislative visits and committee hearings (local, state, and federal)

Grants

· Supervise, contribute to and direct the Chattanooga Area Food Bank grants program

Leadership

· Collaborative servant leader who can hire, supervise, and develop high-performing team members to advance the mission, while fostering a positive organizational culture

· Demonstrates purpose-driven leadership by engaging and developing others to create trust and fosters high performance

· Recognizes and is responsive to the needs of the organization, including the staff, the Board of Directors, and other key stakeholders

· Demonstrates a strong business acumen that is complemented by integrity, courage and professionalism

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree; At least 5-7 years of leadership experience
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills for a variety of audiences
• Demonstrated success within advocacy, public policy and public relations environments

· Demonstrated success building strong partnerships and implementing innovative ideas to advance the food bank’s policy priorities

• Strong working knowledge of advocacy & public policy and an ability to establish and maintain relationships that ultimately benefit the Food Bank

· Strong understanding of food insecurity and hunger-relief programs, especially as it relates to age, demographic, geographical location, race, socio-economic status, etc.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders

Salary Range - $75,000 to $85,000 based on experience.

This position requires some travel, as well as occasional work outside of standard business hours. It is an in-office position located at our main facility in Chattanooga.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Cover letter required. Resume without a Cover letter will be rejected.

Work Location: In person