The Refugee Education Center (REC) was started in 2006 by a group of Somali Bantu refugees who were persecuted and prohibited from receiving formal education in their home country. They recognized the incredible value and opportunity that education offers and organized and created REC to help support refugee children placed in West Michigan. Over the last 15+ years we have served 4,500+ refugees, a small portion of the estimated 25,000 who have been placed in West Michigan. Our mission is to support refugees on their journey to becoming fully participating members of our local community and building a thriving, multicultural region where all can succeed. We do this through offering birth to career launch services that support refugee children with early childhood development, K-12 school readiness and success, and secondary education or career path planning support.
We are seeking applicants for our Communication & Philanthropy Director role. REC has experienced significant growth in the last 3-5 years. As part of the leadership team, this individual will help the organization continue to build a strong foundation upon which future sustainable growth can allow for an expansion of services to additional refugees in West Michigan and beyond!
Interested candidates should apply at https://refugeeeducationcenter.org/careers
Summary:
The Communication + Philanthropy Director will lead the Communication and Philanthropy department, oversee all communications involving the organization, and manage fundraising efforts that will provide for the short and long term needs of organization. This position will work closely with the Executive Director and Leadership Team to determine the priorities and needs that best support the mission and vision of the Refugee Education Center.
Key Competencies:
Collaboration: When appropriate, actively seeks out and works effectively with peers and/or community partners to accomplish goals.
Ownership: participates in shared responsibilities for the benefit of REC organizational values, programs, and area space.
Client Focused: Seeks to understand the needs and goals of the client and works to meet those needs and goals rather than imposing one’s own goals.
Values Diversity: Practices identifying individuals with different cultural, educational, and communal perspectives in areas of hiring, program feedback, and program development as a benefit to both the organization and communal equity.
Builds Commitment: Gains trust of others by casting a compelling vision, setting clear expectations, giving timely feedback, and providing additional resources needed to meet expectations.
Strategic-Thinker: Translates a broad and executive team vision into specific goals and actions to take in the short and long term to make the vision a reality.
Community Collaboration: Actively seeks and maintains community partnerships that advance and support the work of the organization and meet the needs of refugee children and families outside of the scope of REC’s work.
Governance: Works closely with the board of directors to regularly evaluate all aspects of the organization to ensure the organization is staying true to its mission and values.
Job Duties
Revenue strategy:
• Responsible for creation and deployment of organizational revenue strategy
• Act as integral member of budget team
• Research new revenue opportunities, including individual donors, corporate partners, government and private grants
• Plan fundraising campaigns and events
Donor relations:
• Partner with Executive Director and Project Manager on stewardship of existing donors and grant funders
• Create and oversee the deployment of moves management strategy
• Create customized funding opportunities for the short- and long-term needs of REC
Communication:
• Strategize and produce content for REC’s digital media including website, blog, social media accounts
• Create communication strategies and content to engage the organization’s constituency
• Strategize and produce content for fundraising campaigns and solicitations
• Manage communication strategies for fundraising and stewardship
• Collaborate with Executive Director and HR Manager on internal communications strategies and deployment
• Assess and produce digital and print materials that support programs and promotion of REC
• Manage brand standards for consistency and effective communication
Advocacy/Awareness/Community Engagement:
• Manage REC’s involvement/presence at relevant cultural festivals, events, conferences
• Proactively find ways to engage the community to increase awareness of and engagement with the Refugee Education Center
• Collaborate with Executive Director on policy strategy
Media Relations:
• Manage all media relations on behalf of the organization
• Proactively seek out media engagement opportunities
• Grow awareness of the Refugee Education Center in the community and uphold a respected brand/organization in the community through media engagement
• Write and distribute press releases
• Interview with media personnel on behalf of the Refugee Education Center in collaboration with the Executive Director
Desired Qualifications:
• Bachelors degree in Communication, Public Relations, Nonprofit Administration, or related field
• Five years of experience in leading fundraising and/or marketing/communications for a nonprofit organization (highly preferred)
• Experience leading public relations strategy and working understanding of marketing strategy
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
Preferred Skills:
• Proficient in Office 365 Suite
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent management and supervisory skills
• Ability to work with leadership, employees, media, clients, and the community
• Ability to coordinate efforts of various teams in order to present a coherent message.
Physical Demand & Working Conditions:
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
EEO Statement:
The Refugee Education Center is an equal opportunity employer and thus values diversity at our organization. REC not only does not discriminate based on any characteristic protected by federal, state, and local laws including the following: race, religion, skin-color, sex, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetics, marital status, veteran status, or disability status but encourages those of diverse backgrounds to apply because we’re better together.
Job Title: Communication + Philanthropy Director FLSA Status: Full time, Exempt
Reports To: Executive Director Benefits Eligibility: Eligible
Supervisory Duties: Departmental Staff Compensation Range: $70, 000-$80,000