Marketing communications specialist Jobs in Chicago, IL

ANTI-CRUELTY JOB DESCRIPTION

The Director of Marketing & Communications is a visionary and strategic leader who will help shape the next era of Anti-Cruelty by elevating our visibility, strengthening our reputation, and expanding our impact across Chicago and beyond. This individual will lead integrated marketing, communications, public relations, and digital strategies that transform organizational priorities into compelling stories, campaigns, and experiences that inspire action and deepen engagement. As a senior leader and trusted thought partner, the Director will build strong relationships across the organization, lead a talented team, and bring creativity, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and operational excellence to a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. The Director will also explore innovative opportunities to grow Anti-Cruelty's audience, amplify thought leadership, and create new pathways for engagement.

Leadership & Organizational Culture: Foster a culture of shared commitment by effectively articulating the organization's mission, vision, and values and driving ownership at all levels.

• Provide strategic leadership for marketing, communications, public relations, and audience engagement efforts.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to Anti-Cruelty leadership.
• Embrace a whole-organization approach that prioritizes collaboration and collective success in pursuit of Anti-Cruelty's mission.
• Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, learning, and shared ownership.
• Contribute to a culture of Praise, Engagement, Trust, and Support (PETS).
• Lead with emotional intelligence, empathy, adaptability, resilience, and a growth mindset.
• Navigate competing priorities, differing perspectives, and sensitive issues with professionalism, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Represent Anti-Cruelty with credibility, enthusiasm, and professionalism.

Marketing & Communications Strategy

• Develop and execute an integrated marketing and communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities and long-term goals.
• Establish departmental objectives, annual work plans, performance measures, and budgets that support organizational success.
• Develop strategic marketing and communications plans for major programs, events, fundraising initiatives, adoption efforts, and other organizational priorities.
• Use audience insights, performance data, stakeholder feedback, and emerging trends to guide strategy and improve outcomes.
• Monitor and evaluate campaign performance and report progress toward goals.
• Balance long-term strategic planning with the ability to respond effectively to emerging needs and unexpected opportunities.

Brand, Storytelling & Digital Engagement

• Strengthen and protect brand identity, reputation, messaging, and public presence.
• Develop compelling, audience-centered messaging that communicates the organization's mission, impact, expertise, history, programs, and unique role within the community.
• Lead an integrated storytelling strategy across written, visual, digital, video, audio, print, and experiential platforms.
• Ensure organizational storytelling is ethical, accurate, inclusive, respectful, and aligned with Anti-Cruelty's mission and values.
• Oversee digital marketing, social media, website content, paid advertising, and other digital strategies to increase awareness, engagement, audience growth, and visibility.
• Identify opportunities to expand Anti-Cruelty's reach through emerging platforms, innovative content, and evolving audience behaviors.
• Oversee the development of organizational communications, including digital content, publications, social media, internal communications, reports, and special projects.

Media Relations & Public Influence

• Develop and lead proactive media relations strategies that strengthen visibility and position the organization as an animal welfare leader and historic Chicago institution.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, media outlets, editors, producers, influencers, content creators, and other communications stakeholders.
• Lead earned-media efforts, including story pitches, press releases, media advisories, interviews, media events, opinion editorials, and other public relations initiatives.
• Serve as the organization's primary media spokesperson and prepare organizational leaders and subject-matter experts for media and public-facing opportunities.
• Provide timely, thoughtful, and strategic responses to inquiries and emerging issues.
• Develop and maintain communications strategies and protocols that support effective crisis management and reputation protection.
• Identify opportunities to position Anti-Cruelty and its leaders as trusted voices on animal welfare, community wellness, and related local issues.

Innovation & Organizational Growth

• Identify and evaluate innovative opportunities to expand Anti-Cruelty's audience, influence, public engagement, and mission impact.
• Explore the development and launch of an Anti-Cruelty media studio or other mission-aligned media initiatives.
• Develop recommendations regarding audience opportunities, content strategy, production needs, partnerships, distribution, sustainability, and potential revenue generation.
• Stay informed about emerging communications technologies, digital media trends, audience behaviors, and innovative approaches to storytelling and engagement.
• Apply innovation strategically and responsibly in alignment with Anti-Cruelty's mission, values, capacity, and long-term priorities.

Management & Collaboration

• Partner with organizational leaders and departments to develop integrated
• Develop clear project plans, establish priorities, manage expectations, and facilitate productive solutions when departmental needs or perspectives differ.
• Manage multiple projects and competing demands while maintaining clear timelines, accountability, quality standards, and effective communication.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a high-performing team.
• Establish clear expectations, priorities, workflows, and performance measures.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, recognition, and development opportunities.
• Develop efficient systems for planning, project management, content development, review, approval, and execution.
• Manage the departmental budget and ensure responsible stewardship of resources.
• Oversee relationships with agencies, consultants, media partners, and other vendors.
• Provide regular updates to the Vice President of Community Engagement regarding departmental priorities, performance, opportunities, risks, and team development.
• Attend and present at staff, leadership, Board, and committee meetings as requested.

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and support for Anti-Cruelty events, initiatives, and offsite activities.
• Represent Anti-Cruelty at community events, meetings, conferences, and engagements.
• Participate in organizational committees and special projects.
• Safely handle and interact with animals across the organization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge & Skills

Keys to Success

• Commitment to Anti-Cruelty's mission and vision.
• Strategic expertise in marketing, communications, PR, brand development, and digital engagement with the ability to translate bold ideas into measurable results.
• Exceptional leadership, relationship-building, storytelling, and public-speaking skills, with the presence and credibility to inspire diverse audiences.
• High emotional intelligence, adaptability, resilience, sound judgment, and a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach.
• Ability to build trust across departments, navigate competing priorities and differing perspectives, and lead with empathy and professionalism in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong team leadership, project management, prioritization, and execution skills, with the ability to balance long-term vision and hands-on implementation.
• Experience using data, audience insights, and emerging trends to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and strengthen marketing and communications outcomes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, cloud-based collaboration tools, digital marketing and analytics platforms, social media management tools, and WordPress or similar content-management systems. Experience with Cision or comparable media-monitoring platforms preferred.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, media, business, nonprofit management, or a related field; advanced degree preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Eight to ten years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, public relations, media, brand management, digital strategy, or a related field.
• At least five years of experience leading and developing high-performing teams, staff, volunteers, consultants, agencies, or cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated marketing and communications strategies that elevate visibility, strengthen reputation, and inspire engagement.
• Experience serving as a media spokesperson and leading complex, multi-channel campaigns, budgets, vendors, and external partnerships.
• Experience within a nonprofit, mission-driven, organization strongly preferred. Animal welfare experience is a plus.
• Experience launching innovative media initiatives, content platforms, audience-growth