Marketing and Executive Relations Manager

Transcription

1 Marketing and Executive Relations Manager Defy Ventures seeks a strategic, exceptionally organized, and creative Marketing and Executive Relations Manager with solid execution skills. Working closely with the CEO, development team, and COO, this person will learn Defy s business inside- out and will play a key role in scaling Defy nationally. Although Defy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we pride ourselves in our application of corporate best practices and operate as a lean, results- oriented, fast- paced start- up, with leadership that emerged from for- profit backgrounds. In fulfilling our mission of equipping entrepreneurs, we work extensively with top corporate executives and investors, and the Marketing and Executive Relations Manager will participate in cultivating these relationships. We therefore have found that our most successful employees come from for- profit backgrounds. This high- impact opportunity is perfectly suited for someone who is looking for a career shift from the corporate world. About Defy Ventures The mission of Defy Ventures is to transform the lives of business leaders and people with criminal histories through their collaboration along the entrepreneurial journey. Defy harnesses the natural talents of formerly incarcerated individuals and redirects them toward the creation of profitable and legal business ventures. Defy offers a suite of services that includes: intensive personal and leadership development; competition- based entrepreneurship training; executive mentoring; financial investment; and business incubation. Our signature program engages entrepreneurs- in- training (EITs) in a series of business plan competitions that are judged by panels of corporate leaders and award up to $50,000 in investment funds and up to $100,000 in debt financing to winning ventures. By engaging top corporate executives, investors and entrepreneurs nationally, Defy catalyzes broad scale personal and economic opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, and shatters perceptions of one of the most stigmatized and overlooked populations in America. Catherine Rohr, Founder and CEO, modeled the program on the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), Defy s predecessor organization in Texas which she founded after a six- year career in venture capital and private equity. PEP is a nationally- acclaimed nonprofit that grew statewide in Texas and created 500 success stories. PEP graduates launched 60 businesses. In stark contrast to the 50%+ national recidivism rate, less than 5% of PEP grads returned to prison. Founded in 2010, Defy Ventures provides a replicable solution to the outrageously expensive problems of incarceration and recidivism in the United States. With more than $2.5 million in funding from executives and foundations, 8,000 executive volunteer hours and 40+ start- up

2 businesses launched by Defy graduates, Defy is well on its way to achieving its vision of equipping formerly incarcerated men and women to defy the odds. Available Position: Marketing and Executive Relations Manager The Marketing and Executive Relations Manager will provide the Founder and CEO with strategy development and execution support for Defy s marketing, communications, and executive relations initiatives. This position will be an excellent match a people- oriented, self- starter with an entrepreneurial spirit who has great passion for operational excellence and desires to use his/her skills to impact people s lives. The successful candidate must have impeccable time management skills, fluency with social media, and a proven ability to generate support for an organization through effective, creative messaging. Working closely with the CEO and her Executive Assistant, the individual must be able to effectively manage projects, hold him/herself and others accountable to priorities and deadlines, and produce results in an established timeframe. The individual must excel at implementation and process improvement to meet the high expectations of Defy and our constituents. Responsibilities Marketing and Communications With the CEO and Director of Business Development, create a marketing and communications strategy for the entire organization, including key messaging/branding and an annual calendar of activities and projects (e.g., mass s, newsletters, website, blog posts, social media activity, etc.) Create written materials and presentations for the CEO and for the organization as a whole, including s, letters, blog posts, fundraising appeals, speeches, presentations, and social media posts Work closely with entire organizational team to ensure that Defy and CEO have consistent, congruent messaging Manage the roll- out of Defy s new website Create and manage communications campaigns and other special marketing projects Public Relations Research and evaluate incoming media opportunities and present to marketing team and CEO; track and manage all PR activity When media requests interviews with Defy staff and constituents, provide coaching to constituents as necessary Conduct fact- checking with media after interviews to ensure accuracy Create press releases announcing major news and events

3 Executive Relations Communicate with executive stakeholders, including extensive contact with partners, donors and volunteers, ensuring a high level of finesse, diplomacy and professionalism; work with CEO to determine priorities Manage/triage CEO s with key stakeholders, determining which need a personal response from the CEO and which need to be handed over to other staff (e.g., logistical s to the Executive Assistant, program- related s to program staff, etc.); respond to selected executive relations s on behalf of the CEO Follow up on constituents interest in a timely manner; ensure that interest is turned into action (e.g., introductions to other donors, events, volunteer activity, etc.) Assist with the planning of fundraising events with CEO and other development staff and volunteers Collaborate with Executive Assistant to ensure CEO is prepared for meetings and speaking engagements by setting agendas, researching prospects, preparing materials (e.g., PowerPoint presentations, media packets), and helping to create the ask Accompany CEO to selected meetings and on some travel, particularly to speaking engagements and other key events, to conduct on- site follow up and develop relationships with constituents Research prospective partners and reach out to key influencers to provide introductions to Defy s CEO; coordinate follow up About You Required Experience: Minimum of two to three years of corporate experience in marketing, sales management, finance, research, investment banking, project management, external communications, or similar field/role Bachelor s degree (with preference for degrees in marketing, business, journalism, or psychology) Required Skills and Strengths Exceptionally strong written communication skills Demonstrated ability to produce effective communications that use a bold, thoughtful voice that is driven by innovation and strategy Ability to learn to articulate effectively, intelligently, credibly and passionately the Defy story Strong verbal communications skills, with a professional demeanor and the ability to interact successfully with a wide range of individuals Broad and deep familiarity with social media and experience maximizing social media sites as an effective marketing tool Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategy for an organization and execute reliably Ability to involve key stakeholders as loyal partners

4 Ability to be authoritative: must be able to steer the CEO, staff, and constituents in the right direction, prioritize and maximize time to deliver the most effective communications to Defy stakeholders and the broader public Internal fire that drives achievement; competitiveness, goal- orientation and love of working in a fast- paced entrepreneurial environment where top performers are highly rewarded Highly industrious with a strong work ethic; sense of urgency/impatience for action; ability to prioritize Familiarity with databases/contact management systems and proficiency with Microsoft Office applications Ability to take criticism constructively Integrity and humility that encourages and inspires staff and constituents; strong sense of judgment Other Position Information Generous nonprofit salary and performance- based bonuses but please note that, as a nonprofit, we are generally unable to compete with for- profit compensation Limited travel (approximately 20%) is required Comprehensive health insurance is included Application Instructions To apply, please the following as one PDF file to Annalisa Ortiz, Executive Assistant, at Annalisa@defyventures.org. Please indicate that you re applying for the Marketing and Executive Relations Manager in the subject line. Résumé Optional but recommended: Cover letter Business writing sample (no more than three pages; ideally a short, persuasive letter used in real business correspondence) No phone calls, please. Although there is no application deadline for this position, applications will be reviewed immediately and first- round interviews are expected to begin the week of June 10 th. For more information on Defy Ventures, please refer to: Defy Speaks at Big Omaha; rohr- helps- former- felons- defy- odds- start- businesses New York Times Inc. Magazine Forbes The Wall Street Journal

5 Harvard Business Review Forbes.com (second article in Forbes) (in process of being updated)