Job Description

Position Overview:

Reporting to the President & CEO and serving as an integral member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Vice President (VP) of Communications and Membership is responsible for designing and executing public relations, content, and strategies that create and build mutually beneficial relationships between the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), its members, and key stakeholders.

The position is responsible for promoting, expanding, enhancing, and protecting the organization’s brand, reputation, and identity. The VP will also focus on policy and mission-critical objectives that drive results internally and externally, with a keen eye to identifying new partnerships that attract and leverage resources to expand the capacity of the organization.

Communications and Member Engagement Strategy, Vision, and Leadership:

• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance CSWE’s brand identity, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities, and increase the visibility of its programs to key stakeholder audiences.
• Foster a diverse, interconnected, and inclusive community of social work educators committed to antiracist, anti-colonial, and anti-oppressive practice.
• Develop with strategies informed by internal and external research; create a marketing plan that will allow CSWE leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers.
• Cultivate relationships with members. Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization and its members. Work with the leadership team and staff members to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
• Build relationships with allied organizations and associations to ensure that CSWE understood as a leading organization in the higher education universe.
• Develop and implement plans for generating non-dues revenue in collaboration with CSWE leadership.
• Contribute to CSWE’s overall strategic planning with an eye to communications, marketing, brand awareness, and revenue generation.

Communications and Marketing Operations:

• Provide communications and marketing counsel to president/CEO and executive team.
• Serve as a spokesperson and point person for media interactions that help promote and/or that affect the organization.
• Exercise judgment to prioritize media opportunities; prepare talking points, speeches, press releases, presentations, and other supporting material as needed.
• Actively engage, cultivate, and manage press relationships to ensure coverage about CSWE’s programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.
• Conduct a national public service campaign that educates the public on the value and of social workers that highlights the importance of accredited social work education in preparing social workers for their practice.   
• Position social work educators as experts for timely media relations opportunities.
• Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications and marketing functions of CSWE, including budgeting, planning, and staff development.
• Oversee development and execution of all internal and external CSWE communications, including: the Annual Report; CSWE Compass e-newsletter; social media; and CSWE Web site content.
• Oversee an annual content calendar that organizes CSWE’s external and internal communications.
• Position CSWE Press as a leading publisher of social work education publications and resources. Serve as the collaborative coach for the Publications Manager to increase the number of publications, marketing, and communications programs around CSWE Press titles, and engage the Council on Publications to acquire and review titles.
• Manage the success of the Journal of Social Work Education by working collaboratively with the journal’s publisher and empowering staff to continuously improve the content, submission and review process, and awareness of the journal to achieve growth goals.
• Lead marketing campaigns and produce communications and collateral for the Annual Program Meeting. Empower staff to work across all CSWE departments to contribute to campaigns that engage presenters, increase registrations, and partner with CSWE’s events-focused staff to address communications and marketing needs.
• Lead and work collaboratively with president/CEO on outsourced government relations efforts as they relate to engaging with CSWE members, lawmakers, regulators, and the organization.

Membership Engagement: 

• Oversee Membership, including database management
• Demonstrate and communicate the value of CSWE membership to members.
• Create and manage surveys and research that provides feedback from members that help to refine communications and marketing tactics and improve engagement.
• Manage the growth of CSWE Spark and position the platform as a member resource for knowledge sharing, networking, and a place for Commissions and Councils to tackle their charges.
• Support Events and Education team to improve awareness of resources, grants, and events among the membership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, or communications; an advanced degree is highly preferred.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in a senior management role in marketing and communications with at least 5 years of experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories. Membership association experience is essential.
• Proven business development expertise to lead, drive, and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy related to an organization’s annual meeting, sponsorship program, and advertising sales revenue goals.
• Facility with typical marketing tools such as Google Analytics, Mail Chimp, and Survey Monkey.
• Extensive successful writing and editing experience with a variety of print and online communications media.
• Ability to be creative and thoughtful about the use of new media technologies.
• Capable of innovative thinking, with a proven track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output.
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Self-reliance and a results-oriented personality.
• Ability to listen, understand, and make decisions in a changing environment in anticipation of future needs that will continue to position the organization to be the nation’s expert on social work education.
• Proven excellence as a negotiator and persuasive communicator.
• Flexible, collaborative, and proactive team leadership; dedication to investing in the skills and well-being of the Communications and Marketing team members; proven ability to influence strategic and tactical financial and administrative initiatives positively and productively.
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, CSWE’s Board of Directors, and staff.
• Passion and commitment for CSWE’s mission.
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of diverse voices and perspectives.

Additional Information

This is an onsite position at our Alexandria, VA office, with the potential option for hybrid.

COMPENSATION

• The salary range for this position is commensurate with experience.
• CSWE offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, PTO, 403b retirement contributions, and more.

ADA SPECIFICATIONS

• This position is primarily sedentary and is performed in an office setting. The physical demands of this position are limited to the ability to lift up to 30 lbs., bend, stoop, and carry articles used in program activities. Ability to travel within the United States 2–3 times per year or as necessary to accomplish business objectives.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please submit a COVER LETTER AND YOUR RESUME OR CV by clicking the "I'm Interested" button on the job posting.