About Community Solutions
Community Solutions is a non-profit organization that works to achieve a lasting end to homelessness that leaves no one behind. We envision a more equitable future where homelessness is never inevitable or a way of life, for anyone. Since 2015, we have led Built for Zero, a movement of more than 140 cities and counties using data to radically change how they work and the impact they can achieve — and proving that it is possible to make homelessness rare and brief. Nearly half of those communities have reduced homelessness in their communities, and 13 of those communities have ended veteran or chronic homelessness. In order to help communities equitably and sustainably end homelessness, we are also working to identify solutions that can address gaps in housing, disrupt inflow into homelessness, and produce more racially equitable systems.
Community Solutions seeks leaders at every level: extraordinary, mission-oriented people not satisfied with the status quo. We are a team of values driven innovators motivated by results. We eagerly seek and support diverse applicants. We provide generous benefits and opportunities for inspiring and transformational professional growth. We pride ourselves in developing an inclusive workplace culture that encourages staff to bring their whole selves to work every day.
Job Overview:
The Digital Strategy & Content Director is responsible for the online identity, brand, voice, and strategy for Community Solutions and holds the primary responsibility for the oversight of website layout, functionality, and appearance, collaborating with designers and developers to adhere to standards and user needs. This role prioritizes work to support Community Solutions mission to create a lasting end to homelessness that leaves no one behind. This position ensures:
- Community Solutions produces high quality digital content for target audiences to produce consistent experiences throughout the visitor journey across all channels
- The public recognizes and understands the brand, vision, work, and key messages of Community Solutions and Built for Zero methodology
- Communities are equipped with online resources and toolkits to support their efforts to reduce and end homelessness
- Community Solutions works with partners to produce quality communications that advance our shared aims
- Community Solutions is vigilant in its pursuit of excellence in all our online platforms
Defining Success for this Position:
- The Digital Strategy & Content Director will ensure seamless navigation, engaging interfaces, and brand consistency on Community Solutions websites.
- They will oversee accessibility, performance monitoring, security implementation and innovation while optimizing user experiences and achieving organizational goals, utilizing best practices in writing for the web to achieve high ranking SEO results.
- As keeper of the brand, the Digital Strategy & Content Director will ensure design needs are met for all Community Solutions initiatives, providing guidance across all platforms, and managing key projects and relationships with both internal and external partners.
- They will advance the Community Solution’s brand and any sub-brands and participate actively in crafting the editorial line and carrying the organization’s messaging across online channels.
- This person should have a strong work ethic, a commitment to solving social issues, and an understanding of narrative change and story telling.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
o Develop web strategy and oversee digital channels
- Maintain technical oversight of all Community Solutions-affiliated websites and partner-owned platforms with vendor oversight; manage social media, email templates, and other online assets utilized by staff or external vendors
- Leverage a user-centric design to shape a variety of online audiences’ understanding of the solvability of homelessness
- Maintain and enhance the voice of the organization’s online presence and ensure all copy complies with organizational standards, particularly sensitivities around stories of people with lived experience
- Develop and regularly assess digital content strategy
- Work with subject matter experts to develop timely, engaging and brand-aligned content to achieve SEO goals
- Help define workflows, inform content model and unify content operations across the organization for more efficient content creation and distribution
- Regularly analyze website traffic patterns and user engagement metrics and implement changes based on analytics
- Ensure compliance with law (e.g. copyright and data protection)
o Protect and strengthen the Community Solutions brand
- Work with a range of stakeholders to guide the digital execution and iteration of multi-year, movement-building campaigns
- Protect organizational identity by ensuring all materials incorporate approved branding and all reusable communications assets (eg. logos, graphics, templates, style guides, and others) are efficient, organized and accessible to partners and communities
- Manage relationships with web and graphic designers to ensure effectiveness of communications across digital channels
- Provide creative strategy and manage outside vendors on collateral production including illustration work, animated videos, cross-media brand activations, fundraising campaigns, annual reports, event marketing, presentations, and others
- Create a web repository that serves as a go-to public resource for trusted data around homelessness for decision makers, elected officials, influencers and the public
o Support narrative-building efforts around the national and large city campaign work, prioritizing the creation and implementation of digital communications
- Assist Principal in leading efforts in large city work and help manage local resources and relationships; translate and share open access resources online where possible
- Support work with agency partners in priority cities (polling and research, message testing, collecting) and sharing results and lessons learned
- Help integrate city campaign work into national story telling in order to achieve narrative change
o Full Team Member
- As a member of the Strategic Communications team, this position is expected to problem solve collaboratively and to develop and share ideas in meetings. This involves playing past one’s position— a key attribute of working at Community Solutions.
Qualifications, Education, and/or Experience
- A bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Design or equivalent training
- A minimum of eight years of managerial experience overseeing web content strategy and management, digital communications channels, e-newsletters, and creative design.
- The Digital Strategy & Content Director requires experience in achieving communications goals through web and digital channels and strong brand management expertise.
- They provide leadership over the CS digital footprint, managing all web and online assets and channels.
- The Digital Strategy & Content Director has understanding of website best practices, html, backend web development and enhanced user experience as well as experience managing creative production projects and timelines.
- The position should also have expertise in writing/editing for the web in order to achieve high level SEO.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position reports to the Principal, Strategic Partnerships, and functions as a day-to-day member of the Strategic Communications team. The Digital Strategy & Content Director is responsible for the oversight and supervision of multiple contractors (developers, illustrators, photographers, animators, printers) and interns as needed on a variety of projects. This position may also manage communications employees as needed.
Software/Apps Used
- Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign and Photoshop
- Google Suite and Google Analytics
- Microsoft Suite
- Asana, Slack
- Wordpress, Campaign Monitor, etc
Salary Range:
CS offers competitive salaries and benefits packages for every position. The salary range for this position is between $101,380-$131,794. The actual salary is commensurate with the candidate's experience.
Work Environment:
This position can be located anywhere within a reasonable travel distance of partnership locations. Community Solutions neighborhood partnerships are presently located in New York City, Hartford, and Washington DC. Community Solutions has office space available for use in New York City. The position provides for the flexibility to work from a remote location without the standard support available at an office.
Travel Requirements:
Travel may be required to attend semi-annual team retreats, community visits, and other on-site training or convenings. Additional travel may be needed and will be negotiated on an individual basis pending availability.
Diversity and Inclusion:
We strive for inclusivity and diversity by attracting extraordinary people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. We seek to employ an all-star team of people who vary by their race and ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, age, culture, religion, veteran status, physical and mental abilities. We promote equal opportunity in the recruitment, selection, training, compensation, promotion, and benefits of all employees. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate:
COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all Community Solutions staff—full-time, part-time, and contracted. Vaccination documentation must be provided to Community Solutions. Vaccination information is completely confidential between the staff member and HR.