Communications Officer

About the Wallace Foundation
The Wallace Foundation, an independent research foundation based in New York City, traces its origins back more than half a century to DeWitt and Lila Acheson Wallace, founders of The Reader’s Digest Association. Our work is grounded in our mission to help all communities build a more vibrant and just future by fostering advances in the arts, education leadership, and youth development. A set of core values guide how Wallace staff work together and with our partners. The foundation strives to do excellent work in service to and with others. Together, we aspire to create an engaging and inclusive work environment based on mutual trust and respect, and driven by equity, diversity, transparency, collaboration, and continuous learning. 

Philanthropic Approach
The foundation has an unusual strategic approach, which is reflected in the way it centers learning in developing its  strategies and designing its initiatives. We begin by attempting to understand the context of the  fields in which we work to identify an important unanswered question to address. We then  simultaneously fund programmatic work in the field by grantees (supported by technical  assistance and peer learning communities) and research that studies the process and results of  their efforts to answer the question. The aim is to generate improvements and insights that can  benefit both the people served by the grant recipients and the field. The public reports emanating from this work are the basis for our overall foundation communications strategy of catalyzing broad impact by serving as a knowledge hub for credible, useful lessons to be disseminated to key audiences of practitioners, policymakers, and influencers. 

Interdisciplinary Team Structure 
The Wallace Approach is carried out in an interdisciplinary team-based structure with three  disciplines: program, communications, and research. We seek employees who are highly skilled in  their professions, able to work collaboratively across disciplines to capture the synergy of diverse  experience and ways of thinking, think analytically, and clearly communicate the rationale for  recommendations. We value the flexibility to adapt to change, a desire to learn, and the ability to  work productively both on one’s own and with colleagues inside and outside the foundation. 

For more information on The Wallace Foundation and to see examples of our work, please visit   http://www.wallacefoundation.org.

The Opportunity
The Communications Officer is a key contributor to the success of the foundation’s approach and  therefore expected to acquire deep knowledge of lessons learned from our initiatives in their  focus area. They will provide substantive expertise and experience in communications to the  interdisciplinary team’s work on strategy design, refinement and implementation; lead the writing  and distillation of key messages; and support sharing of knowledge through four primary channels:  direct dissemination through our Website, conference presentations and speeches; dissemination  in partnership with external membership and issue organizations; underwriting of coverage in  non-profit trade and general media; and social media. 

Reporting to the Vice President of Communications, the Communications Officer will support the  work in Education Leadership serving on the program’s interdisciplinary team that designs and implements the initiatives through which the foundation does its philanthropic work. 

Responsibilities
Communications Strategy

• Develops communication strategy at the initiative level (in alignment with our overall  foundation communication strategy and guiding principles); and does so within an  interdisciplinary approach in collaboration with the Vice President, interdisciplinary team,  and others. 
• As part of the interdisciplinary team, collaborates with colleagues from research and  program to develop and disseminate consistent, clear, and effective messaging in support  of the evidence-based research Wallace supports. 
• Ensures strategies build on the foundation’s evidence base and sustain its reputation for  credibility, and employ best practices in communications, both Wallace’s and field-wide, to  reach key audiences and contribute to nationwide impact most effectively. 
• Participates in collaborative editorial review of draft research reports and knowledge  products to ensure the final version reflects the interdisciplinary perspective to “say more  only as we know more,” and is respectful of the grantees whose work is presented in the  report. 
• Collaborates, edits and writes Wallace developed products including publications, web  content including social media, videos, podcast scripts, talking points, meetings briefs and  more. 
• Contributes to the writing, distillation and synthesis of key messages used to prepare  Wallace staff, Communications Partners and/or grantees for meetings, speaking  engagements and media interviews, and as the basis for encouraging awareness and  understanding of the foundation’s mission, strategies and initiatives leading to action  among targeted audiences.
• Develops innovative ideas for Wallace-generated content to help distill insights and  encourage broad consideration and adoption of Wallace’s viewpoints among key  audiences. 
• Cultivates relationships and participates in external networks including but not limited to communications-specific professional associations, initiative-specific convenings and funder collaborations.

Grants/Contracts/Partnerships Management

• Ensures that the funded work of our initiatives reflects Wallace’s “dual goals:” benefits for  our partners and those they serve, and benefits for the broader field through developing  and sharing knowledge. 
• Manages the work of public relations firms, grantees, communications partners, and media  sponsorships to advance the overall goals of the initiative.
• Fulfills stewardship responsibilities: (i) ensures grantee budgets reflect the scope and deliverables to support the initiative goals, monitor spending, and review financial reports to inform future funding; and (ii) maintains an up-to-date record of the grants, including report reviews and feedback, conversations with grantees, and budget discussions to ensure the integrity of the foundation’s grants database. 

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in a strategic communications, public affairs, journalism, public  relations, or policy communications role, with at least five years of that time spent  managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders; experience can be in the  nonprofit, for-profit or government sector. Strong preference for candidates with  communications experience supporting the field education.  Preference for district level experience and/or deep policy related experience. 
• Proven commitment to and enthusiasm for an evidence-based approach in  communications and writing about research. 
• Experience in communicating about issues of equity while engaging with stakeholders  across the political spectrum. 
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing strategic communications plans,  preferably in the education field and aimed at encouraging the spread of ideas or changing behaviors.
• Experience developing and overseeing report releases, briefings, webinars, workshops and other tactical communications efforts.
• Capacity to work productively and contribute in an interdisciplinary team structure.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills to identify issues and solve problems when working  with colleagues. 
• Demonstrated capacity to build relationships with and among external parties such as  grantees, vendors, and organizations with whom we partner.
• Exceptional project management skills and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent conceptual and analytical thinking skills.
• Outstanding communication skills: listening, writing, speaking.
• Deep appreciation for the foundation’s mission and a passion for bringing about positive  change.  
• An undergraduate degree is required, certificate of further study or advanced degree is a plus.

Compensation, Benefits and Work Schedule
The salary for this position is $186,405.

A snapshot of our generous benefits package includes a choice of health insurance plans and a  healthcare reimbursement account, a new stand-alone mental health benefit, 403(b) retirement  plan with 15% employer contribution upon eligibility, and a community service matching gifts  program recognizing employee volunteer hours with a financial contribution to a qualifying non profit organization. 

The foundation’s regular in-person schedule is Tuesday-Thursday with the flexibility to work  remotely on Monday and Friday. 

Contact
Chaloner Associates, a search firm that specializes in placing communications talent through  inclusive search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Interested and qualified  candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Amy Segelin (amy@chaloner.com or apply online at www.chaloner.com).

The Wallace Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to maintaining a diverse  workplace where differing perspectives are a source of strength.