Vice President Startup Communications Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

The Vice President, Communications serves as the operational leader of OFN's communications function, ensuring communications strategies are translated into high-quality execution that advances OFN's mission and elevates the visibility of the CDFI industry.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications, the VP oversees communications operations, manages staff and external partners, leads cross-functional communications initiatives, and produces communications across multiple platforms. This role combines strategic execution with hands-on production, requiring expertise in communications technology, workflow management, executive communications, media relations, and digital communications.

The Vice President works closely with leaders across OFN to ensure communications are timely, accurate, measurable, and aligned with organizational priorities while supporting policymakers, members, investors, media, and other key stakeholders.

OFN is the nation's leading investment intermediary and network CDFIs serving rural, urban, and Native communities across the United States. With over $1 billion in total assets under management, OFN manages a national membership network of over 490 mission-driven lenders and CDFIs, including community development loan funds, credit unions, green banks, community development banks, minority depository institutions, and venture capital funds. OFN is a trusted investment partner to the public, private, and philanthropic sectors - foundations, corporations, banks, government agencies, and others. For more than 40 years, our team has helped partners invest in communities to catalyze change and create economic opportunities for people and places traditional finance doesn't reach.

To learn more, visit www.ofn.org

People who work at OFN come from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds. If you have:

• Passion for the mission and true believer in our core purpose.
• Courage to be a fearless advocate who is confident and resilient in our fight to drive capital into low-income communities.
• Smart, quick seekers of knowledge who thrive on creating and developing new strategies, products, and programs for increasing capital to communities we serve.
• Desire to be a collaborative team player who possesses humility and a willingness to lean in all areas of our work.

Come be a part of our growing diverse, highly committed, skilled, and collaborative staff. At OFN, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply nonetheless. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

This position is based in Washington, D.C. All staff currently work a hybrid schedule. 

Strategic Communications Leadership 

• Partner with SVP to co-lead OFN's strategic communications agenda, aligning with organizational priorities. 
• Lead the day-to-day operations of OFN's communications function, ensuring timely, high-quality execution of communications initiatives that support organizational priorities.
• Develop and manage the communications editorial calendar, workplan, and project management processes, including workflow oversight, quality assurance, and service-level expectations.
• Manage and optimize OFN's communications technology ecosystem, including CMS platforms, email marketing, media monitoring, analytics, CRM systems, AI-enabled tools, and event communications platforms.

Delivery Management & Operational Excellence 

• Produce and oversee communications across multiple platforms, including web content, email campaigns, media materials, social media, executive communications, and digital publications.
• Translate organizational communications strategies into actionable campaigns and deliverables, partnering with the Senior Vice President to execute strategic communications initiatives.
• Lead proactive and responsive media relations efforts, including earned media, crisis communications, reputation management, and rapid-response communications.
• Analyze communications performance metrics to evaluate campaign effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and inform future communications strategies.

Executive Visibility & Public Affairs 

• Prepare executive communications, including briefing materials, speeches, talking points, presentations, and stakeholder communications for the CEO and senior leadership.
• Coordinate communications support for public affairs, advocacy, policy, and stakeholder engagement initiatives, ensuring consistent messaging across priority audiences.
• Manage external communications agencies, consultants, and vendors, establishing clear expectations, monitoring performance, and ensuring successful project delivery.

Team Leadership & Partner Management 

• Lead, coach, and develop communications staff, fostering collaboration, accountability, continuous learning, and high-performance execution.
• Partner collaboratively across OFN to align communications with organizational initiatives and strengthen engagement with members, investors, policymakers, media, and other external stakeholders.
• Oversee external agency/consultant relationships, setting clear scopes and evaluating performance. 
• Serve as deputy to the Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications, providing leadership continuity, operational oversight, and strategic support as needed.

Requirements

 Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible communications experience with demonstrated expertise in communications operations, media relations, and executive communications.
• Experience within or demonstrated knowledge of the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) industry required.
• Recent, personal, hands-on experience using the core platforms yourself: WordPress (web/CMS), Canva and Adobe Creative Cloud, Meltwater/Cision/PR Newswire (media monitoring and distribution), Mailchimp (email), Google Analytics, Salesforce/Pardot (CRM and marketing automation), AI-enabled workflow tools, and Cvent (event communications). We are most interested in work you produced and ran yourself, rather than work you managed.
• Experience managing communications teams, vendors, and complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong background supporting executive communications, crisis communications, and public affairs.
• Experience utilizing project management software such as Asana, Monday.com, or similar platforms.
• Nonprofit, financial services, economic development, public policy, or mission-driven communications experience preferred.
• Mission-Driven: Passion for OFN's mission and advancing equity through community finance.
• Strategic Thinker: Brings a forward-looking perspective to problem-solving.
• Proactive & Independent: Comfortable taking initiative with minimal direction.
• Adaptable: Thrives in dynamic environments and can deftly navigate shifting priorities.
• Collaborative: Values teamwork and relationship-building with diverse stakeholders.
• Physical Requirements: Standard physical requirements for an office position, with occasional travel (15%).

EOE

Supervisor: SVP, Strategic Communications 

FLSA Status: Exempt

The target salary range for this position is $107,000 - $134,000. The salary offered will depend on internal pay equity and the candidate's relevant skills, experience, qualifications, and job market data. Exceptional performers in this role who make an outsized contribution can make well in excess of this range.

Salary is one part of OFN's comprehensive total rewards package, which includes benefits like dental, health, and vision care plans, and family-building benefits like hybrid work arrangements to promote a better work-life balance. OFN also offers Lifestyle Spending Account, Employee Assistance Program, and mental health benefits. To maximize teammate financial well-being, OFN offers financial education and auto-enrollment in the company's 403(b) plan with employer contributions. To maximize professional growth, OFN provides professional development dollars for each employee, alongside learning and development opportunities.

Thank you for your interest in joining the OFN team in our effort and commitment to create opportunity for all.