Director of Online Communications
February 12, 2008 7:15 AM

*This position can be in any of Fenton’s three offices – New York, Washington, DC, or San Francisco*

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Director of Online Communications

Fenton Communications is seeking an experienced, creative and dynamic candidate to serve as Director of its Online Division. The Director will combine a passion for political and social change with a broad understanding of online communications, marketing, organizing and fundraising. The new Director of Online Communications must understand how successful advocacy campaigns integrate effective offline advocacy communications with emerging online techniques.

Fenton Communications is a pioneer in public interest communications, with a quarter century of experience working in some of the country’s most important social change and social justice movements. Past and present Fenton clients include progressive advocacy groups such as MoveOn.org and True Majority, major foundations such as the William and Flora Hewlett and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations and non-profits such as the American Lung Association and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The company has 55 staff in three offices in New York, Washington, DC and San Francisco.

The Online Director will lead this division and build the capacity and client base of the firm’s current online work. The Director will be responsible for training and managing Fenton online staff and maintaining a reliable network of vendors and freelancers. S/he also will assist in developing marketing products and promoting them.

The ideal candidate should have experience providing and managing the following online services for clients:

1. Strategic consulting: Helping organizations develop and execute online campaigns to achieve strategic and tactical goals and objectives including moving public opinion, changing public policy, enhancing communications with the public and increasing fundraising;

2. Online member development: A proven record of success developing organizations’ membership lists using both organic and paid acquisition modes;

3. Creative services: Production of all possible forms of online content including Web sites, online advertising, Flash movies, streaming video and email templates;

4. Software consulting: The ability to determine the best software solutions to meet clients’ online communications needs;

5. Evaluation: Understanding how to measure the effectiveness of an organization’s use of the Internet, as well as the usability of its website and other online content; and

6. Integrated communications: Assisting in integrating online and offline communications in support of communications plans designed to achieve larger organizational objectives.

Specific Responsibilities

The Director of Online Communications will be expected to:

Develop a business plan for the expansion of the online division;
Recruit and supervise creative, account and technical staff and freelancers;
Pitch and develop new business opportunities;
Advise the online components of all Fenton accounts and serve as a primary point of contact for online clients. The Director and the online team s/he oversees will provide clients with strategic advice; write campaign plans, advocacy emails and fundraising appeals; and help them build email lists, raise money, run advocacy campaigns and market online.

Job Requirements

The ideal candidate will have five to ten years of advocacy experience, with at least half of it directly in online communications. That experience should include:

1. Managing successful online advocacy campaigns;

2. Working in an agency environment, managing clients or running a significant online advocacy program for a large organization;

3. Hiring and supervising staff and freelancers;

4. Understanding of and experience working with software products and measurement tools used in online organizing;

5. Strong strategic thinking, including the ability to see how online marketing can help achieve an organization’s strategic objectives;

6. Marketing for nonprofit organizations and causes, especially fundraising and/or advocacy;

7. Excellent writing and editing skills; and

8. Experience in direct mail, telemarketing or grassroots organizing is a plus.

Compensation – Competitive with benefits.

To Apply

Email resume, cover letter, references, writing sample and clips (as Word or .pdf attachments), and salary requirement to jlanderman@fenton.com. Or mail to: Online Director Hiring Committee, Fenton Communications, 182 Second Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 or fax: 415-901-0110.

Submissions will not be considered without salary requirements.

People of color and LGBT candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Fenton Communications is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

payscale: competitive
job type: full-time
posted by subpixel to Marketing/Advertising/PR

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