Senior Associate, Communications & Storytelling

Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization mobilizing youth and young adults to change the culture around mental health. Through our presence in more than 1,000 high schools, colleges, and communities, and with a wide-reaching public audience, Active Minds is creating communities of support and saving lives. Founded in 2003 by Alison Malmon after the tragic suicide of her brother, Brian, Active Minds is dedicated to supporting a new generation in ending the silence, helping to make mental health as highly valued as physical health. We approach our work with a racial equity lens and are committed to the continued process of being and becoming a more antiracist and inclusive organization. Through our many programs, we are changing social norms and behaviors related to mental health across the country.

JOB SUMMARY & KEY PRIORITIES:
The Communications Senior Associate will be a key player in sharing the voice of Active Minds and informing the wider conversation about mental health through the Active Minds digital communications channels. This individual will manage the organization’s weekly and monthly newsletters, email, and blog products, as well as other mechanisms that tell the story of Active Minds, including maintaining the Active Minds voice and being a key communicator of Active Minds programmatic work to promote mental health for young adults nationwide.

The Communications Senior Associate will report to the Senior Manager of Communications & Storytelling, in addition to collaborating with other staff to tell the Active Minds story.

KEY RESULTS

Active Minds Organizational & Program Communications (70%)

• Write, build and send all non-fundraising emails (including segmented General, Gen-Z and Chapters e-newsletters) through the Active Minds CRM system.
• Source and aggregate content from various departments and colleagues and manage a successful process to include timely content internally and externally.
• Partner with the Senior Manager of Public Relations to communicate thought leadership and newsworthy content via dedicated emails, newsletters, blogs, etc.
• Lead the buildout of all emails in the Active Minds CRM system, with coordination from the Visual Brand Manager for visual assets.
• Adjust content to the various audiences reached by Active Minds through our work and storytelling/communications.
• Lead segmentation of audiences and ensure regular updating in coordination with Program leads and more.
• Manage and develop onboarding series for different entry points to the Active Minds network: content strategy, and coordination with Salesforce Admin for segmentation and build-out of series automation.
• Develop program/campaign-specific welcome series plans and content in partnership with appropriate departments and teams to ensure that new contacts are receiving introductory Active Minds communication in a timely and engaging fashion. Watch the data to identify new opportunities, trends, performance, and lessons for improvement.
• With oversight from Sr. Mgr, Comms & Storytelling, lead evaluation and metric tracking of email success measures, including open rates, CTR, conversions, and A/B testing where applicable.
• Regularly communicate results to the appropriate departments for follow-up, and to add emphasis to recommendations for future content adjustments. (The “Why” of the data).
• With oversight from Sr. Mgr, Comms & Storytelling, assist in the implementation of digital communications efforts with the Active Minds Program Team and review content for Active Minds Program Team content as needed for Active Minds voice and brand messaging in content as needed (e.g. web pages, digital event copy, mental health engagement modules for use by chapters, partners and general supporters.

Online Communications (30%)

• Manage and execute the Active Minds blog strategy to cover timely and trending moments in the mental health advocacy industry.○ Recruit and support authors for the Active Minds blog
• Meet with and inform the social team of upcoming content for their social calendaring.
• Manage deadlines with authors, provide editorial feedback and suggestions
• Build and maintain relationships with (paid!) student authors, staff members and third-party content providers.
• Working with the Visual Brand team, provide advanced expectations for blog content, and general suggestions for the type of visuals needed for each.
• Identify peer mental health blogs to cross-promote our content on
• Working with the Digital Web Associate, manage blog SEOs to further expand our reach;
• Data analytics and applicable strategy adjustment, with support from Sr. Mgr, Comms and Digital Web Associate.
• Assist annually with SAC media and communications training to encourage participation in the blog and to train these student leaders in channeling the Active Minds voice.

Other (10%)

• Full participation in the execution of the Active Minds ARI strategy.
• Maintain comprehensive standard operating procedure documents / ‘how-to’ for the Comms team.
• Monitor communications@, blog@, and community@ inboxes and provide excellent customer service.
• Intern management, as requested, in the spring, summer and fall semesters.
• Project management (thematically throughout)

ABOUT YOU
• A talented writer and creative communicator, able to tap into different messaging styles for the appropriate audiences as needed.
• Accustomed to working on multiple projects with different deadlines simultaneously.
• A well-organized project manager who follows through on all assignments and ideas from ideation through execution.
• Dynamic, professional, and poised brand ambassador for Active Minds.
• An effective communicator in person, over the phone, and in writing with students, fellow staff members and partners.
• A stickler for details and quality.
• An AP Style devotee (or willing to learn!)
• Self-starter with a positive attitude who enjoys working proactively and thinking creatively.
• Advocate for social entrepreneurship and a believer in young people making an impact.

You need to have:
• 2-3 years of professional marketing or communications experience.
• Knowledge of and experience in managing nonprofit marketing and communications efforts.
• Experience with digital marketing tools such as Hootsuite, WordPress, and Pardot preferred.
• Digitally-literate, including Microsoft and Google products, social media, and online meeting tools, including Google Meets and Zoom.
• Experience with CRM systems (ex. Salesforce, Pardot) and databases a plus.

OUR CULTURE
Active Minds is a place where every employee matters. We value diverse perspectives, radical authenticity, and a community-driven approach. We dream big, offering flexibility to staff while we work to achieve our mission. As such, we are proud to offer competitive salaries and benefits and an environment that is friendly to remote working and life/work balance.

Active Minds is an equal-opportunity employer that works to advance racial equity and social justice in an increasingly multicultural and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background, intersectional identities, and lived experiences. We make a particular effort to recruit people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and people with other marginalized identities. Active Minds encourages all to apply for our open positions as we depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

COMPENSATION
This position offers an initial salary range of $56,000–$61,300K along with robust benefits. The starting pay for this position is equal to others at the same level throughout the organization. Candidates whose experience meets both the minimum and preferred qualifications may be considered for a starting salary that exceeds the current amount. The role sits within Active Minds Level 2 salary band, and as such, has the potential to grow to $72,000 over time. FLSA Status: Exempt.

Active Minds has an industry-leading and competitive benefits package that includes Health, Vision and Dental Insurance, Paid Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Holidays, Company Wide Mental Health Days, 401(k) Matching, HSA and FSA Options, Life Insurance, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Fully Paid Parental Leave, Wellness Reimbursement Program, and Professional Development Stipends.

Active Minds recruits, hires, trains, compensates, and promotes our staff regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.