Background:

Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) older people. In partnership with its constituents and allies, SAGE works to achieve a high quality of life for LGBTQ+ older people, supports and advocates for their rights, fosters a greater understanding of aging in all communities and promotes positive images of LGBTQ+ life in later years.

SAGE is grounded in the spirit of “nothing about us without us.” We listen respectfully to the full breadth of voices of LGBTQ+ elders and seek to positively impact all LGBTQ+ older people. Our work is data-driven, disciplined, and responsive to change. We work hard, continually improve, and are accountable for excellent outcomes. Our core values are: older voices come first; diversity, equity and inclusion; collaborative teamwork and partnership; Innovation; top performance in a diverse marketplace; respect and compassion.

SAGE recently launched a new 5-year Strategic Plan that emphasizes scaling our impact on behalf of LGBTQ+ older people and diversifying our reach via a number of significant changes in organizational structure and the decentralization of organizational leadership and decision-making. The Director of Marketing & Communications will play a key role in expanding SAGE’s national brand and reach, as well as marketing SAGE’s two new semi-autonomous divisions, SAGEServes and SAGEVenture with their own signature branding. More information on the Strategic Plan can be found here: http://sageusa.org/lookingforward.

Title: Director of Marketing & Communications
Salary: SAGE offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The salary range for this position is $85,672- $107,090.
Department(s): Marketing & Communications
Reports to: Christina DaCosta (she/her), Chief Experience Officer (CXO)
Location: The position may be fully remote or based on a hybrid model in our New York City office; travel between the above and other locations within the NYC metropolitan area may be required, in accordance with needs and program necessity.
Schedule: Full-time, 35 hours/week; generally, 9:30 – 5:30 Monday – Friday, with schedule adjustments as needed per program necessity.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Experience Officer (CXO), the Director of Communications & Marketing develops and implements strategies that strengthen SAGE’s branding and visibility, including creating a multi-year plan to launch an integrated, measurable, organization-wide communications and marketing strategy. This will include folding in SAGE’s two new semi-autonomous divisions, SAGEServes and SAGEVenture. These divisions have their own branding, but remain part of “one SAGE.” To ensure brand consistency, the Director will also work closely with relevant stakeholders to provide input on marketing and communications efforts for SAGE’s programs, initiatives, and fundraising efforts.

Also, in collaboration with key internal stakeholders, the Director will help with SAGE’s internal communications strategy. The Director will also oversee day-to-day work in the areas of content creation, media relations, new and online strategies, collateral development, and direct messaging along SAGE’s communications channels, including website, social media properties, press outlets, videos, e-blasts, and publications.

The context for the Director of Communications & Marketing’s work is SAGE’s goal, as expressed in its current Strategic Plan, to exponentially increase the organization’s positive impact on, and relevance to, the nation’s millions of LGBQ+ older people by: (a) catalyzing and leveraging partners; (b) ensuring that vulnerable LGBTQ+ older adults are served; (c) advocating SAGE’s vision in LGBTQ+ and aging communities, and in public and private systems; (d) engaging the vibrancy of LGBTQ+ older adults as a community asset; (e) developing SAGE as a center of excellence for innovation; and (f) creating and energizing LGBTQ+ cross-generational communities.

Organizational Responsibilities:

The Director of Communications & Marketing will help build an organization and culture that is shaped by SAGE’s fundamental values of diversity & equity, collaborative teamwork and partnership (internal and external), top performance, innovation, LGBTQ+ older voices come first, and dignity and respect.  To ensure top performance, SAGE strives for disciplined strategies and governance, disciplined people, disciplined allocation of resources, and disciplined execution.

The Director of Communications & Marketing will further:

  • Participate in regularly scheduled meetings of the leadership team, comprised of Directors from across the organization
  • Liaise between staff, Directors, Senior Directors, and the Executive Team in shaping and delivering communications to staff, ensuring greater transparency and buy-in across the organization
  • Champion SAGE’s strategic priorities and SAGE’s organizational values, including diversity and equity

Departmental Responsibilities

  • Advance positive visibility for LGBTQ+ elders by producing and overseeing the development of a robust and compelling mix of multimedia content
  • Develop and oversee the implementation of SAGE’s media outreach and press strategy in key markets across the country to advance SAGE’s visibility and strategic priorities
  • Lead SAGE’s rapid response communication, monitoring breaking news and advising how/when/if SAGE responds
  • Coordinate with SAGE’s semi-autonomous divisions (SAGEServes and SAGEVenture) and departments across the organization to ensure consistency of messaging and brand voice and implement the organization-wide communications and marketing strategy across many stakeholder audiences, both internally and externally
  • Establish and communicate SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals for the marketing and communications department informed by upcoming grants, projects, priorities, and team capacity
  • Provide high-level leadership and strategic thinking to all of SAGE’s marketing and communications efforts and guide the marketing and communications department to reach benchmarks and objectives
  • Oversee and lead a high-performing MarComm team with passion, strong communication and leadership. Develop annual objectives for each MarComm member and assess their performance on a regular basis
  • Train, mentor, and onboard new and existing department staff
  • Manage the communications team budget, allocating funding where applicable and advocating for additional resources from leadership when needed
  • Partner with other departments including Advocacy, Development, Programs, Housing, and National Initiatives to ensure that all grant-funded communications and marketing deliverables are met, accomplish department-specific marketing requirements and campaigns, and respond to SAGE’s overall marketing needs
  • Manage external agencies, vendors, and contractors as appropriate
  • Performs other duties and projects as assigned by the CXO, Executive Vice President, and/or the CEO

Required Skills/Qualifications:

  • Passionate about SAGE’s mission and the success of the organization
  • Bachelor’s degree or illustrated work directing a marketing function with four to six years of experience in digital marketing, public relations, and/or communications; experience with non-profits will make you a stand-out candidate
  • Exceptional writing and editing skills – must pay close attention to details
  • Strong project management and creative problem-solving skills
  • Has a good relationship with the media with contacts in areas outside of large coastal cities
  • Experience in social media, graphic design, film, video, and audio technologies as marketing tools
  • Exceptional communicator, storyteller, and brand ambassador. Must be comfortable with speaking to diverse audiences
  • Demonstrated experience using data to create successful marketing strategies
  • Demonstrated experience with SEO, web, social media, mobile, and channel marketing
  • Proven ability to develop and implement communication plans and strategies that reach various audiences
  • Proven ability to develop and clearly communicate department goals, set KPIs, track progress, and evaluate/apply lessons learned to department work in the future
  • Creative and strategic thinker with great execution – looking for a self-starter/entrepreneurial attitude
  • Gracious professionalism and emotional maturity with a sense of humor
  • Capable and willing to be flexible and adapt to changing conditions

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Familiarity with LGBTQ+ aging issues and cultural and linguistic competency regarding age, ability, sexuality, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, class, and other characteristics that affect the lives of diverse older people
  • Connections with LGBTQ+ organizations throughout the U.S.
  • Ability to speak or write in Spanish

How to Apply: Please click here to begin the application process. Contact careers@sageusa.org if you have any questions.

Equal Employment Opportunity
SAGE is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnicity, creed, color, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, alienage or national origin, ancestry, age, citizenship status, marital or family status, family medical history or genetic information, veteran status, HIV serostatus, military or military discharge status, height, weight, disability or handicap, domestic violence victim status, employment status, socioeconomic status, criminal history or arrest record, sexual or other reproductive health decisions, natural hair or hairstyle, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. SAGE is dedicated to this policy, with respect to all matters concerning employment.

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