Position Specification
Overview of Easter Seals Serving DC | MD | VA
Easter Seals Inc. was founded in 1919 and has grown to become a national leader in offering help, hope and answers to more than a million children and adults living with autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and other disabilities or special needs each year. Easter Seals operates through a network of self-governing, financially independent affiliates.
Easter Seals Serving DC|MD|VA (ESDCMDVA) ( is the affiliate serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. For more than 75 years, we have been at the forefront of providing exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play in our community. Our community-based programs are designed to support and strengthen families, enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities, create stronger communities, and reduce system wide health care costs.
We work through public-private partnerships to provide services in the most efficient manner possible. These traits were demonstrated most recently in the opening our Inter-Generational Center, which has quickly become an international model of excellence for delivering superior outcomes including creating meaningful connections between generations. It was opened through visionary partnership among local, state, and national government as well as private individual, corporate, and foundation investment. The shared resources created a maximum return on investment for the community.
ESDCMDVA delivers exceptional services through a network of 14 sites and provides Adult Medical Day Care, Senior+, Early Child Development and Education, Respite, and Workforce Development services where participants and their families find support, hope, medical care, and enjoyable activities. In addition to serving the overall community, our programs place a special emphasis on the special needs of wounded warriors, veterans, active duty military, and their families.
Our unique and dedicated staff of over 200 professionals includes specialists in education, therapy, senior services, social work, assistive technology, nursing, and related professions. In addition, as a part of the Easter Seals Inc. international network, we are able to draw on the resources of almost 25,000 to ensure we remain at the cutting edge of service delivery.
Position Summary
The Director of Communications and Marketing will be responsible for establishing and executing a broad plan to support the communications and marketing needs of the organization. The Director will also measure the impact and effectiveness of the plan. The Director will supervise and manage a Communications Associate that will support the implementation of the plan and support day-to-day operations.
Specific responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
General:
- Establish annual communications calendar
- Establish communications and marketing plan with strategies and tactics
- Implement the tactics from the plan to deliver the right messages to the right constituencies
- Manage vendor relationships
- Establish and manage communications and marketing budget
- Lead communications strategy meetings with Program VPs
- Establish and maintain reasonable goals for all media channels.
- Serve as a planning partner and expert communications resource for all Easter Seals locations/departments.
- Coordinate and ensure consistency in the overall look, feel and voice of Easter Seals.
Media Relations:
- Develop and maintain collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships with key media outlets, beats and reporters/producers; expand media database.
- Proactively seek media and online coverage that positions Easter Seals as a leader in providing intergenerational human services that address holistic and evolving needs of individuals and families.
- Seek opportunities to position Easter Seals senior leadership, staff and volunteers as spokespersons to the media and at community events.
- Write and disseminate media material, including news advisories, press releases, backgrounders, message points, etc.
- Provide media training and message points to spokespeople.
- Respond to all media inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
- Handle crisis communications (internal and external), as needed.
Website/Social Media:
- Serve as lead in ensuring the brand vision and messaging of the Easter Seals website and social media platforms.
- Ensure that all sections of the website are updated on a regular basis.
- Maintain and update a robust “What’s New” section of the website to include press releases, links to media and online coverage, staff and accomplishments, bios and photos of key staff.
- Assist in the development of policies/procedures regarding website content and design.
- Oversee a social media plan and its implementation
Marketing and Development Communications:
- Write editorial copy for a variety of audiences, including newsletters (email and printed), blog, social media and other platforms. Work with Program VPs to update materials.
- Oversee production of a range of internal and external print and e-publications including the annual report and monthly newsletters.
- Serve as writer/co-writer/editor and/or project manager for informational and promotional publications.
- Provide communications and marketing support for development operations which may include letters, campaign messaging, statements, proposals, etc.
- Work with development department to ensure that the organization’s funders are appropriately highlighted in appropriate communications vehicles
Required Qualifications and Skills:
- Bachelor’s Degree required
- At least seven years communications experience
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Proven ability to create and manage a communications plan
- Demonstrated expertise in online marketing including website enhancement and social media knowledge
- Strong computer skills
- Ability to work under deadline
- Demonstrated experience with media relations
- Demonstrated graphic and layout experience in print and online
- Knowledge of Development and Campaign Fundraising preferred