Communications Officer
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Battle Creek, Michigan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (“WKKF”), the nation’s fifth largest foundation and a leading philanthropic foundation partnering with communities to create the conditions vulnerable children need to be successful in school and in life, seeks an innovative and resourceful Communications Officer who will enhance the ways in which the foundation works and communicates among staff, with its communities, grantees, partners, fellow funders, media, policy-makers, opinion leaders and other stakeholders.

Serving under the direction of the Vice President for Communications, the Communications Officer is responsible for managing a portfolio of communication projects, including some communications grantmaking; managing the work of communication professionals (agencies and contract support) in the foundation’s priority places (Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans); collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to design, plan and implement communications campaigns and projects; implementing integrated communications strategies; providing communications support to grantees; and identifying and nurturing opportunities for affecting positive systemic change within communities.

In recent years WKKF has sharpened its focus on improving conditions for vulnerable children, concentrating on key factors of success and programmatic intersections across Education & Learning; Food, Health & Well-Being; and Family Economic Security in carefully identified communities.

WKKF embraces working within its place-based strategy. Employees engage at an eye-level with communities and have found that this maximizes impact and provides insight into what grantees and the foundation are hoping to achieve. By putting a strong emphasis on sharing this learning across the foundation and with the outside world, WKKF ensures that its investments also have impact well beyond the specific communities in which it partners. This “practical application of knowledge” is an important creative component of the work of the Communications Officer. Such contributions will be as important as grantmaking itself in helping to achieve WKKF’s mission, making this an exciting time to join a growing communications department in a dynamic, multidisciplinary framework at this premiere foundation. Beyond the traditional communications role, this Communications Officer will be expected to serve as a key liaison to WKKF staff, grantees, community partners and other stakeholders to articulate and advance WKKF’s mission, profile and voice.

The ideal candidate will be an energetic, results-oriented, interdisciplinary thinker and team player able to translate concept into action and provide clarity of message through a broad range of strategic communications opportunities, e.g. public awareness campaigns, publications, conferences, media relations and social media. S/he will be an exceptional listener, with a client-service approach and proven ability to collaborate effectively with persons from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds. S/he must possess the flexibility to adapt quickly to change in a demanding and intellectually challenging environment that requires handling multiple tasks around ambitious deadlines and on budget.

Successful candidates will be exceptional project managers with outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail; excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills; and hands-on experience in the design, editing and production of electronic and print materials. S/he will possess 8-10 years of internal/external communications experience gained through working in one or more of the following organizations, e.g., agency, corporation and/or large non-profit institution. A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (communications, marketing, journalism, English) is required and a master’s degree and/or an understanding of program design and development, systems, networking and community change as well as current knowledge of broad social and economic forces affecting communities and families, especially those who are poor and underserved, is desired.

WKKF is being assisted by Vice President Tracy Welsh of the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group in this important recruitment. Please see application instructions at the end of this document.

HISTORY AND MISSION

In 1930, breakfast cereal pioneer Will Keith Kellogg donated $66 million in Kellogg Company stock and other investments “to help people help themselves” launching the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Foundation began its work in Michigan, but by the 1940s had expanded its work internationally and was breaking ground in areas such as rural children’s health, “mainstreaming” children with disabilities, and the development of the healthcare profession. By its 50th anniversary, the Foundation was among the world’s largest private philanthropic organizations and, now in its 80th year, the Foundation celebrates over $3 billion spent toward helping people to help themselves.

In 2007, the Foundation reviewed its work and revised and refocused strategic program goals to realign with W.K. Kellogg’s original commitment to helping vulnerable children. The new mission statement reads: “The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society.” To bring the vision of this refreshed mission into action, the Foundation unveiled a new strategic framework for its programming. Previously, both the organization and its grantmaking were structured around individual programming areas. The new framework, built on 80 years of grantmaking experience, recognizes that success for vulnerable children depends on an intricate weave of elements. The principal program areas (Education and Learning; Food, Health and Well-Being; and Family Economic Security) all play interconnected roles in creating an environment in which vulnerable children are protected, nurtured, equipped and stimulated to succeed. Moreover, the attention to racial equity, the eradication of structural racism, and the rigorous encouragement of community and civic engagement across each of these program areas is essential to the creation of a social context in which all children can thrive, particularly the most vulnerable.

A commitment to making a clear impact, combined with a deep appreciation for how the plight of vulnerable children connects to a larger view of social change, and a belief that a community’s commitment to support and develop its children is an important barometer of its strength, health and capacity for improvement has also led WKKF to focus its grantmaking on a few locations nationally and internationally. In the US, this includes Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans. Internationally, the foundation works in Mexico, Haiti, northern Brazil and southern Africa. This “place” approach allows WKKF to see the many ways in which communities and cultures operate, and how vulnerable children can be made a priority under different conditions.

More information about the strategic focus of the Kellogg Foundation may be found at http://www.wkkf.org.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER ROLE

Throughout the past six years, WKKF engaged in a comprehensive strategic planning process and a multi-year organizational assessment that resulted in a new strategic framework, a mission statement, a statement of values, a new place-based strategy and an internal process of identifying and validating the core convictions and aspirations that make the foundation unique. In concert with these changes and led by WKKF’s Vice President for Communications, the foundation embarked on a new identity campaign designed to provide insights and clarity around WKKF’s narrative and to provide a communications platform that is more focused, coherent, integrated, connected and aligned with WKKF’s long-term direction and goals. WKKF’s Communications Department is part of the fabric of the Foundation and takes a client service approach to working internally with foundation staff as well as supporting grantees and community partners with communications-driven program efforts.

Working at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is both a great privilege and a great responsibility. Serving under the direction of the Vice President, the Communications Officer will join a high-performance team of client-focused individuals who partner with staff, grantees and other external stakeholders across WKKF programs, geographies, and initiatives to design, plan and implement communications campaigns and projects; implement integrated communications strategies; and identify and cultivate opportunities bring sustainable change to communities.

With a strong customer focus, the Communications Officer will:

• Develop and implement communication strategies that advance the critical work of assigned areas (e.g., program, place, element, approach) and project a clearly defined sense of WKKF’s mission, values, impact, shared achievements, policy goals, and aspirations.

  • Lead efforts to develop and integrate clear and consistent messages.

  • Determine opportunities for events that highlight efforts and successes.

  • Represent the Foundation’s voice and profile to the outside world – to the news media, key influencers and thought leaders, grantees and employees – for assigned area of responsibility.

• Coordinate communications and outreach across all messaging platforms including print, web, social media and conferences to communicate with each of WKKF’s audiences – internally with foundation staff, and externally with grantees, community partners, fellow funders, media, policy makers, opinion leaders and the public.

  • Integrate and coordinate messages and messaging.

  • Manage communication agencies and resources to support the work, including all project management responsibilities.

  • Write and edit content for various communications initiatives and manage supporting teams engaged in related initiatives.

  • Partner with WKKF’s Learning and Innovation Team to think creatively about how to “package” knowledge in interesting ways — through videos, events, design and games, among others. Through the use of technology, strive to be more effective and creative in distributing knowledge to those who need and want it, in forms that fit their exact circumstances.

• Provide leadership for on-the-ground execution of communications-driven program efforts.

  • Provide communication support as appropriate to grantees.

  • Maintain strong, authentic relationships with grant seekers and grantees, ensuring understanding of WKKF program direction, goals, and expectations.

  • Provide high-level technical assistance to grantees, including consultation on model development, partnership negotiations, leadership capacity building and coaching.

  • Develop and maintain strategic relationships to leverage participation of other foundations, businesses, governmental agencies, and other key decision makers in alignment with WKKF core values and program interests.

  • Screen and recommend grants for funding; prepare funding documents; conduct site visits; and manage and monitor grant portfolio.

• Actively develop and manage working relationships with key staff and external stakeholders.

  • Build and cultivate relationships with program and operations staff to facilitate inter-connectedness and drive forward communications efforts.

  • Facilitate effective linkages, teams and partnerships with external individuals and entities including public relations firms and those in the social media.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative and collaborative professional to assist a premier organization with its ambitious communications and program goals.

WKKF is open to candidates whose skills and experience have been developed and proven in a variety of settings (e.g. large, complex non-profit organizations, agency, academia, corporate). A minimum of eight years of relevant communications experience with evidence of increased responsibility and a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (communications, marketing, journalism, English) are required; an advanced degree is preferred. Candidates with a comprehensive understanding of program design and development, systems, networking, and community change as well as current knowledge of broad social and economic forces affecting communities and families, particularly surrounding education reform are strongly encouraged to apply.

While no one person will embody all of the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes and experiences:

• Broad experience in strategic communications, executing a range of communications initiatives (e.g. public awareness and education campaigns, conferences, publications social media), and media/public relations as well as significant successful experience dealing with regional and national media.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement communications strategies that have impact. The ability to think globally while working locally, representing WKKF to a variety of stakeholders and intermediaries in a credible and influential way and with a selfless manner focusing on values and the greater good.

• Excellent writing, editing, analytical, and oral communication skills including the ability to collect, review, synthesize, and present information across varied communications platforms. Experience coordinating with external agencies as well as hands-on experience in the design, editing, and production of electronic and print materials.

• Exceptional project management skills with the flexibility and capacity to adapt quickly, multitask and meet deadlines within demanding timeframes, and resourcefulness in setting priorities. Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail with the ability to work both independently without close oversight, take initiative, and contribute ideas for enhancing performance.

• Accurate and current knowledge about trends, movements, and policy development (ideally surrounding education reform) to help advance national dialogue, translate concepts and data into digestible formats by a broad range of audiences and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

• Highly developed and active listening skills, a client-service orientation and strong relationship building skills; successful experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team and working effectively with persons from diverse cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds. Ability to use interpersonal and political skills in collaborative, diplomatic ways and a willingness to set aside a personal agenda in favor of organizational and/or community goals and objectives.

• Comfort with and the ability to work effectively within communities and in partnership with grantees, including appreciating historical contexts, discerning nuances of relationships and power dynamics, understanding racial/ethnic realities, and respecting community needs and desires.

• An optimistic outlook and the humor, integrity, and patience necessary to work within a transformative environment.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

More information about The Kellogg Foundation may be found at http://www.wkkf.org.

Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), salary history and where you learned of the position should be sent to:
kf-co@nonprofitprofessionals.com. In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and proudly values diversity.
Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

(02/08/2012)