Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Position Summary

The Vice President of Marketing & Communications serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, providing strategic direction for St. Mary’s Food Bank’s (St. Mary’s) brand, marketing, communications, media relations, and public engagement efforts. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this leader develops and executes integrated marketing and communications strategies that elevate the organization's visibility, strengthen its reputation, inspire donor and community engagement, and advance its mission.

This role provides enterprise-wide leadership for brand strategy, digital marketing, public and media relations, internal communications, storytelling, social media, crisis communications, and campaign development. Working collaboratively across departments, the Vice President ensures consistent messaging, protects and enhances the St. Mary’s Food Bank brand, and aligns all communications initiatives with the organization's mission, values, fundraising priorities, and Strategic Plan.

As a strategic advisor to executive leadership, the Vice President of Marketing & Communications leverages data, market insights, and innovative communication strategies to expand community awareness, deepen stakeholder engagement, strengthen organizational partnerships, and increase support for St. Mary’s Food Bank throughout Arizona.

Essential Functions

Brand Strategy & Reputation Management

• Lead the enterprise-wide brand strategy, ensuring consistent, mission-aligned messaging that strengthens St. Mary's reputation and public trust.
• Oversee brand governance, storytelling, messaging standards, and long-term brand positioning across all audiences and communication channels and ensure consistent brand experience.

Marketing

• Manage and work with outside agency to develop and execute integrated marketing strategies that support the Strategic Plan, including Fundraising, Food Donations, Programs and Facilities.
• Partner with Development Team to develop integrated fundraising campaigns that strengthen donor engagement and support sustainable fundraising growth.
• Partner with Programs Team to develop tools to strengthen relationships with current and prospective agency partners. Use storytelling to share and celebrate program and neighbor experiences.
• Partner with Sourcing Team to develop tools to strengthen relationships with food donors.
• Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, and performance metrics to maximize organizational visibility and impact.

Communications

• Direct media and public relations strategies that position St. Mary's Food Bank as a trusted leader in hunger relief and food security while protecting and enhancing the organization's reputation.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to the President & CEO, providing messaging, executive communications, speech support, media preparation, and counsel on sensitive or crisis-related issues.
• Partner with the People Team to develop internal communication strategies that strengthen employee engagement, organizational culture, and change management efforts.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, develop, and mentor the Marketing & Communications Team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish departmental priorities, workflows, performance expectations, and operating standards to ensure strategic execution.
• Partner with the CEO and Finance Team on departmental budgeting, resource planning, and vendor contracts.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.

Performs all functions according to established policies, procedures, regulatory and accreditation requirements, as well as applicable professional standards. Provides all internal/external customers of St. Mary’s Food Bank with an excellent service experience.

Scope and Complexity

May interact with all levels of leadership, employees, agency representatives, community neighbors, volunteers, external vendors, and clients.

Physical Demands/Environment Factors

• Requires extensive sitting with periodic standing and walking.
• May be required to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Requires significant use of personal computer, phone, and general office equipment.
• Needs adequate visual acuity, ability to grasp and handle objects.
• Needs ability to communicate effectively through reading, writing, and speaking in person or on telephone.
• May require off-site travel; possible out-of-state travel

Minimum Qualifications, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Digital Media, Graphic Design, or a related field.
• Ten (10)+ years of progressive leadership experience developing and executing integrated marketing, communications, brand, and public relations strategies in complex organizations.
• Three (3)+ years of experience leading and developing high-performing marketing and communications teams.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, storytelling, and media relations skills.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-channel marketing campaigns, brand management, digital marketing, media relations, and organizational communications from strategy through execution and performance measurement.
• Experience managing departmental budgets, agency relationships, vendors, and cross-functional partnerships.
• Strong knowledge of digital marketing, SEO, Google Analytics, website content management systems (WordPress), Adobe Creative Suite, and multimedia content development, including photography and videography.
• Demonstrated commitment to St. Mary's Food Bank's mission, values, and service to the community.

What we offer:

• Competitive Compensation Package:
  • Competitive Pay, including:
    • 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a generous employer match
    • Employee Referral Bonus Program
    • Tuition Assistance
• Comprehensive Benefits:
  • Medical and Insurance Coverage
    • An employee-only medical plan at no cost to you
    • 4 low-cost employee-only, spouse and/or family member medical plans
    • Vision and Dental coverage
    • Health Savings Account generously funded by the employer and Flexible Spending Account options
    • Short- and Long-Term Disability, Life and Accidental Death & Accident Insurance at no cost to you.
    • Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs
    • Optional Pet Insurance and Legal Shield Identity Theft offering
  • Time Off
    • 15 PTO days, accrued bi-weekly, that increases with length of service
    • 40 hours of Personal/Sick time
    • 8 Company Paid Holidays

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume and salary requirements to: https://www.stmarysfoodbank.org/careers/

St. Mary’s Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other protected status under all applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances