Digital Communications & Marketing Manager

Chicago Lights Digital Communications & Marketing, ManagerLocation: Chicago (Hybrid, in office 3 days a week)Reports to: Sr. Director of Communications and Marketing for Fourth Church and ChicagoLights with strong oversight, day-to-day alignment, and collaboration with ChicagoLights Executive Director and program team.About Chicago LightsChicago Lights is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) youth development and adult social servicesorganization at Fourth Presbyterian Church that builds brighter futures through supportiverelationships and life-changing programs. Rooted in the heart of the city, Chicago Lightsoffers long-term, high-impact opportunities through our Tutoring, Summer Day, UrbanFarm, and Social Service Center programs.Position SummaryThe Digital Communications & Marketing Manager for Chicago Lights leads thedevelopment and execution of content and communications across digital, website, print,social and event platforms; supports donor communications and fundraising initiatives;and ensures consistent brand voice and visual identity. This role also leadscommunications and creative production for Chicago Lights events, from invitations andpromotional campaigns through onsite visual communications, video storytelling, andspeaker materials.This role sits inside the central Communications/Marketing team but operates as anembedded program partner to elevate the stories and impact of Chicago Lights under theshared strategic leadership of central Communications and the Chicago Lights ExecutiveDirector.Essential FunctionsCommunications Strategy & Content Development• Create and maintain a year-round editorial calendar aligned with program, volunteerrecruitment, fundraising, event, and Board priorities.• Write and edit newsletters, appeals, annual reports, website copy, stewardshipmaterials, and other communications.• Manage, capture content for, and populate Chicago Lights on social media channels(Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube) and the Chicago Lights website.• Collaborate closely with Chicago Lights program staff to collect stories, quotes,observations, and images that reflect program impact, maintaining a consistentpresence on-site across all program locations.• Lead the Chicago Lights digital storytelling pipeline using asset-based, dignity-firstmessaging; ensure that participants and Program Directors review and formallyapprove any individual participant content prior to publication or print.• Support all Chicago Lights programs with appropriately branded, localized collateral(flyers, informational materials) to support participation and volunteer recruitment,engaging external freelance designers when extensive design work is required.• Ensure strict consistency of tone, messaging, and visual identity across allplatforms, materials, and events.Donor Messaging & Collaboration• Partner with the Associate Director of Development and other Development staff oncampaign and donor communications, including strategy, project management ofappeals, and targeted mail/email/video/social initiatives.• Produce donor-focused content for stewardship, recognition, and regulartouchpoint updates, including donor stories, gift acknowledgments, and initiativespecific proposals.• Collaborate with the Evaluation and Impact team to track communicationoutcomes, segmentation, and outreach success metrics within Salesforce andother data platforms.• Collaborate with Fourth Church communications staff to share stories thatmaximize visibility and highlight Chicago Lights across Fourth Churchcommunications.• Coordinate directly with the Senior Director of Communications, Executive Director,and Program Directors to pitch stories for earned media; ensure leadershipalignment before media outreach and provide on-site Communications staffaccompaniment for media visits.• Support internal communications for staff, volunteers, and the Board of Directors,including drafting remarks and preparing presentations for board meetings.Event Communications & Production• Lead communications and creative production for Chicago Lights events andfundraising initiatives from planning through execution, ensuring a cohesive andcompelling experience across pre-event, onsite, and post-event communications.• Develop and manage event communications, including invitations, promotionalcampaigns, email and social communications, website content, event programs,auction and fundraising materials, and other audience-facing collateral.• Manage onsite visual communications and event materials, including signage,wayfinding, presentation slides, screens, displays, and other brandedenvironmental elements.• Develop and coordinate event storytelling and video content, including conceptdevelopment, interviews, scripting, production, editing, and final delivery, workingwith internal staff and external videographers/editors as appropriate.• Draft and edit scripts, talking points, speaker remarks, introductions, and othermaterials to support speakers, program hosts, Executive Leadership, Boardmembers, and other event participants.• Partner with Development, program staff, leadership, vendors, and event partners toestablish timelines, gather content, coordinate approvals, and ensure allcommunications and creative assets are delivered accurately and on schedule.• Lead communications and creative support for major Chicago Lights events,including the Gala of Hope, Chicago Lights Board of Directors Summer event,Associates Board seasonal events, and other special events throughout the year.• Direct the concept, vendor selection, interview scheduling, production, and editingreviews for the annual Gala of Hope video, ensuring strong storytelling andfundraising impact.• Coordinate post-event communications and content, including photography, video,social content, donor follow-up, and stories that extend the reach and impact ofeach event.Project Management & Vendor Coordination• Coordinate and manage relationships with external contractors and vendors,including freelance graphic designers, writers, photographers,videographers/editors, and printers.• Develop and manage project timelines, creative briefs, approvals, productionschedules, and deliverables across communications and event projects.• Maintain and systematically organize communications archives and image libraries,ensuring up-to-date photo release documentation is secured and verified for allutilized assets.• Perform other duties as assigned.Qualifications• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism is preferred or relatedfield• 4+ years of nonprofit, mission-driven communications, or agency experience.• Highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities ina fast-paced environment along with strong project management capabilities.• Exceptional writing, editing, and human-interest storytelling skills, with a deepunderstanding of dignified messaging in the nonprofit sector.• Ability to use AI tools effectively and responsibly to support communicationsstrategy, content development research, workflow efficiency, and audienceengagement with strong judgment around accuracy, ethics, privacy, and brandvoice.• Experience managing website content management systems, email marketingplatforms (e.g., Constant Contact, Mailchimp), social media & communitymanagement.• Experience or familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and data tracking formarketing campaigns is preferred.• Basic graphic design skills (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.) and basicphotography/content-capture skills• Deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.ScheduleThis is a full-time position based on a 40-hour work week. The baseline schedule is Mondaythrough Friday with a supported hybrid framework (minimum of three days onsite per week;remote days negotiable with the supervisor). Note: This role requires flexibility to adjusthours, and swap days as needed to facilitate evening and weekend content capture alongside special event deadlines.Compensation & BenefitsThis is a full-time salaried position with an annual salary range of $65,000 - $70,000commensurate with experience and qualifications. Fourth Church and Chicago Lights offera robust benefits package including:• Medical insurance (church pays 85% of employee monthly premium and 75% foreligible dependents).• Optional dental and vision plans.• Generous PTO: 17 days plus 11 paid holidays.• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions after one year of service.• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for medical and dependent care.• Transit and commuter parking benefits.• Life and short-term disability insurance; optional long-term disability and lifeinsurance.EEO StatementFourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Lights are committed to equal employmentopportunity for all qualified persons, without regard to race, color, citizenship status,national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age,creed, physical or mental disability, marital status or familial status, veteran status, militarystatus, source of income, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law. FourthChurch and Chicago Lights seek to build and retain a diverse staff and is committed tofostering an equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated as a respectedand valued member of the team.Fourth Church and Chicago Lights are committed to elevating the voices of individuals ofall backgrounds, including but not limited to women and people of color, Native people,immigrants and refugees, low-income people, LGBTQ+, and transgender, gender nonconforming, and non-binary people, people with disabilities, and accordingly encouragequalified individuals from all communities to apply.