Job Title: Communications Manager
Reports to: Director of Communications
Job Status: Full time (40 hours/week)
Classification: Exempt / Salaried
Salary: $70,000-$80,000
Application Deadline: October 17, 2025
Starting: November
Location: Washington, DC
Schedule:
Hybrid; 2 in-office days and 3 remote days. Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm. Some special events will occur outside of regular work hours.
About Generation Hope
Generation Hope is a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring all student parents have the opportunity to succeed and achieve economic mobility. We drive systemic change by partnering with education and policy leaders while offering direct, two-generation support to teen parents in college and their children. To date, we’ve provided over $1.5 million in tuition assistance, supported more than 500 teen parents in college, celebrated more than 200 degrees earned through our program, and partnered with over 30 two- and four-year institutions nationwide.
Our team culture is rooted in excellence, respect, and inclusion. Named "one of the best nonprofits" by Spur Local, we embrace diversity in all its forms—background, thought, and experiences. If our mission and culture resonate with you, we invite you to consider joining our team. For more information, visit www.generationhope.org .
Position Summary:
Generation Hope is looking for a passionate self-starter who can enhance our communications efforts, elevate our brand, tell compelling stories, and position Generation Hope as a premiere two-generation model for reducing poverty. Reporting to the Director of Communications, the Communications Manager will help develop and implement the strategy for all communication, website, public relations, and collateral to consistently articulate Generation Hope’s mission. The Communications Manager will work closely with Development, Program, Learning & Innovation, Policy & Research, and other staff across the organization to play an integral role in the success of Generation Hope’s year-round development and outreach efforts, ensuring branding consistency across the organization. The Communications Manager manages the Digital Marketing Coordinator, who writes all content and conducts analytics for Generation Hope’s social channels and creates graphics as needed, and the Communications Coordinator, who works across departments to develop key messages and stories. Applicants should be excited about developing and implementing plans to engage target audiences and spread the message about our work. The ideal candidate should have a proven track record of success in the communications sector or related fields, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Communications Planning, Execution, and Management
- Supporting the Director of Communications in creating multi-year and annual communications plans that meet the organization's strategic goals.
- Executing multi-channel communications efforts that articulate Generation Hope's mission, work, and impact to donors, volunteers, program participants, families, and other external stakeholders and align with the organization’s strategic goals.
- Managing communications team assignments, and working collaboratively across departments to fulfill deliverables.
Content Management and Generation
- Generating content and managing communications projects that engage audience segments and lead to measurable action, including annual and special fundraising campaigns such as direct mail and other solicitations, program needs, thought leadership efforts, and overall key messaging for the organization.
- Managing the development, creation, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic collateral including, but not limited to, newsletters, appeals, event collateral, brochures, annual reports, pitch decks, and Generation Hope’s website, delivering excellent copy that aligns to our brand voice and inspires the reader. Advising other departments on their email and print communications to ensure consistent messaging and branding.
- Assisting with communications needs for special events. Responsibilities include creating talking points for speakers, writing copy for event invitations, drafting and sending event emails, and liaising with media and PR firms as needed.
- Managing and distributing the quarterly e-newsletter and leading other email campaigns for the organization. Tasks include: writing articles, designing layouts, conducting story interviews, and managing email lists.
- Managing and distributing the bi-annual print newsletter. Tasks include: writing articles, designing layouts, conducting story interviews, and working with the Development Coordinator to manage the mailing list.
Monitoring Impact
- Monitoring, tracking, and analyzing the effectiveness of communications activities and providing data-driven strategies and tactics with an eye for return-on-investment.
- Managing Generation Hope’s website, and keeping content dynamic, fresh, accurate, and updated.
Staff Management and Partnership
- Supervising communications staff, overseeing content strategy and development to ensure consistent brand representation across all channels; and guiding the creation of marketing materials, awareness pieces, and storytelling content while managing digital assets and ensuring effective audience engagement.
- Supporting the Director of Communications in working with the media and external public relations support to secure optimal media exposure for the organization, including arranging interviews, confirming logistics, confirming Scholars to be interviewed, following up with reporters, pursuing leads, etc.
- Providing media prep expertise to the CEO, as needed, and executing a plan to position the CEO as a thought leader in the field by participating in high-profile speaking or media opportunities.
- Regularly meeting with the other teams to stay abreast of and assist with programmatic needs, Scholar stories and experiences, technical assistance and policy news, and ways to communicate impact to our audiences.
Thought Leadership and Continuing Education
- Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
- Developing expertise in Generation Hope's visual identity, voice, and tone, consistently representing and evolving the organization's brand voice in alignment with its core values.
- Recommending revisions to our Branding/Writing Style Guide to the Director of Communications and training the wider Generation Hope team on the look, feel, and voice of Generation Hope.
- Supporting the Director of Communications to provide training and support to the National Board and/or Local Advisory Boards on Generation Hope’s key messaging, branding, and other communications needs.
- Other duties as assigned.
Other duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. They may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related discipline.
- At least 3 years of communications experience, ideally covering areas such as media relations, website content, newsletters, social media, and donor communications.
- Strong supervisory skills. At least 1 year of nonprofit or agency management experience required; more than 1 year preferred
- Strong interpersonal, administration, and management skills. At least 1 year of nonprofit or digital agency management experience required; more than 1 year preferred
- Experience developing and implementing communications strategies.
- Proficient in Google Apps, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Canva, and social and digital applications.
- Diverse portfolio of copy examples including the web, print, advertising, email, and social media.
- Passion for the mission and vision of Generation Hope.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated success securing earned media coverage through proactive pitching and relationship management with press and media outlets.
- Proficiency in digital marketing, including managing and optimizing campaigns on Google Ads and Meta Ads platforms.
- Experience project managing communications staff, fostering professional growth, and building collaborative teams.
- Track record of developing and executing innovative creative strategies tied to organizational goals, with an emphasis on audience growth and engagement.
Competencies:
- The ability to take knowledge and transform it into exciting and compelling messages, and disseminate it to the right audiences through the best distribution channels.
- An eye for graphic design.
- Highly collaborative working style with a sincere commitment to working with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters.
- Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills. Knows how to craft and tell stories.
- A strong track record as someone who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently.
- Positive energy and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels.
- Entrepreneurial and innovative. Comfortable working on a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to adapt copy tone of voice to align with various audiences.
- Incredible attention to detail, caring about the little things and always watching for typos.
- Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills -- stellar writer and an even better editor.
- Experience writing copy for marketing purposes.
- Ability to express your opinion confidently and with respect for others.
- The ability to participate in evening and weekend events.
- Preferred but not required: Working knowledge of database management, content management systems, and design and web software, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and InDesign.
- Personal and professional commitment to understanding and dismantling systemic and institutional racism.
Physical demands:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.
Work environment:
Normal office environment. Some work will take place off-site during special events.
Travel:
This position requires national, overnight travel approximately 10% of the time for activities such as meetings and events in and out of the DC Metro area. Must be able to travel (via plane, train, or car).
Candidates must be located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area by the start date.
Salary and Benefits:
Generation Hope provides full benefits, including 403(b), health, dental, and paid time off. More information on benefits can be found at generationhope.org/careers.
EEO Statement:
Generation Hope is an equal opportunity employer. Generation Hope will not discriminate on any basis prohibited by law, including marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, matriculation, political affiliation, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, or reproductive health decisions), age, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, and disability.