SkillUp is a new, 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to helping the millions of frontline workers impacted by COVID-19 get rehired for in-demand jobs in high-growth industries. SkillUp combines career navigation, training programs, and job opportunities in a curated, mobile-first platform (www.skillup.org). Specifically, we serve COVID-impacted frontline workers earning less than $40,000 a year, with less than a bachelor’s degree, who are disproportionately people of color and women.

SkillUp moves quickly and at scale because of the urgency and historic nature of this challenge.  We are a coalition of more than 50 leading technology companies, hiring partners, learning providers, and nonprofits dedicated to giving workers the opportunity to build new skills that help them access  in-demand jobs with promising career paths. While we move quickly in response to the COVID crisis, we are building the capacity, assets, and funding models to contribute to a new learning ecosystem post-COVID.

We’re looking for a highly-motivated, innovative and accomplished marketing executive to head up our ambitious “direct to worker” engagement efforts and organizational communications. This leader possesses refined communication and leadership skills, with proven success in innovative marketing campaigns across the continuum of today’s marketing channels. This leader also has a strong track record developing, integrating, and implementing a broad range of public relations activities. 

The SkillUp Vice President of Marketing & Communications will report to the Executive Director, and because the SkillUp Coalition is a remote organization, the position can be based anywhere.

• Lead the development of all our marketing strategies across multiple channels (e.g., mass media, social media, email, employers, nonprofits, regional efforts, etc.) with a mastery of modern digital marketing. 

• Develop population-specific outreach strategies to reach sub-populations of workers particularly affected by COVID (e.g. 1099 workers, food service workers and immigrants, to name a few).

• Lead development of all creative and content, in partnership with in-house staff and multiple outside agencies.

• Orchestrate the execution of numerous simultaneous performance marketing campaigns (paid social, paid search, email), including design of test/control segmentation, implementation of tests, detailed real-time tracking, results reporting, gleaning actionable insights and operationalizing them for continual improvement.

• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance SkillUp’s brand identity; broaden awareness of its programs and priorities; and increase the visibility of its programs across key stakeholder audiences.

• Exercise judgment to prioritize SkillUp media opportunities, plus prepare talking points, speeches, presentations, and other supporting material as needed.

• Actively engage, cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding SkillUp’s programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.

• Work cross-functionally with Product Manager, Development, and Program leads to ensure all marketing and communications plans are clearly aligned with other core SkillUp units.

• Oversee the day-to-day activities of marketing and communications, including budgeting, planning, and coordination with key partners and stakeholders.

You'll Be Well Positioned to Succeed in This Role if...

• You’re excited to dig into the “no easy answers” work of developing a holistic marketing and cultivation ecosystem that a) connects with COVID-displaced workers where they are, b) builds trust in SkillUp, c) nurtures meaningful relationships with workers, and d) supports them all the way through to landing an in-demand job in a high-growth career field.

• You have well-developed storytelling muscles, with an ability to recognize nuance in an individual worker’s journey, but also to craft meta-narratives that are resonant across the workforce development space.

• You have the heart of an equity-minded nonprofit leader AND the marketing savvy of an opportunistic for-profit exec. 

• You’re extremely nimble, agile, see opportunity in every challenge, and have a swiss army knife’s worth of career experiences to draw upon.   

Your Past Work Experience Looks Like...

We expect to see a track record of success in similar roles, including:

• Deep, demonstrable understanding of marketing strategy development, execution for new and existing brands, and ability to plan effective promotions.

• Expert knowledge of paid advertising (Facebook and Google Adwords, etc.).

• Deep skills in marketing campaign development, execution and leveraging data and analytics to improve results and increase ROI.

• A proven track record of aligning an organization and its key stakeholders around the brand’s marketing strategy.

• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements.

• Extensive successful writing and editing experience (externally focused) with a variety of print and online communications media.

• Creative and thoughtful on how new media technologies can be utilized.

However, You Absolutely Must...

And while all of the above qualifications are important, there are three demonstrated capabilities most important for this job, and they are non-negotiable (blatantly borrowed from Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn):

• Dream Big
• Get Sh*t Done
• Know How to Have Fun

SkillUp is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SkillUp celebrates and cultivates diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, culture, and experience.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.