COMPANY INFORMATION:
Founded at the University of Michigan Medical School, TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) is among the most innovative and rapidly-growing school-based mental health solutions in the country. After a decade in the academic setting, TRAILS spun out from the University in 2022 and launched as an independent organization with approximately 35 staff. Within a year, our staff size had more than doubled. Today, our growing team is working toward the TRAILS mission of transforming the landscape of youth mental health care delivery by equipping school staff with the training and resources they need to provide evidence-based and culturally responsible programming to their students.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Director of Marketing and Communications is the leader of all TRAILS branding, marketing, and communications efforts. Along with a small team (Communications Manager and Communications Specialist), the Director is responsible for creating a TRAILS marketing strategy and then executing it with their team and across the organization. On a day-to-day basis, this could look like creating slide decks for an upcoming CEO trip, revising one-pagers and marketing materials for a conference, or working across teams to create a report for a specific group of education administrators. This is a perfect fit for a candidate who has a strategic mindset and doesn’t hesitate to execute their vision, and who is eager for the chance to work at a rapidly growing organization with national-level impact and reach.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES
MARKETING MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTION (50%)
Create and execute a marketing plan focusing on key TRAILS audiences (policymakers, school administrators, school mental health professionals, and educators)
Create and update high-quality marketing materials, including presentation slide decks, reports, flyers / one-pagers, graphics, and more
Manage and regularly update all TRAILS external marketing channels, including mass email and social media
Create and maintain TRAILS talking points and messaging, from general inquiries to needs for a specific event or rapid-response moment
Evaluate all existing communications and marketing efforts, centering data and metrics; make thoughtful decisions and recommendations based on that data
Manage and/or assist with TRAILS media relations, including op-ed writing and placement and relationship-building with reporters, outlets, and other partners
Center diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all TRAILS communications, ensuring they reflect our organization’s overarching DEI Philosophy and Values
Represent the needs of Marketing and Communications (and External Affairs, when asked to do so by the VP of External Affairs) at internal and external meetings; ensure that the Marketing and Communications Team knows about all updates to projects and tasks that would affect their work
MARKETING SYSTEMS AND BRAND UNITY (30%)
Create and maintain sustainable marketing systems for storing and updating TRAILS marketing resources (e.g., systems for when and how to update TRAILS marketing materials, organization format for simple and easy access to TRAILS marketing materials and documents in Google Drive, etc.)
Refine and protect the TRAILS brand identity and voice, including communications led by other TRAILS staffers (e.g., unified use of slide deck template, logos, fonts)
Collaborate across the organization to ensure a unified TRAILS design strategy (involving designers from the Technology Innovations department, Training and Materials department, and beyond as appropriate)
Build relationships and work collaboratively across teams; Marketing and Communications often supports other teams throughout the organization, requiring clear communication across teams and regularly testing our project management skills
TEAM MANAGEMENT AND ORG-WIDE RESPONSIBILITIES (20%)
Provide leadership, guidance, and communication to team members to ensure high-quality deliverables and a culture of welcoming feedback (needed improvements or changes should not be communicated implicitly or postponed)
Coach and mentor team members to align team and organizational goals with team member strengths and interests when possible, and to significantly further their careers
Hold yourself to high standards as a leader of your team, especially on issues of feedback and accountability
Attend all staff meetings and retreats, workgroups and other relevant TRAILS meetings as necessary
Support TRAILS team with all hands on deck events as needed and other team initiatives
