Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Senior Officer, Communications
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Westlake Village, California, United States, 91361
The Senior Officer, Communications (SCO) supports the Foundation's external and internal institutional communications. Reporting to the Communications Director, the Senior Communications Officer will manage the day‑to‑day institutional communications, including internal communications, as well as provide oversight for digital and executive communications. The role will manage the Digital Specialist and Website and Multimedia Manager and provide thought partnership and support for the Director. In addition, the role will work closely with the Communications Director to manage and drive communications around the annual Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize and will be responsible for communications oversight of the Stronger Communities Fund.
The ideal candidate must be a proactive team player with strong writing, critical thinking and problem‑solving skills and the ability to develop and execute strategy, write succinct messaging and secure internal alignment against deliverables. A track record of deep expertise with the digital communications landscape, including AI, a keen understanding of branding and marketing principles, and experience working with and providing advice to senior leadership are key requirements for success in this role. The Senior Communications Officer will also be responsible for the management and implementation of an internal communications strategy and will work closely across departments to align content and messaging. The role will be expected to lead in the development of a measurable institutional communications strategy, respond to time‑sensitive issues, manage internal and external communications requests and support the Communications Director as needed with key priorities and initiatives. Attention to detail and the ability to drive a project from inception to completion while bringing others on board are a must. The candidate must also have relevant experience and knowledge of issues related to the core work of the Foundation, and a deep understanding and curiosity of the ever‑changing communications landscape to help drive toward key goals.
Responsibilities Institutional Strategy, External and Internal
Develop and implement a measurable external communications strategy focused on holistic institutional impact and storytelling that increases the foundation's visibility within the philanthropic space and beyond.
Manage the day‑to‑day communications around the Foundation's institutional needs, including message development, Executive leadership opportunities, talking points, etc., ensuring brand and voice alignment, consistency and reputation considerations.
Provide management and surge support—both strategic and tactical—on crisis communications and reputation/issues management.
Develop and execute a comprehensive internal communications strategy that advances the foundation’s work, fosters employee engagement and connection with mission and values.
Serve as a strategic connector across the foundation’s different departments and units, ensuring alignment in messaging and making information accessible and relevant to staff.
Work with senior leadership to ensure that all external and internal communication is clear, consistent and aligned with mission and values.
Support the Executive Office, including crafting content and messaging and establishing a communications cadence with staff.
Lead all aspects of the quarterly all‑staff meeting including planning and implementation.
Draft messaging, case studies, talking points, remarks and stories tied to institutional priorities, including the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize and the Strong Communities Fund.
Partner with the Talent and Culture team and leadership to plan and thoughtfully communicate relevant organization‑wide changes, policies, and initiatives.
Digital Strategy Oversight and Management
Strategic oversight of the Foundations digital channels, including website and social media channels ensuring connection between content, audiences and platforms.
Deliver a consistent and data‑driven narrative around digital content choices and trade‑offs to ensure internal buy‑in and understanding.
Grow engagement and reach by ensuring consistent and engaging content that speaks to core and target audiences.
Provide strategic support, manage, and oversee the day‑to‑day work of the Digital Communication Specialist and Website and Multimedia Manager, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual support within the team.
Oversee the creation and coordination of timely and engaging digital content that brings together and aligns institutional and programmatic voice and impact for social media, blogs and website.
Manage the Digital Communications Specialist and Website and Multimedia Manager and ensure alignment around strategy, priorities and objectives.
Set clear performance standards, provide regular feedback, and lead annual performance reviews for direct reports, keeping in mind department and organizational goals.
Provide guidance and support to help with staff development and professional growth.
Hilton Humanitarian Prize
Serve as the key day‑to‑day communications focal point for the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.
Oversee the digital strategy and implementation, ensuring cross‑channel strategy and alignment, as well as an annual content engagement plan.
Draft remarks, talking points, FAQs, etc.
Lead communications around the Prize recipient announcement.
Partner with colleagues and outside vendors to develop and drive an annual visibility strategy for the Hilton Humanitarian Prize event.
Manage media inquiries related to the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.
Support with remarks, talking points, FAQ, as well as content for internal and external website stories relevant to the Prize.
Stronger Communities Fund
Manage and drive communications in support of the Stronger Communities Fund (SCF) grant‑making portfolio, including working with grantees and partners to identify joint opportunities for collaboration.
Identify joint opportunities and ensure message development, integration, and alignment between SCF's priorities and institutional priorities, as well as core grant‑making portfolios.
Establish strong working relationships with peers, partners and institutions relevant to the work and priorities of SCF.
Lead CEO communications, including media relations, speaking events and thought leadership opportunities related to SCF.
Ensure SCF work is integrated and reflected across the Foundation's channels, including website and social media and create storytelling opportunities around its impact.
Understand core issues and monitor external landscape, including policy developments and media narratives, that could impact the work of the SCF.
Communications Team Leadership
Provide thought partnership to Communications Director around strategy, risk management, budget allocations, external engagements, metrics, etc.
Step in and act on behalf of the Communications Director when needed / appropriate and provide guidance and leadership for the team. Develop, manage, and implement foundation‑wide communications guidance, policy updates and brand resources, working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure buy‑in and alignment.
Oversee quarterly metrics reporting, including the digital and media dashboards.
Active participant in achieving team metrics, including media engagement, content creation, and overall department goals.
Craft and maintain internal systems and processes that facilitate the flow of information and actively contribute to ensure information, including media database and content folders, are updated with the latest information.
Contribute to the ongoing learning and development of the communications team, and the wider foundation, about best practices in the field of strategic communications, media landscape, communications tools and innovations.
Requirements Education Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations or a related field. Graduate degree in related field desired.
Experience/Technical Skills Required
Minimum 10 years of relevant international and domestic work experience in external‑facing communications in the private, NGO or Cause‑Marketing sectors.
Expertise in leading digital communications, including channel strategy, audience cultivation and engagement with growth in mind. Deep understanding of using metrics and data to guide and grow strategy and engagement.
Experience with managing multiple projects at the same time and delivering results.
Substantive knowledge of Foundation issue areas and external landscape.
Previous experience working with and providing communications support to senior leadership, including the CEO level and crisis management.
Superb writer with excellent oral communication skills, strong presentation and organizational skills and the ability to articulate ideas clearly.
People management skills, including setting goals and performance management.
Demonstrated experience in driving and achieving communications objectives developing creative ideas and driving implementation across channels and audiences.
Track record and comfort working with media and knowledge of media research tools, including metrics, and publishing platforms.
Strong ability to manage projects and competing priorities, and set priorities without direct supervision.
Knowledge of AP Style strongly preferred. Knowledge of Microsoft Office products required.
Ability to adhere to the mandatory hybrid work schedule of 3 days per week at the Westlake Village office: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Experience/Technical Skills Desired
Experience managing external consultants, such as PR agencies and freelance writers.
Previous creative or media agency work.
Experience with media monitoring tools, platforms and understanding of nuances and purpose of various social media channels.
Comfort with creating presentation decks and creative slides and using AI tools.
Existing network of reporters relevant to Foundation issue areas.
Summary International hotelier Conrad N. Hilton established the grant‑making foundation that bears his name in 1944 to help people living in poverty and experiencing disadvantage worldwide. More than eighty years later, the work continues, concentrating on efforts to ensure healthy early childhood development and sustainable livelihoods for youth and refugee populations, support young people transitioning out of foster care, improve access to housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness, identify solutions to safe water access, and lift the work of Catholic sisters. Additionally, following selection by an independent, international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $3 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to an organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. The Foundation is one of the world’s largest, with approximately $7.3 billion in assets. It has awarded grants to date totaling more than $3.6 billion worldwide, and nearly $300 million in 2024. Please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org for more information.
In addition to your resume, a cover letter must be submitted as the initial page for consideration.
About Our Benefits
Comprehensive and generous health and life insurance options;
Fitness benefits;
Paid holidays, time off and parental leave;
Flexible work schedules and technology benefits;
Foundation‑funded retirement savings plan;
Professional learning and development and educational assistance;
Employee matching gifts to qualified non‑profit organizations.
The hiring range for this position is $174,000 to $218,000. The final base salary will be determined based on individual qualifications and experience.
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries
Non‑profit Organizations
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Responsibilities Institutional Strategy, External and Internal
Develop and implement a measurable external communications strategy focused on holistic institutional impact and storytelling that increases the foundation's visibility within the philanthropic space and beyond.
Manage the day‑to‑day communications around the Foundation's institutional needs, including message development, Executive leadership opportunities, talking points, etc., ensuring brand and voice alignment, consistency and reputation considerations.
Provide management and surge support—both strategic and tactical—on crisis communications and reputation/issues management.
Develop and execute a comprehensive internal communications strategy that advances the foundation’s work, fosters employee engagement and connection with mission and values.
Serve as a strategic connector across the foundation’s different departments and units, ensuring alignment in messaging and making information accessible and relevant to staff.
Work with senior leadership to ensure that all external and internal communication is clear, consistent and aligned with mission and values.
Support the Executive Office, including crafting content and messaging and establishing a communications cadence with staff.
Lead all aspects of the quarterly all‑staff meeting including planning and implementation.
Draft messaging, case studies, talking points, remarks and stories tied to institutional priorities, including the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize and the Strong Communities Fund.
Partner with the Talent and Culture team and leadership to plan and thoughtfully communicate relevant organization‑wide changes, policies, and initiatives.
Digital Strategy Oversight and Management
Strategic oversight of the Foundations digital channels, including website and social media channels ensuring connection between content, audiences and platforms.
Deliver a consistent and data‑driven narrative around digital content choices and trade‑offs to ensure internal buy‑in and understanding.
Grow engagement and reach by ensuring consistent and engaging content that speaks to core and target audiences.
Provide strategic support, manage, and oversee the day‑to‑day work of the Digital Communication Specialist and Website and Multimedia Manager, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual support within the team.
Oversee the creation and coordination of timely and engaging digital content that brings together and aligns institutional and programmatic voice and impact for social media, blogs and website.
Manage the Digital Communications Specialist and Website and Multimedia Manager and ensure alignment around strategy, priorities and objectives.
Set clear performance standards, provide regular feedback, and lead annual performance reviews for direct reports, keeping in mind department and organizational goals.
Provide guidance and support to help with staff development and professional growth.
Hilton Humanitarian Prize
Serve as the key day‑to‑day communications focal point for the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.
Oversee the digital strategy and implementation, ensuring cross‑channel strategy and alignment, as well as an annual content engagement plan.
Draft remarks, talking points, FAQs, etc.
Lead communications around the Prize recipient announcement.
Partner with colleagues and outside vendors to develop and drive an annual visibility strategy for the Hilton Humanitarian Prize event.
Manage media inquiries related to the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.
Support with remarks, talking points, FAQ, as well as content for internal and external website stories relevant to the Prize.
Stronger Communities Fund
Manage and drive communications in support of the Stronger Communities Fund (SCF) grant‑making portfolio, including working with grantees and partners to identify joint opportunities for collaboration.
Identify joint opportunities and ensure message development, integration, and alignment between SCF's priorities and institutional priorities, as well as core grant‑making portfolios.
Establish strong working relationships with peers, partners and institutions relevant to the work and priorities of SCF.
Lead CEO communications, including media relations, speaking events and thought leadership opportunities related to SCF.
Ensure SCF work is integrated and reflected across the Foundation's channels, including website and social media and create storytelling opportunities around its impact.
Understand core issues and monitor external landscape, including policy developments and media narratives, that could impact the work of the SCF.
Communications Team Leadership
Provide thought partnership to Communications Director around strategy, risk management, budget allocations, external engagements, metrics, etc.
Step in and act on behalf of the Communications Director when needed / appropriate and provide guidance and leadership for the team. Develop, manage, and implement foundation‑wide communications guidance, policy updates and brand resources, working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure buy‑in and alignment.
Oversee quarterly metrics reporting, including the digital and media dashboards.
Active participant in achieving team metrics, including media engagement, content creation, and overall department goals.
Craft and maintain internal systems and processes that facilitate the flow of information and actively contribute to ensure information, including media database and content folders, are updated with the latest information.
Contribute to the ongoing learning and development of the communications team, and the wider foundation, about best practices in the field of strategic communications, media landscape, communications tools and innovations.
Requirements Education Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations or a related field. Graduate degree in related field desired.
Experience/Technical Skills Required
Minimum 10 years of relevant international and domestic work experience in external‑facing communications in the private, NGO or Cause‑Marketing sectors.
Expertise in leading digital communications, including channel strategy, audience cultivation and engagement with growth in mind. Deep understanding of using metrics and data to guide and grow strategy and engagement.
Experience with managing multiple projects at the same time and delivering results.
Substantive knowledge of Foundation issue areas and external landscape.
Previous experience working with and providing communications support to senior leadership, including the CEO level and crisis management.
Superb writer with excellent oral communication skills, strong presentation and organizational skills and the ability to articulate ideas clearly.
People management skills, including setting goals and performance management.
Demonstrated experience in driving and achieving communications objectives developing creative ideas and driving implementation across channels and audiences.
Track record and comfort working with media and knowledge of media research tools, including metrics, and publishing platforms.
Strong ability to manage projects and competing priorities, and set priorities without direct supervision.
Knowledge of AP Style strongly preferred. Knowledge of Microsoft Office products required.
Ability to adhere to the mandatory hybrid work schedule of 3 days per week at the Westlake Village office: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Experience/Technical Skills Desired
Experience managing external consultants, such as PR agencies and freelance writers.
Previous creative or media agency work.
Experience with media monitoring tools, platforms and understanding of nuances and purpose of various social media channels.
Comfort with creating presentation decks and creative slides and using AI tools.
Existing network of reporters relevant to Foundation issue areas.
Summary International hotelier Conrad N. Hilton established the grant‑making foundation that bears his name in 1944 to help people living in poverty and experiencing disadvantage worldwide. More than eighty years later, the work continues, concentrating on efforts to ensure healthy early childhood development and sustainable livelihoods for youth and refugee populations, support young people transitioning out of foster care, improve access to housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness, identify solutions to safe water access, and lift the work of Catholic sisters. Additionally, following selection by an independent, international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $3 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to an organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. The Foundation is one of the world’s largest, with approximately $7.3 billion in assets. It has awarded grants to date totaling more than $3.6 billion worldwide, and nearly $300 million in 2024. Please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org for more information.
In addition to your resume, a cover letter must be submitted as the initial page for consideration.
About Our Benefits
Comprehensive and generous health and life insurance options;
Fitness benefits;
Paid holidays, time off and parental leave;
Flexible work schedules and technology benefits;
Foundation‑funded retirement savings plan;
Professional learning and development and educational assistance;
Employee matching gifts to qualified non‑profit organizations.
The hiring range for this position is $174,000 to $218,000. The final base salary will be determined based on individual qualifications and experience.
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries
Non‑profit Organizations
#J-18808-Ljbffr