Lifecycle Marketing & Communications Manager

At the Davis Phinney Foundation, we help people with Parkinson’s live well today. Since 2004, the Foundation has brought to life some of the most important programs and research for those affected by Parkinson’s. Our community includes people living with Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s care partners, families, and friends in addition to physicians and allied health professionals.  

POSITION OVERVIEW & PURPOSE

This Lifecycle Marketing & Communications Manager role will develop audience strategies, lifecycle communications, and compelling storytelling that deepen engagement, strengthen relationships, and inspire support for our mission. You'll have the opportunity to build a lifecycle communications program from the ground up by defining audience journeys, developing messaging strategies, and creating the content that brings them to life.

You'll also serve as the marketing lead for major fundraising initiatives, owning the development and execution of integrated marketing plans across email, social media, print, web, and other relevant channels. This includes campaigns such as the year-end fundraising campaign, mid-year campaign, Make-A-Will Month, and DAF Day, as well as the Foundation's annual report. You'll work closely with the Development team and other stakeholders to establish campaign objectives, develop messaging and content strategies, coordinate deliverables, and ensure campaigns are executed effectively and on schedule.

This is a highly collaborative, hands-on role that combines strategic planning, compelling storytelling, campaign management, and performance optimization. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing a comprehensive marketing strategy, writing engaging communications, managing multiple initiatives, and using data to continuously improve results.

The ideal candidate brings proven lifecycle marketing experience, strong strategic thinking, and the ability to translate audience insights into meaningful communications. Experience in nonprofit or donor communications is valued but not required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

Key Duties 

Donor & Fundraising Communications

• Lead marketing and communications strategy for key fundraising campaigns, including mid-year, year-end, and other priority giving initiatives.
• Work closely with development to translate fundraising priorities into clear, compelling, audience-focused communications.
• Develop campaign concepts, messaging, audience approaches, calls to action, and the content needed to execute campaigns across email, web, landing pages, social, stewardship, and other channels.
• Lead donor stewardship and impact communications, including communications and storytelling for the Foundation’s annual report.

Newsletter & Storytelling

• Lead strategy, planning, and content development for the Foundation’s regular constituent newsletter.
• Develop newsletter themes, story selection, messaging, calls to action, and editorial flow.
• Identify and develop compelling donor, constituent, and program stories that demonstrate the impact of the Foundation’s work.
• Partner with programs, development, and other teams to turn organizational priorities and information into clear, compelling, audience-centered content.
• Maintain a consistent voice and messaging approach across donor and constituent communications.

Engagement, Lifecycle & Audience Strategy

• Develop and strengthen communications that welcome, engage, retain, and re-engage constituents and build deeper relationships with DPF over time.
• Consider the full constituent communications journey when planning messaging and campaigns.
• Identify opportunities to improve engagement, conversion pathways, and donor retention through stronger communications.
• Recommend messaging and content approaches based on audience needs, behaviors, interests, and relationship with DPF.
• Partner with marketing operations on audience segmentation, automation, tracking, and reporting.

Campaign Management & Performance

• Lead donor and constituent communications campaigns from planning through execution and evaluation.
• Manage timelines and coordinate inputs, reviews, approvals, and deliverables across teams.
• Establish appropriate goals and success measures, monitor campaign and engagement performance, and use results to improve messaging, content, cadence, audience strategy, and calls to action.
• Partner with marketing operations on reporting and technical campaign execution.
• Own the development and execution of integrated marketing plans for the Foundation's key fundraising initiatives, including the year-end campaign, mid-year campaign, Make-A-Will Month, DAF Day, and other fundraising-focused campaigns.
• Develop campaign strategies, messaging frameworks, audience segmentation, communication calendars, and channel plans across email, social media, print, web, and other relevant channels.
• Own the marketing communications strategy, content development, and cross-functional coordination for the Foundation's annual report.
• Manage multiple campaign timelines, priorities, deliverables, and stakeholder relationships to ensure marketing initiatives are executed effectively.
• Evaluate campaign performance and engagement results, identify opportunities for improvement, and apply insights to future campaigns.

Role Boundaries

This is a marketing role that works closely with development. The position does not own donor portfolios, major gifts, fundraising revenue goals, grants, gift processing, or development operations.

Marketing operations owns the systems, data, email platform administration, technical automation, and reporting infrastructure. The Lifecycle Marketing & Communications Manager owns the communications strategy, messaging, content, and campaign approach those systems support.

Success Looks Like

• Donor and constituent communications are strategic, coordinated, and audience-focused.
• Development has a strong marketing partner who can translate fundraising goals into effective communications.
• Major fundraising campaigns and the Foundation’s newsletter have clear strategy, strong content, and coordinated execution.
• Communications build stronger engagement, stewardship, retention, and long-term relationships with DPF.
• Campaign performance and audience insights are used to continually improve communications.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Ability to think strategically, take ownership of initiatives, and follow through on execution.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a reliable approach to managing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Sound judgment and ability to make independent decisions, seek input when appropriate, and navigate competing perspectives.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across departments, collaborate constructively, and incorporate stakeholder feedback.
• Creative and curious mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities, ask thoughtful questions, and recommend new approaches.
• Proactive, adaptable, and resourceful approach to work, with the ability to take initiative and navigate ambiguity.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in marketing communications, donor communications, fundraising communications, content marketing, constituent engagement, lifecycle marketing, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated experience creating compelling content for different audiences, channels, and objectives.
• Experience developing communications strategy and executing that strategy through hands-on content development.
• Experience planning and managing integrated communications or marketing campaigns from concept through completion.
• Strong understanding of audience needs, messaging, storytelling, and calls to action.
• Experience with email marketing, newsletters, and digital communications.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple campaigns and priorities at once.
• Comfort using performance data to improve communications.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization is helpful but not required.

TRAVEL

There is no travel for this role.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT  

This position is primarily sedentary and performed in an indoor office or remote work environment, requiring extended periods of sitting, computer use, and standard office equipment operation. Physical demands include occasional standing, walking, reaching, bending, and lifting up to 10 pounds. The work environment is generally climate-controlled with minimal hazards, primarily those associated with typical office settings, such as ergonomic strain, eye fatigue, and occasional slips or trips. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

BENEFITS

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement plan with Employer Contribution
• Paid Vacation
• Holiday and Sick Time
• Voluntary Vision, Short Term Disability, Accident, and other optional coverage available

Both hybrid and remote candidates will be considered for this role.

STATEMENT 

The qualification requirements, physical demands, and work environment characteristics described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job successfully.  

This job description in no way states or implies that the essential duties described are the only responsibilities involved in the position.  The employee is required to follow any other instruction and to perform any other duties by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. 

This job description in no way states or implies a contract of employment.  Davis Phinney Foundation reserves the right to modify this job description at their discretion at any time and will notify the employee of the change.  

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. 

We are an equal opportunity employer.  At Davis Phinney Foundation, we are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to promote inclusiveness in everything we do.  We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  Davis Phinney Foundation is also committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and see.  We will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.