Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

SAGE is the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older adults (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, and other self-identifying members of the community). Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources for LGBTQ+ older adults and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBTQ+ older people and provides cultural competency training for aging providers and LGBTQ+ organizations.

What we need: 

SAGE is entering a transformative chapter under the leadership of a new CEO and a renewed strategic vision. As our Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, you will serve as the organization's senior marketing & communications strategist and brand steward, responsible for increasing SAGE's visibility, influence, constituent engagement, and revenue growth.

Reporting to the Chief Development and Communications Officer, the Senior Director will lead enterprise-wide marketing, communications, public relations, storytelling, and audience growth strategies that advance SAGE's mission nationally. This role will oversee the development and execution of integrated campaigns that elevate SAGE's brand, amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ older adults, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and position SAGE as the leading authority on LGBTQ+ aging.

As a senior leader, you will serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive team, helping shape organizational messaging, national advocacy position, reputation management, executive communications, and public engagement strategies while fostering strong collaboration across Development, Advocacy, National Impact & Engagement, SAGEServes, and external partners.

Who we need: 

We are seeking an accomplished communications leader who combines strategic vision with strong execution. The ideal candidate is a relationship-builder, storyteller, and senior advisor who understands how to leverage marketing and communications to drive organizational growth, influence public discourse, shape SAGE’s national advocacy position and deepen mission impact. This position will require someone who is committed to SAGE’s mission and core values. 

What you’ll do: 

The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications provides strategic oversight of SAGE's brand, communications, marketing, public relations, and audience engagement efforts nationwide. This position leads an integrated marketing and communications function that supports organizational growth, fundraising, advocacy, program participation, and thought leadership. At SAGE, you’ll shape the organizational brand voice and that of the CEO within a national communication strategy anchored in an understanding of the LGBTQ+ movement and SAGE’s advocacy efforts. Serving as a member of SAGE’s leadership team, this position is the keeper of SAGE’s brand and organizational voice as well as a key influencer and an excellent collaborator within the SAGE community. This role will work in close alignment with professionals from Advocacy, SAGEServes, National Impact & Engagement, Development, and vendors to create and implement best-in-class marketing campaigns. This position will utilize various tactics, including advertising — digital and traditional, social media, experiential, and more in order to achieve the goals and objectives from the annual communications and marketing plan that highlight signature SAGE activations like the SAGE Awards and Gala, Pride and targeted advocacy campaigns.

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Growth

• Develop and execute a multi-year integrated marketing and communications strategy aligned with SAGE's strategic plan.
• Establish growth strategies that advance SAGE’s advocacy agenda and increase national awareness, constituent engagement, donor acquisition, earned media visibility and revenue-generating opportunities.
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational planning, institutional priorities, and change-management initiatives.
• Advise executive leadership on communications opportunities, reputational risks, emerging trends, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Lead annual communications planning and establish measurable goals aligned with organizational objectives.

Brand Strategy and Audience Development

• Serve as the organization's chief steward of the SAGE brand, ensuring consistency, relevance, and resonance across all channels and audiences.
• Lead audience segmentation, engagement, and growth strategies informed by data, research, and constituent feedback.
• Continuously evaluate and evolve SAGE's messaging architecture to ensure it reflects the needs, aspirations, and priorities of LGBTQ+ older adults and allies.
• Ensure all communications reinforce SAGE's role as the national leader in LGBTQ+ aging advocacy, services, and education.

Executive Communication and Thought Leadership

• Develop and oversee executive communications strategies for the CEO and senior leadership.
• Position SAGE leaders as trusted national voices on aging, LGBTQ+ equity, public policy, and social impact.
• Lead speechwriting, op-ed development, executive messaging, and thought-leadership initiatives.
• Identify and secure speaking opportunities, media placements, conference participation, and strategic partnerships that expand SAGE's visibility and influence.

Marketing, Content, and Campaign Management

• Lead the development and execution of integrated marketing campaigns supporting fundraising, advocacy, brand awareness, program participation, and special events.
• Oversee content strategy across digital, social, print, video, email, web, and emerging communications channels.
• Champion compelling storytelling that elevates the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults and demonstrates mission impact.
• Partner closely with Development to strengthen fundraising communications, donor stewardship, acquisition, and retention efforts.
• Partner with Advocacy and National Impact teams to amplify policy priorities and community engagement initiatives.

Public Relations, Media and Crisis Communications

• Design and lead a comprehensive national media relations strategy that strengthens SAGE's visibility, credibility, and thought leadership. 
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, producers, influencers, celebrity advocates, and strategic partners. 
• Serve as the primary organizational lead for external communications, media engagement, and public-facing messaging. 
• Develop and oversee proactive reputation management strategies that protect and enhance SAGE's brand and public image.
• Lead organizational crisis communications planning, preparedness, and response efforts, including the development of crisis communication protocols, messaging frameworks, media statements, executive talking points, and stakeholder communications. 
• Advise the CEO and senior leadership on communications risks, sensitive issues, reputational threats, and emerging public affairs challenges. 
• Serve as a member of the organizational incident response team and communications lead during crises, ensuring accurate, timely, and mission-aligned messaging across all stakeholder groups. 
• Prepare and train executive leadership and designated spokespersons for media interviews, crisis response situations, and public-facing communications. 
• Monitor media coverage, social sentiment, and emerging issues to identify opportunities and risks that may impact SAGE's reputation and mission. 
• Manage external public relations agencies, crisis communications consultants, and media partners as needed.

Digital Strategy and Innovation

• Oversee digital marketing, website strategy, social media, SEO, email marketing, and emerging technologies.
• Leverage marketing technology, automation, analytics, and audience insights to improve engagement and conversion.
• Identify innovative approaches that increase visibility, audience growth, and supporter engagement.
• Ensure digital experiences support organizational objectives and constituent needs.

Team Leadership and Organizational Culture

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing communications and marketing team.
• Develop team capacity through coaching, professional development, and performance management.
• Foster collaboration across departments and external stakeholders.
• Manage agency relationships, consultants, contractors, and production vendors.
• Serve as organizational lead for signature activations like the NYC Heritage of Pride March.

Budgeting and Metrics

• Develop and oversee the organization's annual marketing and communications budget.
• Establish KPIs, dashboards, and performance metrics to evaluate organizational impact.
• Utilize data and market insights to optimize strategies and inform executive decision-making.
• Provide regular reporting and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and the Board of Directors, as needed.

While no one person embodies all the qualities outlined below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences. Please consider applying, even if you do not have *all* the “need-to-haves!”

Need-to-haves: 

• Passion for SAGE’s mission and knowledge about and comfort working with diverse LGBTQ+ and TGNCNB communities. 
• Minimum of 10–12 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in marketing, communications, public relations, brand strategy, or related fields.
• Minimum of 5 years leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated success developing enterprise-wide communications strategies that drive audience growth, engagement, awareness, and organizational outcomes.
• Experience advising senior executives and serving as a strategic communications counselor.
• Strong expertise in public relations, media relations, crisis communications, executive communications, and brand management.
• Proven ability to navigate sensitive organizational, political, advocacy, and stakeholder issues while maintaining trust and credibility across diverse audiences.
• Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, and presentation skills.
• Experience utilizing data, research, and analytics to inform communications strategies.

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience working in national nonprofits, advocacy organizations, aging services, healthcare, or LGBTQ+ organizations.
• Existing relationships with national media, journalists, producers, and thought-leadership networks.
• Experience supporting CEO visibility and executive thought leadership initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational rebranding, audience growth, or major awareness campaigns.
• Experience managing agencies, media firms, and celebrity/influencer engagement.
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, Business, or related field.
• Advanced degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public policy, or related field.
• Spanish language proficiency

Role Details:

• Status: Full-time, exempt, ~35 hours per week
• The location and work schedule: Remote, M-F 9:30am-5:30pm (occasional nights & weekends as needed)
• The salary: $136,000
• The benefits: SAGE offers a rich benefits package including:

• • Two medical insurance plan options in which to enroll – with a very generous HRA contribution by SAGE and premium subsidies
  • An annually funded HRA (of up to $5k) for gender affirming care not covered by medical insurance
  • Dental and Vision insurance with premium subsidies
  • A safe harbor 401(k) plan with a match from SAGE of up to 5%
  • Generous PTO and office closures for holidays (including ½ day closures the day before many holidays!)
  • 100% SAGE-paid family and medical leave for up to 12 weeks
  • 8 weeks of Sabbatical leave after seven years of employment
  • 100% SAGE-paid disability and life insurance with the opportunity to elect additional life insurance coverage for the employee and their dependents
  • Medical and dependent care FSA and transit pre-tax benefits
  • An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free and confidential support from licensed counselors on a variety of issues
  • A really terrific team! An opportunity to help make a positive impact on SAGE staff and culture!
  • A chance to support the LGBTQ+ community and be a part of an organization doing vital work!

Are you interested? (We hope so!): Please apply through our careers page: https://www.sageusa.org/about-us/careers/. Please include both your resume and a cover letter describing your interest in working with us and what you’d bring to the role!

Got questions?: Email careers@sageusa.org with questions about the application process.

Just a reminder: 

SAGE is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnicity, creed, color, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, alienage or national origin, ancestry, age, citizenship status, marital or family status, family medical history or genetic information, veteran status, HIV serostatus, military or military discharge status, height, weight, disability or handicap, domestic violence victim status, employment status, socioeconomic status, criminal history or arrest record, sexual or other reproductive health decisions, natural hair or hairstyle, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. SAGE is dedicated to this policy, with respect to all matters concerning employment.