Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Background

Breast cancer is a complex disease with no simple solution. Research is the key to stopping it in its tracks. Founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world. We invest in the best minds in science—from those investigating prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and metastasis—giving them the opportunity to pursue their most innovative ideas. Our combination of investment and cross-disciplinary collaboration accelerates the entire field and builds momentum for new discoveries.

Since its inception, BCRF has invested over $873 million in research that has been a significant contributor to a 43% decline in breast cancer deaths over the past three decades. BCRF investigators have been behind every major breakthrough in breast cancer research, and the field is moving faster than ever.

Today, BCRF is the largest private funder of breast cancer research—and metastatic breast cancer research—worldwide, and the top-rated breast cancer research organization in the country. BCRF is currently supporting 255 investigators across 14 countries at leading medical and academic institutions with $52.5 million in scientific grants.

About the Role

BCRF is looking for a visionary Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO) who can bring strategy, innovation, and creativity to effectively draw greater attention to our mission, importance, and impact.

Reporting to the President & CEO, the CMCO oversees all aspects of BCRF’s integrated marketing and communications strategy and programming. The CMCO is responsible for evolving the brand and communicating BCRF’s mission “to prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research.” The CMCO leads integrated marketing communications across multiple channels, donor audiences and corporate partners to elevate and enhance BCRF’s public profile. 

Leading a team of ten and external agencies and vendors, the CMCO has direct oversight of BCRF’s branding, storytelling, email marketing, public relations and media partnerships, publications, creative design, advertising, multimedia and video, websites, social media, crisis communications and all other external communications. Additionally, the team leads engagement through direct and peer-to-peer fundraising along with other digital strategies, raising more than $8 million annually.

As a strategic leader, the CMCO will support their team and BCRF by building capacity and infrastructure to cultivate a creative, thriving work environment. The successful candidate will have expertise in leading within a complex organization, be exceptionally mission-driven, a gifted communicator and collaborator, and believes deeply in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

The CMCO will work closely with our President & CEO, senior leadership team, Board of Directors, scientific leadership, and advisors to develop and implement strategies that creatively and effectively communicate our work and extraordinary progress in breast cancer research as well as our high standing in the field of scientific research. While BCRF is committed to making greater investments to grow our organization and impact, the CMCO will be skilled at utilizing a vast array of assets that exist within this unique organization.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop brand building and storytelling strategies that further BCRF’s strategic goals and priorities to elevate the brand recognition across multiple audiences.
• Promote consistency in messaging to increase brand recognition and promote BCRF’s mission and impact including by BCRF affiliates, programs and partners.
• Build new capabilities, utilizing marketing know-how and brand-building tools, to grow BCRF’s influence and impact.
• Oversee communications strategy and media relations.
• Produce content for a variety of platforms and audiences that elevates BCRF’s external profile, including in partnership and close collaboration with our internal development and events, partnerships, and research teams. 
• Inspire and lead the marketing and communications team and manage the department’s budget.
• Be opportunistic and responsive to the external landscape to evolve BCRF’s positioning and grow brand recognition.
• Work creatively within a resource constrained environment while leveraging the broad and significant array of assets to maximum impact.
• Ensure a growing digital and social media presence that deepens engagement and increases revenue while maintaining brand integrity and message consistency.
• Partner across the organization to ensure that the development and events, partnerships, research, grantmaking, teams have the tools and resources for delivering consistent and compelling brand messaging, including media and ambassador cultivation, programming and content creation, and public relations execution.
• Actively participate as a member of BCRF’s senior leadership team, helping shape organizational decisions and collaborations.
• Direct and monitor communications and marketing vendors, consultants, and freelancers within allocated budget for the department.

Qualifications

• Deep marketing and communications experience in a nonprofit or corporate setting with strengths in brand building and creative marketing, strategic visioning and execution, inspiring commitment to mission, and sound business acumen. Agency experience a plus.
• Brand positioning development, refinement, and management experience across all media, including digital platforms.
• Understanding of the continuously evolving communications landscape and new and best marketing and communications practices.
• Evidence of success in developing strategic plans, influencing strategies, metrics and achieving goals.
• Skilled at responding to evolving organizational strategies, growing teams, building infrastructure, and improving operations and efficiencies.
• Have a keen interest in medical research, and an ability to distill complex scientific material and compellingly communicate stories, data, and scientific findings to a broad cross-section of audiences.
• Bring a data-driven approach to evaluating impact and overall decision making.
• Experience functioning as a senior strategist and partnering with senior leadership team members and others.
• Accustomed to working, problem solving and collaborating thoughtfully in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build relationships and influence key stakeholders cross-functionally to manage and enhance all marketing and communications plans and materials.
• Ability to create and drive strategy while being a hands-on implementer.
• Proven success leading and motivating a high-performing team.

Compensation

Salary range for this position is $275,000 – $310,000 annually along with an exceptional benefits package focusing on employee physical, financial and mental wellness.

This is a full-time position. There will be occasional need to work extra hours on evenings and weekends to fulfill the requirements of the role, particularly during BCRF fundraising event seasons. Some travel is required for this role.

Location

This position is based in New York City, New York. While performing the duties of this role, you would work in a hybrid, in-office and remote arrangement.

To Apply

To apply, please follow the instructions below:

Send a cover letter expressing your intention to apply for the role, along with a CV and send it to hr@bcrf.org, noting “CMCO” in the subject line.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. All inquiries will be held in confidence.

Our Commitments

BCRF is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Disabled/Veterans Equal Opportunity Employer.

BCRF upholds an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
This policy applies to all applicants, employees, consultants, third-party workers.

Please note this role description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this role. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.