TIPPING POINT COMMUNITY

CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS + EVENTS OFFICER

Client Organization:

Tipping Point’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty for people in the Bay Area who don’t have the resources to meet their basic needs. Since 2005, Tipping Point has invested nearly $350 million for housing, early childhood, education, and employment solutions in the region. Our board covers 100% of our operating costs, so every dollar donated goes where it’s needed most. Last year, 500,000 people in the Bay Area connected with our grantees. Visit www.tippingpoint.org to learn more.

Tipping Point Values:

Tipping Point’s core values are at the heart of everything we do and we look for individuals who share our commitments:

• We cultivate community because we know we are more powerful together.
• We practice gratitude.
• We hold ourselves accountable to achieving impact for and with the communities we serve.
• We relentlessly pursue equity because one’s background and identities should not predetermine one’s opportunities.

Position Overview:

Tipping Point is at a pivotal moment in fulfilling its mission as it considers its role in shifting the narrative around the systemic causes of poverty and subsequent solutions for the Bay Area. Germane to that narrative shift is the need for a leader capable of understanding and communicating the cultural context for this work, the stories of clients and grantees impacted by this work and the imperative for supporting this work, from the Bay Area community and existing and potential donors.

The Chief Communications and Events Officer serves as the “chief storyteller” for the organization and is responsible for building Tipping Point’s brand, creative vision for programmatic communications and events, and a partner and collaborator on fundraising activities and messaging. This highly visible role, responsible for overseeing all public-facing messages, requires interaction with Tipping Point’s Board of Directors, Leadership Council (LC), and grantee and donor communities.

The Chief Communications and Events Officer will craft and execute the organization’s communications strategy so that the outcomes of Tipping Point’s work can be shared through various channels with the Bay Area community. They will partner with the Development team to ensure consistent and relevant messaging for fundraising activities. They will be responsible for educating the Executive Team (ET) and building buy-in for communications goal setting and strategic planning for both their team and the organization. Additionally, this person plays a role in providing overall leadership and input to Tipping Point’s strategies and annual goals as a member of the Executive Team.

This position reports directly to the CEO and will oversee the Communications and Events team.

As the leader of their team they will be responsible for four primary priorities - communications strategy, communications execution, event creative strategy, and team leadership.

Core to the function of the role will be working with the Communication and Events team to develop a storytelling and narrative strategy for two key events - a major donor fundraising event which brings in over 50 percent of the total annual donations to directly support Tipping Point’s grantees, and an annual grantee recognition event. Highly collaborative and in partnership with the Development team, these events are our cornerstone opportunities to share our grantees’ stories, rally our major donor base and demonstrate the impact they can have in our community. In addition to these core moments, there are 30 events throughout the year that will require creative visioning and strategic support from the Chief Communications Officer.

Responsibilities:

Communications Strategy

• Serve as chief storyteller and lead the Communications team to shape and refine Tipping Point’s communications strategy including the vision and messaging framework.
• Lead development of organizational messages and narratives for internal and external audiences.
• Support the Development team in connecting organization-wide messages to messaging for their audiences.
• Lead and partner with the communications team to bring the narrative shift work to life.
• Create a channel plan to define and reach new audiences across the Bay Area, inclusive of thought leadership.
• Oversee and ensure high-level content execution and brand consistency across all channels, internally and externally; guide and support creation of overall content development strategy.

Communications Execution

• In partnership with the Communication and Events team, lead creative visioning, planning and framing for the annual communications strategy and its execution.
• Build media presence for Tipping Point campaigns and brand. Position Tipping Point as a “go-to” for expertise and perspectives on poverty solutions in the Bay Area. Bring your own media contacts and build new relationships with outlets.
• Serve as key liaison to Tipping Point’s Board, Leadership Council (LC), and major donors on matters related to Tipping Point communications and events.
• Develop narratives, draft and edit content, and prepare CEO and other senior Tipping Point staff for speaking engagements, public appearances, OpEds/thought leadership; oversee team members in this work.
• Direct and oversee development of messaging and creation of content for events and print materials. In collaboration with the Development team, build donor messaging and reasons to support Tipping Point and its work.

Event Creative Strategy

• In support of the Events Director, oversee production of approximately 30 annual events, including major annual fundraising event for 800+ guests as well as other smaller fundraising, education, and grantee community events; lead teams in execution of the event.
• In partnership with team managers, create and facilitate the annual event calendar, timeline, milestones and deliverables aligned with events, and allocation of resources and staff planning to ensure successful event execution.
• Support Events Director in overseeing relationships with all event partners and vendors.
• Oversee relationship with talent vendor; secure talent for major events.
• Oversee management of event budget.

Management + Leadership

• Provide organizational leadership by serving on Tipping Point’s Executive Team
• Directly supervise, develop, and coach Director of Communications, Narrative Change Director, and Events Director; indirectly supervise four additional team members (who report to the three directors).
• Manage and develop team; establish and hold team accountable for annual performance goals and support identification of professional development opportunities to expand skills and competencies.
• Serve a liaison to the board and work with the CEO and COO to create Board meeting content related to communications and events.
• Oversee coordination and alignment within the team as well as across teams, including management of annual events and communications calendars and budgets.

Qualifications

In addition to our core values, Tipping Point staff exhibit four core competencies: ability to be flexible in a constantly shifting environment, strong communication skills, ability to work well on a team, and ability to continuously problem solve in the face of challenges.

Additionally, the Chief Communications and Events Officer must have:

• A dynamic and robust track record of relevant professional experience, including working in a leadership capacity managing large budgets and teams.
• Demonstrated success managing high performing teams and leading team members to full
  potential with emphasis on professional development.
• Understanding of nonprofit fundraising and development strategies.
• Experience building brands in complex settings with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, ability to present complex ideas to non-technical audiences, and ability to vary messages in a compelling way to different stakeholders.
• Evidence of strong commitment to creating more diverse, equitable and inclusive programs and organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a broad array of stakeholders, use ideation and creativity to approach work, remain adaptable in a constantly shifting environment, and stay focused on quality
• A strong ability to understand the social and business landscape that Tipping Point operates in and sees ahead to future possibilities; translates possibilities into breakthrough strategies and paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action
• Commitment to Tipping Point’s mission and values and ability to operate with the highest degree of integrity in representing the organization.

Classification

This position meets the exemption requirements as defined by state and federal law. Exempt employees are paid on a salaried basis, and their salary is intended to constitute their entire regular compensation, regardless of the number of hours they work; therefore, exempt employees are not eligible for overtime pay.

Salary and Commitment to Pay Equity:

Tipping Point is committed to paying competitive wages. In an effort to increase equity, because we know that salary negotiations tend to have an unfair bias, we do not participate in a salary negotiation process for any candidate. We will make our best offer, and it will be the same regardless of the candidate. The salary for this role is $310,000 annually.

Hybrid Work Environment

Tipping Point is committed to the safety of our staff and to facilitating connection and community with one another. While we were remote for almost two years, we are a highly in-person culture and have moved into a hybrid work environment. While managers have some discretion over the schedule teams are generally expected to be in person Tuesday-Thursdays. All other days staff may choose to work in the office or remotely. Please note that in a constantly changing environment, Tipping Point may adjust this arrangement as it sees the need to.

Vaccine Policy

Tipping Point is committed to providing our staff with a safe work environment and helping to promote the health of our community. As such, Tipping Point will require all employees to confidentially show proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, unless they are unable to receive the vaccine because of a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief or practice. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII, and applicable state laws, Tipping Point is prepared to make reasonable accommodations for employees who (1) cannot take the vaccine due to a medical disability or (2) seek an exemption from the vaccine based on sincerely held religious beliefs.

For more information, contact:
Jaimie Cohen
E: jaimie@patinoassociates.com
T: 216.650.0361