Helen Keller Intl

Job Announcement

Manager, Direct Mail

(NYC metro area preferred; other locations may be considered.)

Guided by the remarkable legacy of our co-founder, Helen Keller, Helen Keller Intl partners with communities striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty.  By delivering the essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition and clear vision, we help millions of people create lasting change in their own lives.  Working in more than 20 countries – across Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States – and together with a global community of supporters, we are working to ensure that every person has the opportunity – as Helen did – to realize their true potential.

Helen Keller is seeking a Manager, Direct Mail to help our entrepreneurial External Relations department raise highly flexible unrestricted funds that support the organization’s programs around the world.  As part of the Core Donor Communities unit, the Manager will develop and execute direct mail campaigns that engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors giving up to $5,000 annually.

This position is particularly well suited for candidates who have a significant professional background in direct mail marketing, with relevant experience in multi-channel marketing and building constituent portfolios.  Candidates wishing to deepen their experience of developing campaigns that inspire individuals to engage more expansively with a philanthropic mission are especially encouraged to apply.

Scope of the Position

Reporting to the Director, Core Donor Communities, the Manager will spearhead efforts to develop successful direct mail campaigns for all segments within the Core Donor portfolio.  By determining donors’ behaviors, preferences, and desire for impact, the Manager will be a key contributor to creating highly effective outreach that conveys Helen Keller’s value proposition, provides excellent stewardship of donors’ philanthropy, and inspires donors to initiate, maintain, and increase their giving.

The Manager will also be responsible for sustaining fruitful relationships with key vendors and overseeing day-to-day flow in the development and production of a comprehensive range of direct mail engagements — including acquisition, renewal, and reactivation campaigns — that are designed to foster and develop the Core Donor Communities portfolio throughout the year.

This position will ideally be based at the New York City office (on a hybrid basis).

Responsibilities

Develop Strategies

• Partner with the Director and key vendors to build and refine strategies for all direct mail campaigns; identify, refine, and monitor metrics that regularly and effectively gauge progress toward goals.
• Use performance metrics and donor behavioral data to develop actionable reports that inform decisions to ensure the effectiveness of the program.
• Serve as deputy lead in developing the direct marketing components of two to three large-scale multi-channel fundraising campaigns per year.
• Maintain and apply thorough knowledge of industry trends in donor-centric outreach, solicitation, and retention strategies.

Execute Strategies

• Engage and inspire donors across multiple segments of the Core Donor Communities portfolio by building direct mail campaigns that support the departments’ strategic goals: acquiring and retaining donors with long-term value and moving donors up through the giving pyramid.
• Monitor and refine the intersection of distinct Core-level campaign efforts with departmental efforts targeting other constituent portfolios (e.g., major donors, non-donor subscribers).
• Ensure systems, protocols, and assets are in place for providing excellent donor stewardship to one or more segments of the Core portfolio.
• Spearhead Core-level campaign follow-up, including developing and/or compiling performance reports; scheduling and leading internal campaign debriefings; and surfacing feedback from department members to incorporate into future plans.

Manage Partner and Staff Relationships

• Serve as primary contact for key vendors and internal partners to sustain the day-to-day execution of 14 to 16 Core-level direct mail campaigns per year; monitor all stages of production and trouble-shoot when necessary.
• Liaise with unit and department counterparts to oversee schedules for producing campaign deliverables (strategies, audience definition, mail plans, written copy, images, etc.) that maintain alignment with department calendars and vendor schedules.
• Collaborate with the Officer, Direct Response Fundraising in achieving digital engagement goals through effective email marketing and donation platforms.
• Ensure timely initiation and completion of procurement processes needed to hire vendors that serve the Core Donor Communities unit.
• Help foster an atmosphere of professional growth and development by providing feedback to colleagues in a context of mutual respect that ensures accountability to the people we serve, our donors, and colleagues.

Develop Content

• Partner with the Marketing and Communications unit, Program colleagues, and external vendors to develop effectively branded templates and distinctive communications that cultivate, solicit, and steward Core-level donors.
• Draft donor-facing copy as needed (e.g., components of appeals and cultivations, donation forms, acknowledgment letters); review, revise, and proofread vendor-generated copy.
• Liaise with key Program and External Relations colleagues to build and improve the pipelines that generate high-quality content (stories, photos, videos, etc.) for use in conveying the positive impact of Core donors’ support.
• Manage additional projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• College degree in a related field, plus 6+ years’ professional experience in direct response marketing (nonprofit and/or commercial), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• In-depth knowledge of direct mail modalities and methodologies.
• Experience in building segmented donor or customer portfolios.
• Facility with CRM software required (Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge a plus); ability to build and interpret database queries and reports.
• Experience managing vendor relationships; knowledge of direct mail design/layout, production, and mail shop.
• Solid writing, editing, and proofreading skills, including some experience in developing messaging for a diverse constituency of individuals across several outreach media (direct mail especially, but also email, donation platforms, ads, etc.).
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office 365; experience using project management software (e.g., Basecamp, Asana).
• Track record of working as a team player among colleagues and external partners.
• Ability to work independently, moving multiple, complex projects through all stages, often amid competing deadlines.
• Exceptional organizational skills that show a talent for, and appreciation of, project planning, scheduling, and adherence to timelines.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including diplomacy, patience, and flexibility in managing diverse external and internal relationships.
• Demonstrable respect for all persons, regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a commitment to high professional, ethical standards.
• Passion for Helen Keller Intl’s mission and institutional goals; knowledge of international development and global public health a plus.

• Helen Keller requires all US-based staff, and all staff who travel internationally to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, whether or not they have had COVID.  When community transmission rates of COVID are high, Helen Keller also requires all US-based staff to wear masks while providing program services and when in any open or public space in the office and to observe social distancing.

Compensation

The midpoint of the salary range for this position is $91,000 with a minimum of $72,800 and a maximum of $109,200.  Actual base salary will vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, and business specialty.

To Apply: Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected] .  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

In the spirit of our founder and namesake,

Helen Keller is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce

where diversity in all its forms is fully valued.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need to request an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at the email above or call: +1 646-356-1789.