Director of Marketing & External Relations

Leading the Change in Youth Development

At Boys & Girls Clubs of King County (BGCKC), we are taking youth programming to a new level. We are a leader in youth development, providing a safe, affordable place for kids and teens during critical out-of-school time. Our Clubs offer life-changing programs and services to more than 26,000 youth throughout the greater Seattle area.

As the third largest major metro Boys & Girls Club organization in the United States, we have a rich 75-year history serving King County youth. If you are passionate about youth development, love to connect with people, have a proven track record of results with youth, and want to be part of an extraordinary team, Boys & Girls Clubs of King County is for you!

Opportunity Overview: Director of Marketing & External Relations

Boys & Girls Clubs of King County (BGCKC) is seeking a Director of Marketing & External Relations to drive organizational growth and reputation by leading brand strategy, communications, and stakeholder engagement to increase awareness, enrollments, and community support for 50+ programs across King County.

This role owns BGCKC's integrated marketing, communications, and external relations strategy across paid, owned, and earned channels-including digital, print, advertising, publications, events, and public relations-ensuring consistent brand messaging that advances youth participation, strengthens donor engagement, and supports long-term organizational sustainability.

The Director manages a core in-house team responsible for brand stewardship, content execution, media relations, and contributed revenue communications (fundraising, events, and stewardship). In addition, the Director leads the RFP process and day-to-day partnership with a selected marketing agency that complements the internal team by driving paid acquisition, enrollment growth, conversion optimization, and data-driven insights tied to earned revenue.

As the owner of the strategic marketing plan, the Director sets goals and KPIs (e.g., awareness, inquiries, registrations, conversion, retention, donor engagement, and campaign ROI), establishes reporting rhythms, and drives performance and accountability across staff and partners to ensure initiatives deliver against targets.

As a member of the organization's leadership team, the Director of Marketing & External Relations contributes to cross-department planning and decision-making, balancing long-term strategy with day-to-day execution.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy, Brand & Integrated Planning
Own and evolve an annual, integrated marketing, communications, and external relations plan aligned to organizational priorities, program calendars, and fundraising moments.
Serve as brand steward-maintaining brand standards, messaging architecture, and editorial voice across Club sites, departments, and partner-facing materials.
Translate mission, values, and equity commitments into clear, inclusive, audience-relevant messaging for families/caregivers, teens, partners, donors, and the broader community.
Establish goals, KPIs, and dashboards; use insights to prioritize work, evaluate results, and continuously improve campaign effectiveness and ROI.
Performance Marketing & Earned Revenue Growth (Enrollment)

Drive enrollment growth by partnering with the agency and internal stakeholders to improve the full acquisition funnel: awareness → inquiry → tour/visit → registration → retention.
Guide conversion optimization across web and registration experiences (landing pages, forms, email/SMS journeys, and content), informed by analytics and qualitative feedback.
Develop testing and learning agendas (A/B testing, creative iteration, audience segmentation) to improve cost per lead, conversion rate, and return on ad spend where applicable.
Oversee SEO and local discovery strategy (including emerging generative search optimization as relevant), ensuring content is structured for findability and accessibility.
Content, Storytelling & Channel Execution

Oversee editorial planning and production across channels (web, email, social, print, collateral, and publications), ensuring timely, consistent, audience-focused content.
Oversee website and social media content strategy, email marketing, and measurement/analytics to inform content creation, audience segmentation, and channel performance.
Ensure strengths-based, youth-centered storytelling practices that respect privacy, consent, and safeguarding requirements.
Partner with Development to plan and execute contributed revenue communications, including campaigns, donor journeys, impact reporting, and stewardship communications.
Create toolkits and guidance that help program teams communicate clearly with families and community partners while staying on brand.
Public Relations, Media & Issues Management

Lead earned media strategy and relationships; identify story angles, pitch proactively, and support Club- and event-based publicity.
Serve as back up spokesperson as needed; write and/or oversee press releases, manage media inquiries, and coordinate interview preparation and follow-up.
Prepare talking points, briefing documents, and messaging for leaders and spokespeople; support presentations and public-facing communications.
Develop and maintain issues and crisis communications protocols in partnership with executive leadership.
Agency Partnership & RFP Management

Lead the agency selection process, including RFP development, bidder communications, evaluation, finalist interviews, and contracting support.
Define and manage scopes of work, timelines, budgets, and deliverables; establish clear roles and handoffs between the in-house team (brand, content, contributed revenue) and the agency (paid acquisition, enrollment growth, conversion optimization, and earned-revenue insights).
Facilitate performance reviews with the agency using agreed KPIs (e.g., cost per lead, conversion rate, CAC where applicable, and enrollment outcomes), and translate insights into internal decisions and prioritization.
Ensure creative and messaging produced by partners aligns with BGCKC brand, equity commitments, and youth/family safeguards.
People Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing service delivery team; set clear priorities, roles, and quality standards while balancing strategy with hands-on execution.
Partner closely with Program and Operations leaders to understand enrollment needs, remove communications barriers for families, and strengthen the overall member experience.
Collaborate with Development and Events teams to align calendars, creative, and messaging across awareness, fundraising, partnership cultivation, and signature events.
Build and maintain relationships with external constituencies and partners (community organizations, donors, and civic/government stakeholders), supporting organizational visibility, credibility, and shared-impact opportunities.
QUALIFICATIONS:

5-7+ years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, public relations, and/or external relations, including people leadership
Experience in the nonprofit sector; youth development, education, childcare, or human services experience preferred
Demonstrated experience leading integrated campaigns across paid/owned/earned channels, with measurable outcomes
Experience managing an external marketing agency (selection and/or RFP, scopes of work, budgets, deliverables, and performance reviews)
Strong command of digital marketing fundamentals and measurement (analytics, conversion optimization, audience segmentation, and testing)
Excellent writing, editing, and executive-ready communication skills; ability to translate complex work into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Deep commitment to BGCKC's mission and to equity, inclusion, and youth development
Strong strategic judgment-able to prioritize, simplify, and align stakeholders in a complex, multi-site environment
Data-informed and outcomes-oriented; comfortable using metrics to guide decisions and communicate impact
Skilled relationship builder with the ability to partner cross-functionally and represent the organization with professionalism and discretion
Vendor/agency management skills, including setting expectations, giving feedback, and ensuring brand and quality standards
Comfort with public speaking, presentations, and serving as a communications advisor to leaders
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment with a collaborative, low-ego style
LICENSE/CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS:

Valid Washington State driver's license and access to reliable transportation required
Ability to pass a thorough background check including a National Criminal History Background check
We know that not all skills are learned in a traditional office setting. If you have equivalent experience or transferable skills, we encourage you to apply.

HOURS:

Regular Full-time, 40 Hours Per Week

LOCATION : Hybrid

SALARY: $ 110,000/yr. - $125,000/yr.

BENEFITS:

Accessible PTO & Paid Holidays
Medical, Vision & Dental Insurance
100% Employee Discount for Childcare Fees
Generous 401k Employer Matching
Employee Tuition Assistance
Orca Card

All offers are contingent upon passing a thorough background check including a National Criminal History Background check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands and characteristics of the work environment described here are representative of those occurring in the performance of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This position works in an office, and the noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, i.e. copier toner.

DISCLAIMER:

This position description generally describes the principle functions of the position and the level of knowledge and skills typically required. It does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and it is subject to change as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

Boys & Girls Clubs of King County (BGCKC) is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. BGCKC does not discriminate with regards to hiring, assignment, promotion or other conditions of staff employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other status protected under local, state or federal law.