Marketing & Communications Project Lead

Cara Collective seeks to fuel a courageous national movement to eradicate relational and financial poverty. Through our three entities – Cara, Cleanslate and Cara Plus – we engage job seekers, employers, and other organizations across the country to break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employment.  

At present, we produce 1,000 jobs each year; however, our results don’t just end with employment. Today, we take the insights gained over the past 35 years to equip other organizations and employers with practices to help build a more inclusive economy. Learn more at www.caracollective.org.

About the Marketing & Communications Team

The Marketing & Communications team sits within the External Affairs Department and is dedicated to elevating Cara Collective’s brand, amplifying our mission, and supporting enterprise-wide strategic goals. This team develops and executes high-impact campaigns, thought leadership content, and communications strategies that engage participants, partners, donors, and policymakers. By ensuring consistent messaging, compelling storytelling, and effective brand visibility across channels, the team strengthens Cara Collective’s voice, expands our national presence, and drives engagement with the communities we serve.

About the Role

The Marketing & Communications Project Lead is primarily responsible for the creation and execution of campaigns (in both lead and support roles); production of in-house collateral and marketing needs; and regular maintenance of Cara Collective’s overall digital marketing and communications platforms (website, social media, email marketing, etc.). In particular, the Marketing & Communications Project Lead has a heavy emphasis on supporting the fundraising strategies of the Development team, including annual appeals, events, and donor communications.

With the rest of the Marketing team, the Marketing & Communications Projects Lead collaborates on goals and key initiatives that impact the entire enterprise, ensuring target KPIs and strategic objectives for growth, acquisition, and brand amplification are achieved.

Qualifications 

We’re excited to offer this opportunity for a creative, strategic, and results-driven professional who thrives at the intersection of marketing, communications, and brand strategy. This is a high-impact role for a hands-on leader who can translate big-picture vision into effective campaigns, compelling content, and measurable engagement outcomes, while collaborating across teams and external partners.

The ideal candidate is a strong storyteller, a trusted advisor, and a collaborative problem-solver who can navigate complex organizational and external landscapes. They bring a balance of creative thinking, analytical rigor, and strategic insight, paired with the ability to manage multiple initiatives and ensure consistent, high-quality execution. This role requires someone who is energized by shaping brand narrative, amplifying mission-driven messaging, and building collaborative relationships that drive enterprise-wide impact.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional experience in marketing, communications, or related strategic roles, with demonstrated experience in campaign development and content creation.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, with the ability to align communications initiatives with organizational goals and evaluate impact.
• Experience creating and executing multi-channel marketing campaigns, including print, digital, social media, and video content.
• Skilled storyteller and communicator, able to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messaging for diverse audiences.
• Proficient in the following software/platforms:
  • Canva and Adobe Creative Cloud (particularly Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat)
  • Microsoft Office
  • WordPress (knowledge of Guttenberg strongly encouraged)
  • Google Analytics
  • Mailchimp (or a similar email marketing platform)
  • Hootsuite (or a similar social media scheduling platform)
  • Salesforce (or a similar CRM tool)
  • Adobe Premiere (or a similar video editing software) a plus, but not required
• Experience leading or collaborating on cross-functional projects with internal teams, external vendors, and stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities while maintaining quality and deadlines.
• Creative problem-solving mindset, with initiative to develop new strategies, materials, and campaigns that advance organizational goals.
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, or related field preferred but not required.

Key Responsibilities

Content Creation (60%)

• Manage campaigns, projects, and other internal and external initiatives, in both lead and support roles
• Create and manage the development of in-house collateral materials for all Cara Collective departments in both lead and support roles
• Lead storytelling strategy to maintain an active content library that highlights program outcomes
• Partner on projects as assigned, such as corporate service days, cause marketing, and special events
• Provide support on any additional marketing initiatives as needed by the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

Primary Relationships (15%)

• Work within the greater External Affairs department in support of achieving YOY fundraising, revenue, and engagement goals for Cara Collective
• Maintain a working relationship with domain leaders and staff to identify new opportunities for marketing support
• Manage the Marketing Help Desk ticketing system, assigning tasks as needed to be responsive to needs from across the enterprise in a timely manner

Strategy (15%)

• Be an active voice in team meetings and planning sessions
• Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications team on development and implementation of editorial and communications calendars including print and digital campaigns, e-blasts, and social media; ensuring deadlines are achieved
• Collaborate with Development team on the planning of year-long donor communications strategy – including direct mail, digital, and engagement campaigns

Brand Standards (10%)

• Uphold Cara Collective’s brand standards, ensuring the proper collateral, branding, and messaging is utilized in internal and external communications among Cara staff and the community at large
• Ensure that the company’s philosophy, mission, and vision are pertinent and practiced throughout the organization
• Routinely audit materials, merchandise, and communications for opportunities/needs to refresh

Reports To

Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

Direct Report(s)

N/A

Workplace Type & Team Culture

Cara Collective has a strong team culture that values collaboration, communication, and camaraderie. We believe in the power of working together in person, which is why we expect our employees to be onsite at one of our Chicago-based locations multiple days each week.  The exact number of onsite days per week may vary by role, employee tenure, and other factors. This commitment to in-person collaboration fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork among our employees, creating a supportive and dynamic work environment.

We consistently measure staff satisfaction through employee surveys and have found that year after year, the vast majority of staff agree that Cara Collective is a great place to work and grow. This high level of employee satisfaction reflects our dedication to creating a positive and fulfilling workplace for all members of our team.

Starting Pay Range

We take budget and starting salary very seriously. We benchmark our roles using a salary analysis tool called PayScale and offer competitive, market-based compensation to all employees.

The expected starting salary range for this position is $57,000–$63,000.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision Plans
• Basic Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• Personal Technology Reimbursement
• 4 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Starting with 17 Vacation Days, 8 Sick Days,
• 14 Paid Holidays

Employee Paid Benefits

• Pre-Tax Medical Flexible Spending Account
• Pre-Tax Dependent Care Account
• Pre-Tax Transit & Parking Options
• Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (employer match up to 4% upon hire & immediately vested)

As of this posting, we annually review our benefit offerings to meet our employees' needs and be competitive in the market. All listed benefits offerings a at the discretion of the employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cara Collective is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. This commitment applies to all employment practices, including those supported by technology or artificial intelligence tools used in the hiring process.

We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete this application or participate in the interview process, please email us at kboelkens@carachicago.org.