City Harvest is New York City’s largest food rescue organization, helping to feed the nearly 1.2 million New Yorkers who are struggling to put meals on their tables. We will rescue 66 million pounds of food this year and deliver it, free of charge, to hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other community partners across the five boroughs.

Our programs empower individuals through nutrition education, increase our partners’ capacity, and strengthen the local food system, helping New Yorkers who are experiencing food insecurity to access, afford, and consume nutritious food. To learn more about our work, visit cityharvest.org.

City Harvest is seeking an innovative Director of Communications to develop the organization’s messaging and lead the effort of securing media to raise awareness of City Harvest’s work in collaboration with external PR firms. The Director of Communications heightens awareness, maximizes media coverage, strengthens organizational anti-hunger campaigns, and increases donor and volunteer engagement utilizing traditional media. This role develops and implements the department’s short- and long-term work plans.

The successful candidate possesses exceptional writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills and will use them to unite colleagues across the organization around City Harvest’s mission. S/he will serve as communications counsel to all staff, and also work to elevate City Harvest’s profile externally with donors, volunteers, partners, supporters, and the general public.  

The Director of Communications will report to the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications and will have direct reports.

Responsibilities:

• Proactively develop schedule of media pitch ideas and target media outlets, working with retained public relations firms to maximize media opportunities for City Harvest
• Cultivate and build relationships with reporters and producers to heighten awareness and coverage of City Harvest’s programs and initiatives
• Oversee all external PR firm activities
• Develop organizational messaging throughout the year and incorporate it into all written and verbal communication
• Write key organizational materials including Annual Report
• Calmly and urgently create messaging in disaster scenarios (e.g. hurricane, pandemic, government shutdown)
• Create and maintain relationships with celebrities and influencers for organizational engagement and media opportunities
• Vet media opportunities and prep spokespeople
• Write speeches for executive leadership
• Lead organizational media training
• Oversee media access/coverage of signature fundraising eventsDevelop and maintain relationships with anti-hunger partners nationally and locally within NYC
• Oversee storytelling and content collection including testimonials and photos

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications or related field; advanced degree preferred
• Commitment to the mission and values of City Harvest
• 7-10+ years of experience as a Communications professional in organizations with an increasing scope of responsibility and experience managing teams
• Significant prior success in media relations; excellent professional and media network contacts, especially in New York City
• Exceptional organizational messaging experience, preferably in the non-profit space
• Proven track record in content development and crisis management
• Outstanding influencing, partnership and negotiation skills with strong ability to build relationships at all levels of the organization
• Prior experience working with corporate partners and sponsors
• Extensive knowledge of traditional media outlets
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills
• Attention to detail
• Outstanding prioritization and project management skills
• Exceptional writing, proofreading and editing skills
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Excellent organizational skills, in particular prioritization and following through effectively
• Comfortable and effective in fast-paced, accountability-focused organization

There are many fantastic reasons to choose a career with City Harvest. In addition to fighting food insecurity in New York, City Harvest offers a competitive salary, full benefits (including medical, dental, and vision) with employer contributions towards premiums, employer-provided life insurance and a 403(b) retirement savings plan with matching employer contributions. We also offer discounted staff perks (movie tickets, gym memberships, cellular plans, etc.), generous time off, and professional development opportunities.

At City Harvest, we enjoy working in a team-based environment and value the benefits of a diversified workplace that values the communities we serve.

How to apply:

If you want to empower New Yorkers who are experiencing food insecurity to access, afford, and consume nutritious food, and if the position speaks to your capabilities, experience and commitment, please submit your resume and cover letter with statement of interest and salary requirements to dbatten@cityharvest.org. Please include Director of Communications in the subject line. A background check and a computer literacy test are required for finalists for this position. Qualified candidates will be contacted by phone and/or email.

City Harvest is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to the practice of equity and inclusion.