THE COMPANY

The Low Income Investment Fund is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that mobilizes capital and partners to achieve opportunity, equity and wellbeing for people and communities. LIIF innovates financial solutions to create more equitable outcomes for all by building and preserving affordable homes, quality educational opportunities from early childhood through higher education, health clinics, healthy food retail and community facilities. In this way, LIIF provides a bridge between private capital markets and communities. LIIF’s headquarters is in San Francisco and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Washington D.C.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Public Relations and Brand Strategy Manager leads LIIF’s external-facing public relations, media relations, and brand management efforts. This role is critical in positioning LIIF as a trusted thought leader and partner in community development finance. The Manager will focus on crafting and disseminating compelling messaging that aligns with LIIF’s mission while ensuring consistent external representation of the organization’s brand identity. With a primary focus on external public relations, this role will amplify LIIF’s visibility through earned media, storytelling, and stakeholder engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Skills

• Proven expertise in media relations, including building and maintaining strong relationships with journalists and media outlets.
• Strong understanding of brand strategy, messaging, and public relations principles.
• Proficiency in SEO, Google Analytics, and media monitoring tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience in storytelling and content creation.
• Ability to manage crisis communications and develop effective response strategies.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with community development financial institutions (CDFIs), affordable housing, or early childhood education sectors.
• Basic graphic design skills (Adobe Creative Suite and Canva) and experience with WordPress.
• Video production and storyboarding experience.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 – 8 years of experience in public relations, communications, or marketing.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing comprehensive public relations and brand strategies.

Public Relations and Media Outreach

• Lead all media relations activities, including cultivating relationships with reporters, pitching stories, and securing earned media coverage across trade and mainstream outlets.
• Develop and maintain media lists and monitor press coverage to track and evaluate LIIF’s public visibility.
• Serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson for media inquiries as appropriate.
• Create and execute crisis communication plans to manage organizational reputation during challenging situations.
• Develop and maintain press kits, media briefing documents, and key messaging materials for external use.

Brand Strategy and Messaging

• Oversee the development and refinement of LIIF’s brand architecture, ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity across all public-facing platforms.
• Craft compelling organizational stories, success narratives, and case studies that highlight LIIF’s impact and align with fundraising goals.
• Conduct regular brand audits to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and stakeholder expectations.

Campaign and Event Publicity

• Develop and implement strategic plans to publicize key events, initiatives, and leadership appearances.
• Collaborate with the Development team to align campaign messaging with fundraising objectives.
• Create tailored marketing plans for high-profile events, including coordinating with media and external stakeholders.

Digital and Analytics Expertise

• Leverage tools like Google Analytics, SEO best practices, and media monitoring software to optimize public relations efforts and track campaign ROI.
• Provide regular analytics reports on media reach, audience engagement, and sentiment analysis to inform strategy.
• Use insights from digital metrics to refine future public relations and brand strategies.

Thought Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Identify opportunities for LIIF leadership to participate in high-profile speaking engagements, panels, and industry events.
• Build partnerships with external organizations, influencers, and community leaders to amplify LIIF’s reach and mission.
• Draft speeches, op-eds, and talking points for leadership appearances.

Additional Responsibilities

• Ensure public relations efforts align with the annual content roadmap, contributing insights from media trends and external engagements.
• Support the production of newsletters and flash emails, offering strategic input to ensure alignment with brand strategy and key external messaging goals.
• Provide strategic guidance on leveraging social media platforms for earned media opportunities, focusing on enhancing external reach and engagement.
• Collaborate with the digital team to maintain alignment between public relations goals and website content, contributing to impact reports that highlight key media achievements.
• Offer input on event planning and execution, ensuring public relations objectives are met through effective storytelling and media engagement.