The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (“Mellon” and the “Foundation”) believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. Mellon makes grants in four core program areas (Higher Learning, Arts and Culture, Public Knowledge, and Humanities in Place), as well as through the Office of the President. The Foundation seeks a full-time Executive Communications Associate.

Department Summary:

Mellon’s Department of Communications is responsible for building and stewarding the Foundation brand and to tell its story, driving outreach and engagement efforts both internally and externally. Our work strives to:

§ Build broad brand affinity and connection with The Mellon Foundation’s work

§ Encourage appreciation, understanding of, and engagement with the work of our grantees

§ Broadly advocate for the centrality of the arts and humanities in culture

Reporting to the Director of Strategic and Executive Communications, the Executive Communications Associate will join a team tasked with enhancing senior leadership’s public leadership profiles, strengthening their relationships with external audiences, and clearly connecting their voices with the Foundation’s brand.

Position Description:

The Executive Communications Associate will help develop a variety of communications materials for the Foundation president and other senior leaders, including speeches, talking points, press release quotes, and other deliverables that do not fall under the realm of academic or creative work, and will undertake the necessary research and collaboration with both internal colleagues and external contacts to ensure senior leadership is prepared for relevant engagements.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Associate is responsible for the following:

§ Under the guidance of the Director of Strategic & Executive Communications, drafting a range of executive communications materials – including but not limited to speeches, quotes, talking points, and statements – and working closely with the Director to ensure accurate, rigorous, and consistent use of senior leadership’s voice in all materials.

§ Conducting research and due diligence on all speaking requests; drafting recommendations on requests when required; and managing the correspondence and communication with external contacts to prepare senior leadership for scheduled speaking engagements.

§ Collecting and drafting relevant content for senior leadership’s briefing materials for speaking opportunities and, at times, other externally facing communications engagements, working in close collaboration with colleagues on both the Communications and Office of the President teams.

§ Under the guidance of the Director, implementing various elements of the broader communications strategy for Foundation senior leadership.

§ Providing an executive communications perspective, where appropriate, in inter-departmental and cross-functional meetings and working groups.

§ Working with colleagues on the Communications, Office of the President, and program area teams to identify opportunities and stories to include in executive communications materials.

Required Skills and Experience:

Successful candidates will have the following qualifications:

§ Bachelor’s Degree.

§ 3 – 5 years of work experience in public affairs, journalism, academia, or related field.

§ Exceptional written and oral communication skills; strong writer with minimal need for editing.

§ Highly organized with proven ability to execute multiple complex assignments at a time.

§ Comfortable and successful at working on deadline in a fast-paced, fluid work environment.

§ Proactively collaborative, collegial, and capable of navigating hybrid remote / in-person team structures.

§ Strategic thinker who approaches both new ideas and rote work with a spirit of inquiry.

§ Sound judgment and ability to keep sensitive information confidential.

The Mellon Foundation is committed to providing compensation that is competitive and equitable within the philanthropic sector. The estimated salary range for this role is $100,000 - $110,000. The amount of pay offered will be determined by a number of factors, including but not limited to qualifications, unique skills, credentials or experience that is expected to impact the candidate’s contribution to the role. We will also consider market data as well as the Foundation’s internal pay equity framework. Mellon is an equal opportunity employer and offers a generous total reward package that provides base salary as well as a comprehensive benefits program, and an excellent working environment.

Please note that Mellon maintains a hybrid work schedule, with three days/week in person at the Foundation’s Manhattan offices.

Candidates should apply by submitting a thoughtful cover letter describing fit for the position together with a resume and cover letter here: Executive Communications Associate

The Foundation will consider each response carefully, but only contact those individuals it believes are most qualified for the position.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

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Executive Communications Associate