Communications & Content Manager

Position Summary 

Thistle Farms is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to helping women survivors recover and heal from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. We do this by providing a safe place to live, meaningful jobs, and a lifelong sisterhood of support.   

The Communications & Content Manager serves as the chief steward of Thistle Farms' story, voice, and communications strategy. This role leads the development and execution of integrated communications, content marketing, social media, storytelling, advocacy communications, and public relations initiatives that advance organizational goals and deepen engagement with donors, customers, advocates, partners, and the broader community. 

The Manager is responsible for ensuring consistent, trauma-informed messaging across all channels, managing relationships with external public relations partners, and overseeing the creation of compelling content that drives awareness, engagement, advocacy, fundraising, and sales. This role works collaboratively across departments to amplify the organization's mission through strategic communications and storytelling. 

Position Responsibilities 

Essential Responsibilities 

1. Communications Strategy & Public Relations 

   1. Develop and execute integrated communications strategies that support organizational priorities, fundraising initiatives, advocacy efforts, product sales, and brand awareness. 
   2. Partner with PR agencies to develop and execute earned media strategies that increase awareness of Thistle Farms' mission, programs, products, and thought leadership. 
   3. Provide strategic guidance, story opportunities, organizational context, and spokesperson recommendations to support media outreach efforts. 
   4. Coordinate internal stakeholders and prepare organizational representatives for media opportunities secured through agency partnerships. 
   5. Review, evaluate, and optimize public relations efforts through regular performance reporting and analysis. 
   6. Maintain relationships with select high-value media contacts, partners, influencers, and community leaders. 
   7. Partner with executive leadership to manage reputation, issues management, and crisis communications. 

2. Content Strategy & Creation 

   1. Develop and oversee a comprehensive content strategy that supports fundraising, marketing, advocacy, education, and organizational engagement goals. 
   2. Create and manage mission-centered content across digital, print, video, email, social media, and campaign platforms. 
   3. Produce compelling storytelling content including survivor stories, organizational updates, impact reports, blog posts, and campaign assets. 
   4. Collaborate with Development, Marketing & Sales, Programs, and Executive Leadership to identify and develop impactful stories and content. 
   5. Establish and maintain organizational messaging frameworks, language libraries, brand standards, style guides, and voice guidelines. 
   6. Oversee trauma-informed storytelling program that includes media training, public speaking, storytelling ethics, and ongoing coaching. 
   7. Ensure all storytelling practices uphold Thistle Farms' values and storytelling policies. 
   8. Contribute to website and blog content utilizing SEO best practices. 
   9. Evaluate content performance and audience engagement metrics to inform future content strategies and optimizations. 

3. Social Media & Digital Engagement 

   1. Develop and oversee social media strategies that increase brand awareness, engagement, advocacy, donations, and sales. 
   2. Manage organizational social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and emerging platforms. 
   3. Lead the creation of social-first content, particularly video and mission storytelling initiatives. 
   4. Build and manage a community of mission-aligned influencers, ambassadors, and digital advocates who can authentically share the stories, products, and advocacy efforts of Thistle Farms while adhering to trauma-informed storytelling principles. 
   5. Cultivate an internal network of ambassadors and content creators to expand authentic storytelling opportunities. 
   6. Provide social media guidance, resources, templates, and training to internal teams and departments. 
   7. Monitor platform trends, emerging technologies, and audience behaviors to identify strategic opportunities for growth. 

4. Leadership & Team Management 

   1. Directly supervise Content & Merchandising Coordinator, Founder’s Outreach Content Specialist, and additional communications and content support staff as assigned. 
   2. Set departmental goals and establish clear performance expectations. 
   3. Conduct performance evaluations and support ongoing professional development. 
   4. Manage team workflows, project priorities, budgets, and resource allocation. 
   5. Foster cross-functional collaboration to ensure consistency and effectiveness across all communications efforts. 
   6. Oversee relationships with external agencies, freelancers, vendors, and consultants as needed. 

5. Organizational Support 

1. Create and maintain policies, procedures, and best practices related to storytelling, communications, media engagement, influencer partnerships, and brand management. 

Additional Responsibilities 

1. Attend meetings and trainings as assigned. 
2. Represent Thistle Farms at community events, conferences, and organizational engagements as needed. 
3. Perform other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Requirements 

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered. 

• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, content marketing, journalism, or related fields. 

• Experience developing and implementing successful communications and content strategies that drive measurable engagement and organizational impact. 

• Experience managing external public relations agencies and communications partnerships. 

• Experience leading content marketing, social media, and digital engagement programs. 

• Experience leading and managing teams 

• Experience working in nonprofit organizations and/or trauma-informed environments preferred. 

Physical Requirements 

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer. 

• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 15 pounds. 

• Ability to travel locally for events, media opportunities, speaking engagements, and organizational activities as needed. 

Skill Competencies 

• Demonstrates strong writing, editing, storytelling, presentation, and verbal communication skills. 

• Demonstrates exceptional project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. 

• Demonstrates technical proficiency with content management systems, social media platforms, analytics tools, and digital communication technologies. 

• Demonstrates strong emotional intelligence and ability to navigate complex and sensitive topics with care. 

Thistle Farms provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunities apply to all terms and conditions of employment. Thistle Farms reserves the rights to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the organization desires. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship remains “At-Will.”