Senior Associate, Marketing Partnerships & Advertising

Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted over 6 million children by constructing more than 1,500 schools, establishing over 13,000 libraries, publishing 700 new children’s book titles in 11 local languages, and rewarding over 16,000 girls with long-term, holistic scholarships.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$44 million and our global staff numbers over 600. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller fundraising offices in Delhi, New York, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. We have an Asia Regional Office located in New Delhi, a Southern Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, and program offices in Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane. 

Position Overview:

The Marketing Partnerships & Advertising Senior Associate is part of the Communications Team within the External Relations unit. The Marketing Partnerships & Advertising Senior Associate will work closely with the Senior Director of Communications, the Senior Associate of Public Relations and the Global Business Development team within the Development Department to bring in and manage/co-manage partnerships for Room to Read that drive added awareness and brand recognition. They will also be responsible for creating, managing and driving opportunities in online and offline advertising.

This position is responsible for leading the efforts to cultivate and close on new business marketing partnerships as well as assist the fundraising team to extend and grow their already successful corporate and foundation partnerships by incorporating added-value marketing elements. Special focus will be on securing prominent awareness-generating marketing initiatives to provide increased visibility and funding through innovative marketing programs. This position will also be responsible for working with the Global Business Development team to create a standardized cause marketing program and marketing that program so that Room to Read develops consistent benefits for each cause marketing and sponsorship partner.

This position will also lead the efforts to build out Room to Read’s visibility through advertising. Special focus will include working with the Global Business Development team to solicit partnerships within the advertising and media community by creating online and offline advertising and finding the opportunities to distribute this advertising through various media channels.

The position will be based in San Francisco and report to the Senior Director of Communication.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Marketing Partnership Strategy & Promotion (30%): Develop strategies to expand and grow Room to Read’s brand through corporate partnerships and cause marketing that drive awareness and brand recognition. This will entail working closely with the Development Team’s Global Business Development unit to create marketing opportunities for fundraising partnerships as well as targeting key companies to solicit and pitch for cause-marketing or awareness-generating marketing campaigns. Responsibilities will include creating marketing proposals, in coordination with the Global Business Development unit, acting as point person for these partnerships and PR/marketing opportunities that extend from these partnerships, and producing creative pitch documents for new marketing business.
• Partnership Platform Creation & Promotion (15%): Work with Senior Director of Communication & Marketing and Global Business Development unit to create a standardized partnership platform including materials and website recognition. Publically market opportunities to companies and work closely across all teams to ensure platform is consistent for all levels.
• Special Projects (15%): Manage special media and celebrity/entertainment marketing partnerships that are developed with key companies in fields such as film, broadcast, media, PR and advertising. Explore additional opportunities that involve promotional merchandizing.
• Development Support (10%): Coordinate with the Global Business Development and international fundraising office colleagues to provide support for regional marketing opportunities.
• Communication Team Support (5%): Collaborate with the Creative Marketing unit to ensure PR and partnership/advertising activities align with marketing, website, blog and social media strategy and activities.
• Advertising (25%): Solicit pro-bono creative support from the advertising community across all regions and secure advertising opportunities across all media channels: broadcast, print, radio, online, out-of home. Create opportunities to maximize corporate partnerships using advertising opportunities. Work as lead with advertising agencies to create materials that enhance and grow our brand awareness. Work with media outlets to find opportunities to promote our advertising at minimal cost. This includes securing pro-bono PSA space to expand the Room to Read name to new audiences through online and offline channels across multiple media platforms.

Qualifications:

• 5-7 years related work experience
• B.A. (degrees in one of the following preferred: Business, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, English or Literature)
• Experience and success with cultivation and management of strategic business relationships, sponsorships and charitable promotions
• Experience in cause-related marketing, advertising, promotions, sponsorship and/or public relations campaigns and strategies
• Experience in evaluating potential partners and developing effective, targeted presentations and pitch materials
• Demonstrated ability to think outside the box, work independently, exercise initiative and effectively prioritize tasks
• Ability to be flexible, proactive, organized, meet deadlines, and ensure accuracy
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent writing, verbal communication and presentation skills
• Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people and across teams
• Preferred knowledge and understanding of current trends in cause marketing and sponsorships as well as a working knowledge of rules/regulations governing these functions
• Legally eligible to work in the United States; no sponsorship provided

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:

• Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization
• Be an innovative and creative thinker; you’re not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Compensation:

Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits include health, dental, vision, long-term disability insurance and a 401K match. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through literacy and gender equality in education.

Application Procedure:

Please send a cover letter and resume by email, with “Marketing Partnerships” in the subject line, (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins) to hiring@roomtoread.org.  While all applications will be carefully considered, we regret that not all applicants will receive personalized response due to high applicant volume. Applications are accepted until the position is filled.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing
the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.