The Organization
Jill’s House has been loving and serving families who are raising children, adolescents, and young adults with intellectual disabilities in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond since 2010. With a $6.5 million budget raised primarily through fundraising efforts, Jill’s House is able to provide a much-needed and robust social service to families while furthering the kingdom of God in devoted service. 139 full and part-time staff round out the outstanding Jill’s House team, creating a true, faith-based community for families.
The Opportunity
Jill’s House seeks an Associate Vice President of Communications to build on the foundation of well-established community awareness to strategically expand all levels of community support and engagement with Jill’s House. This is the perfect opportunity for a creative, strategic, organized individual who has a heart for the disability community. The AVP of Communications will develop a multifaceted strategic plan for all components of community relations, including communications, community partnerships for all Jill’s House locations, special events, growth of the annual fund, and initiatives that value and balance both authentic relationship building and effective, efficient systems that further the values of the organization.
What it’s like to work at Jill’s House.
THEIR STORY
In 1992, Lon and Brenda Solomon welcomed their baby girl into the world after her older brothers. At three months old, baby Jill began to suffer seizures and was ultimately diagnosed with an untreatable and rare seizure disorder that caused progressive loss of function. Distraught and overwhelmed with the care their daughter required, Lon and Brenda were exhausted.
Their respite came from a God-connection when a woman named Mary, a complete stranger, called them up after hearing from the Lord. She was able to organize caregivers for little Jill, allowing her exhausted parents to get the rest they so desperately needed to be the best parents they could be.
This incredible experience, coupled with a tour of a facility in Jerusalem named Shalva, translated “peace of mind,” where families just like theirs received services like overnight respite, inspired Jill’s House. This was the answer to their prayers. This would be Jill’s legacy.
WHAT THEY DO
Jill’s House today provides exemplary short-term, overnight respite care and holistic family support services for those caring for children and young adults with intellectual disabilities. They are committed to providing an amazing social service AND boldly and clearly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. Jill’s House provides life-altering services to families who can't get these services anywhere else. Known as a leader in disability ministry, they are frequently sought out by other organizations and churches around the country and around the world for consultation.
Hear the story about one of the families they serve.
The primary Jill’s House location in Washington D.C. is a beautiful 42,000 square foot resort that provides overnight respite lodging. At Jill’s House, every room, activity, mural, and staff member serves as a reflection of the immense value of children with intellectual disabilities. The respite lodge is specially designed to give these children an unforgettable overnight experience that they cannot get anywhere else, all under the loving and skilled supervision of highly-trained staff and nurses. And while the kids are having the time of their lives with friends, their parents can rest, knowing their child is in safe, loving, and highly skilled hands. Two program offerings are depending on the needs of the family; after-school pick-up with an overnight stay or the weekend program where the kids get to enjoy the resort through Sunday.
In addition, Jill’s House offers specialized weekend camping adventures designed with children with intellectual disabilities in mind. Parents can rest easy with the knowledge that their children are having a blast riding horses, hiking trails, roasting s’mores around a campfire, shooting a bow and arrow, canoeing, and more under the loving care of specialized volunteers and nurses. With camps in the Blue Ridge Mountains in VA, Rocky Top, TN, Puget Sound, WA, the Windy City, IL and the Garden State, NJ, Jill’s House works hard to ensure every child can have the summer camp experience.
Watch a video profile of one of their volunteers:
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Title: Associate Vice President of Communications
Classification: Exempt
Reports to: Vice President of Advancement
Travel: Annually to each Jill’s House location
Direct Reports:
Advancement Operations Coordinator
Community Partnership and Volunteer Coordinator
Location: McLean, VA
Summary:
The Associate Vice President of Communications role is an opportunity for a creative, strategic, organized individual to build on the foundation of well-established community awareness to strategically expand all levels of community support of and engagement with Jill’s House. They will develop a multifaceted strategic plan for all components of community relations, including communications, community partnerships for all Jill’s House locations (Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, Washington), special events, growth of the annual fund, and initiatives that value and balance both
authentic relationship building and effective, efficient systems. In additional to building relationship with individuals and across teams, this individual will also devise and implement strategies and systems that support and empower all Jill’s House partners in sharing the Jill’s House mission. As part of the President’s Office and in conjunction with the Advancement Team, s/he will play a critical role in ongoing operations in support of organizational priorities.
Jill’s House is a Christian non-profit organization and integrated Auxiliary ministry of McLean Bible Church called by God to love families raising children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 6-22) toward Jesus by providing them with short-term, overnight respite care and holistic family support services. They seek to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed to all our constituencies. They unconditionally welcome, love, and serve all families whose children fit our service parameters regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or any other characteristic. In all that they do, they seek to live in accordance with Biblical principles.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Key duties and responsibilities would include:
Acts in support of Jill’s House strategic plan, develops and implements a comprehensive, strategic communications plan to connect with the community including special events and relationship development.
Plans, executes and evaluates all events for Jill’s House, whether in support of the Virginia or National Programs locations, in a way that honors and effectively communicates the Jill’s House mission; develops support and partnerships; and deepens relationships with committee members, attendees and the community at large.
Working with the Communciation Team, research, and strategically pursue grants from various foundations and other grant-making organizations.
Oversee and coordinate the further development of the annual fund, with the goal of increasing both financial support and the number of donors.
Provide support to the CEO and VP of Advancement in their pursuit of support and strategic relationship development.
Strategically pursue partnerships with community organizations in support of the mission, and long and short-term goals of all Jill’s House locations. These partnerships may materialize in voluntarism, networking or advancement.
Develops a strategic external communications plan, across all programs and locations, including regular communication, while simultaneously guarding against over-saturating supporters.
Consistently analyze data regarding communication effectiveness and make appropriate adjustments.
Work with all other Jill’s House teams to address and meet their communications needs – both internal and external – in a way that accomplishes goals and effectively represents Jill’s House mission and brand.
Manage all communication needs of Jill’s House, ensuring that the Jill’s House brand is effectively represented and communicated.
Work with other Jill’s House teams (Intake, Family Support, Human Resources, etc.) to represent Jill’s House at various community outreach events.
Oversee and lead other advancement team members working on items such as: the volunteer program, recurring donors, major donors, social media, etc.
Work with all members of the leadership team to ensure their needs are addressed as related to community relations, communications, and advancement.
Qualifications
Education & Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree
Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a non-profit setting.
Experience in nonprofit communications and brand management.
Demonstrated ability to think and plan critically.
Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with individuals on behalf of an organization.
Work Environment:
The AVP of Communications will have the ability to work primarily remotely, with the expectation that s/he will be on-site at the Tysons location 3-5 business days each month.
Additional on-site work will be expected surrounding larger special events.
Character
Enthusiasm for the mission of Jill’s House.
Strong faith background
Highly relational and others-focused
Servant leader
Competence
Outstanding people skills, able to engage winsomely with individuals approaching Jill’s House from multiple perspectives: volunteer, donor, partner, board member, family, staff, friend.
Solution-oriented thinker who can devise broad plans to increase efficiency and effectiveness, who also balances that with attention to detail so as to ensure excellence in delivery.
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Ability to manage multiple projects for multiple customers addressing multiple audiences at a time.
Highly organized
Entrepreneurial spirit and eagerness to take the program to the next level.
Excellence in building strong, strategic relationships
Chemistry with the Culture
Motivated by a common mission, faith, and values to serve those in need and share the gospel.
Humble, collaborative leader across multiple teams who focuses on solutions without worrying about getting the credit.
Jill’s House has an “all hands on deck” culture and in the world of direct service to families everyone is here to serve with compassion, engagement, and joyful service.
Compensation
Competitive salary and benefits package will be discussed during personal interview.
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision plans for full time 30+ hour employees and their families
10 Paid Holidays, generous vacation & sick leave
Short and long term disability
Basic & Voluntary life insurance policies
Medical flexible & dependent spending accounts
Maternity/Paternity leave
403b Retirement Plan
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Opportunities
Clear, compelling, unique mission that makes it one of a kind not only in the DC area, but in the country. This has yielded demonstrated impact over the course of 13 years.
Jill's House has a fantastic Board, both the people, structures and processes Not only that, they have a unique relationship with McLean Bible Church which provides support and resourcing long term.
Challenges
The pandemic changed the respite care task significantly. The resulting hybrid and offsite work interrupted strong cohesive teamwork and yielded some siloed teams and communications challenges. Recent changes to the team have strengthened engagement but more work may be necessary to continue the current momentum.
The AVP of Communication will need to streamline communication channels and ensure the Jill’s House brand is communicated consistently across all elements.
WASHINGTON D.C. AREA
Jill’s House is located in the DC Metro area, the nation’s capital and a thriving metropolis of nearly six million people. In addition to its proximity to the nation’s greatest public spaces like the Smithsonian Institute, the National Mall, the Library of Congress, the White House and the Capital (six of the top 10 buildings in "America's Favorite Architecture" are in the District of Columbia) the DC area has significant beauty, with a series of public parks and waterways. The city is home to some of the nation’s best museums including the Smithsonian’s, where visitors can explore natural history, outer space, African-American history, and more. Many employees who work in the city live in the surrounding Virginia or Maryland counties, able to easily commute via the metro system. Northern Virginia has some of the country’s best schools and most beautiful homes, inviting for families of all ages. The real estate market is one of the strongest in the country and home to world-class shopping and industry.
If, after prayerfully reviewing this information, you believe this role fits you well, or if you
know someone you would like to recommend, please contact:
Dr. Rich Kidd
Partner
MISSION:LEADERSHIP
mobile :: (757) 642–0622
company main :: (615) 422–0884
email :: rich@missionleadership.org
web :: www.missionleadership.org