Manager, Policy Communications

The Rockefeller Foundation • Full-time • New York, New York, United States • $130.10k - $150k / year • 23h ago

Position Overview

The Rockefeller Foundation recently announced a historic $100 million commitment to expand job creation and strengthen work attachment in distressed communities across the United States, the Manager, Policy Communications for U.S. Programs & Policy (USPP) plays a central role in shaping how strategy, impact, and learning are translated into compelling narratives that inform policy and influence practice. This role ensures that insights from community engagement, civic innovation, and field-building efforts are synthesized into clear, credible, and audience-specific communications that advance program objectives.

Reporting to Managing Director, Policy & Advocacy, and partnering closely with the Foundation’s Communications team, this position integrates communications strategy with program execution—ensuring that storytelling, policy positioning, and stakeholder engagement are aligned and mutually reinforcing. The role operates at the intersection of strategy, policy, and narrative influence, with responsibility for elevating proof points and amplifying impact at the local, state, and national levels.

Work Schedule: This role follows a hybrid schedule and is required to be on-site Monday through Thursday.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Develop and manage a yearly comprehensive communications and narrative strategy that aligns USPP program priorities with a broader policy and philanthropic vision, with clear mapping of opportunities for “tentpole moments,” digital campaigns, earned media plans, and thought leadership. Translate complex programmatic work—including research, community partnerships, and grantmaking—into clear, persuasive messaging tailored to policymakers, partners, and philanthropic audiences.
Partner with program leads to identify proof points, elevate impact stories, and ensure coherence across initiatives and phases of strategy execution.
Produce and oversee development of high-quality communications assets, including briefs, memos, speeches, talking points, reports, digital content, and presentations.
Collaborate with the central Communications team to align messaging with brand standards, editorial guidance, and institutional priorities.
Support leadership visibility through preparation for convenings, media engagements, panels, and stakeholder meetings.
Manage project management systems to ensure effective tracking and delivery of priority projects.
Coordinate review processes for communications materials, including legal and policy review where required.
Manage external vendors and consultants (e.g., writers, designers, digital partners), ensuring quality, timeliness, and alignment with strategic goals.
Track and assess the effectiveness of communications efforts, using qualitative and quantitative insights to refine strategy and improve reach and influence.
Serve as a thought partner to program leadership on narrative positioning and opportunities to shape public and policy conversations.
Contribute to cross-foundation collaboration and shared learning on storytelling, audience engagement, and influence strategies.

Education, Experience, and Skills

Generally expected to have 7-10 years of relevant professional experience in communications, policy communications, public affairs, or related fields.
Bachelor’s degree in communications, public policy, journalism, public affairs, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
Experience within philanthropy, nonprofit, public policy, government, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex policy or programmatic work into accessible, persuasive content.
Strong writing and editorial skills across formats and audiences.
Experience developing communications strategies that align with policy influence goals.Familiarity with digital platforms, content management systems, and audience engagement tools.
Ability to manage multiple workstreams and stakeholders in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
Strong judgment in navigating sensitive topics and aligning communications with institutional priorities.
Highly collaborative, with the ability to build trusted relationships across program, policy, and communications teams.
Ability to travel as required.

Competencies

Action Oriented: Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Collaborates: Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Manages Complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Nimble Learning: Learns through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.
Strategic Mindset: Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity in food, health, energy, and finance, including through our public charity, RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC). For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.

Hiring Range: $130,100 - $150,000. This represents the present low and high ends of the Foundation’s hiring range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to experience.

The Rockefeller Foundation offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes health insurance programs, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment, a generous 401K, parental leave, and various forms of paid time off, all to help our employees feel energized, cared for, and engaged.

As an organization, we focus on six values to advance our culture and continue our success. We are dedicated to being Transparent, Optimistic, Accountable, Collaborative, Trusted, and Equitable. We expect all employees at the Foundation to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.

The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, liability for service in the United States Armed Forces, or any other protected status.

The Rockefeller Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.