Manager, Content Development & Communications

About Us

Agriculture is the key to unlocking a better future for billions of people. But while rural families sustain the world, they struggle to sustain themselves. At the same time, they face increasingly urgent challenges, from volatile crop prices to extreme weather.

Root Capital is a social impact investor that provides financing and business training to agricultural enterprises so that they can transform rural communities. We work with enterprises in the “missing middle” of agricultural finance: those whose credit needs are too big for microfinance and too small or risky for commercial banks.

Since 1999, we have loaned over $1.9B to more than 800 businesses, and we have trained more than 1,800 ones—improving the lives of 10 million people. As these agricultural businesses succeed and scale, they become engines of impact for their local communities, raising incomes, creating jobs, uplifting women and young people, preserving vulnerable ecosystems, and building rural prosperity.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Root Capital currently works in a dozen countries in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, and has staff in Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru, Ghana, and Kenya.

Proud winner of the 2024 SCA Sustainability Award for Non-Profits. Learn more here

Position Overview

Working closely with the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, the Manager of Content Development & Communications is responsible for ideating, executing, and overseeing content strategy. The manager will be an exceptional writer with a creative vision, collaboration skills, the ability to understand and work with stakeholders, and the ability to engage diverse target audiences: funders, clients, staff, and other partners. Working closely with teams across the entire organization, the manager writes and edits publications, blogs, newsletters, and other marketing materials. The manager also oversees the work of the Content Development Associate and external vendors (designers, videographers, copy editors, translators, etc.).

Responsibilities

Organizational Content Generation 50%

• Develop and own Root Capital’s pipeline of content, ensuring a steady cadence of outputs and adherence to grant deliverables. Remain informed on key initiatives, and distill complex, programmatic initiatives into simple and motivating communications assets, including:
• Long-form content (reports, thought pieces, etc.)
• Short-form content (blog posts, newsletters, marketing collateral, etc.)
• Investment summaries
• Marketing videos
• Solicit and support the development of content from internal and external contributors.
• Collaborate with team members across different disciplines to drive their agendas and meet goals through effective marketing communications.
• Liaise with Root Capital staff, including senior leaders, to develop new materials and approaches that communicate Root Capital’s value proposition to current and potential clients.
• Initiate process and system improvements to streamline Root Capital’s communications function and identify areas for cross-team collaboration.
  

Management 30%

• Manage the Content Development Associate to create, distribute, and track the performance of content.
• Ensure the associate is delivering on administrative tasks in support of the full Marketing & Communications team.
• Develop goals, conduct performance reviews, and identify professional development opportunities for the associate.
• Serve as a writing coach and mentor for the associate and other internal and external writers, ensuring all work is strategically aligned with department priorities.
• Coordinate directly with multiple freelancers including designers, videographers, translators, and copy editors to produce compelling content on budget and deadline.
  
  

Lead Root Capital’s Editorial Voice 10%

• Maintain and enforce clear guidelines for tone, lexicon, and grammar in Root Capital's communications.
• Ensure that MarComms team members use the most up-to-date metrics and promote the impact metrics outside of the team.
  
  

Engage on Big Picture Strategy 10%

• Contribute to high-level team planning around branding, editorial strategy, and marketing plans.
• With team members, think creatively about how to engage, inspire, and educate Root Capital’s priority audiences.
  
  

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or English.
• At least 5–7 years of relevant communications experience, preferably in nonprofits, social enterprise, sustainable value chains, agricultural finance, and/or impact investing.
• Outstanding writing and editing skills with the proven ability to engage a variety of diverse audiences (previous experience engaging with investors, donors, and/or agricultural businesses a plus).
• Perceptive listening skills and the ability to synthesize vast amounts of complex information into compelling and succinct messages.
• Must be able to handle multiple projects under tight deadlines and to be able to work well in a complex organization.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to think creatively, take initiative, and work independently while enjoying collaboration and knowing when to seek support.
• Previous management experience is highly desired.
• Exceptional grammatical skills are a must, familiarity with the New York Times Manual of Style and Usage desired.
• Ability to drive decisions based on data, assess content metrics and performance and adapt approaches to achieve increased effectiveness and a more distinctive brand.
• Ability to travel (maximum once/year) to rural regions of developing countries where Root Capital operates. Ability to travel 2-5 times/year domestically for team retreats and conferences.
• A high degree of personal integrity and discretion while handling sensitive internal communications.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to gather targeted information from people with diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.
• Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.
• Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
• Ability to speak Spanish, a big plus!
• Commitment to Root Capital’s mission.
• Authorized to work in the United States.
  
  

To Apply

Along with a thoughtful cover letter and resume showcasing how your skills and experience make you a good fit for this role, please provide 2 writing samples (e.g. blog post, report, press release, event remarks). Your writing samples and cover letter should be uploaded as a single PDF.

Priority consideration will be given to applications received by Friday, July 12.

Root Capital provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, active military or veteran status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, and breastfeeding and expressing breast milk), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Root Capital is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that upholds our leadership principles of: empowerment, equity, integrity, service, and transparency.