Director of Marketing & Communications in Columbus, Ohio at Flying Horse Farms

Department: Marketing & Communications

Reports To: Chief Mission Officer/Integrator

Direct Reports: Marketing Operations Manager + Creative Content & Digital Communications Coordinator

Location: Hybrid Remote/Mount Gilead, OH

Employment Type: Full-time, exempt

Salary: $90,000-$100,000

Overview: As the Director of Marketing & Communications, you’ll be the steward of the Flying Horse Farms story—using the power of storytelling, creativity, and connection to help more people understand the life-changing impact of camp. You’ll lead the organization’s marketing, communications, public relations, and brand strategy, helping expand awareness, deepen engagement, and build support for a future where every kid with a serious illness has a place to belong.

This is a highly collaborative leadership role for an exceptional writer, editor, and storyteller who can turn complex ideas into compelling narratives that move people to action. You’ll work closely with Development, Programs, executive leadership, and external partners while building relationships across the nonprofit, philanthropic, corporate, civic, and media communities.

Your Impact: Your work will help ensure more children and families discover Flying Horse Farms, more volunteers and partners understand the impact of camp, and more supporters feel connected to the mission. You’ll shape how FHF shows up in the world—from the stories we tell and the brand we build to the relationships we cultivate and the moments when our voice matters most.

You’ll bring together strategy, creativity, collaboration, and a deep understanding of our mission to elevate FHF’s visibility, strengthen its reputation, and help create more opportunities for kids with serious illnesses to experience the joy, freedom, and belonging of camp.

Flying Horse Farms is a place where your work connects directly to something meaningful. Together, we create medically-safe camp experiences where kids with serious illnesses can find hope, joy, and belonging—always at no cost.

It takes every role, every team, and an all-in commitment to make the mission possible.

What You’ll Do:

Leadership & Organizational Strategy

Provide strategic leadership for marketing and communications while contributing to organizational priorities and thought leadership. Lead and develop the Marketing & Communications team, collaborate with executive leadership, and establish measures that demonstrate the impact of communications and engagement efforts.

Marketing & Brand Management

Lead an integrated marketing strategy that strengthens awareness, engagement, and the FHF brand across audiences and platforms. Oversee brand stewardship, content strategy, creative direction, campaigns, events, digital experiences, and public relations to ensure a consistent and compelling presence.

Storytelling & Communications

Serve as the lead storyteller for Flying Horse Farms, developing authentic, mission-centered stories that connect with families, volunteers, donors, partners, and the broader community. Guide organizational messaging, executive communications, digital content, and donor communications to inspire connection and action.

Community Engagement & External Relations

Build relationships and identify opportunities that expand FHF’s visibility, partnerships, and community investment across Columbus, the Midwest, and the SeriousFun Children’s Network. Strengthen connections with nonprofit, philanthropic, corporate, civic, media, and healthcare communities to support engagement and organizational growth.

Crisis Communication & Reputation Management

Lead crisis communications planning and response while protecting and strengthening FHF’s reputation. Serve as a strategic communications partner during emerging issues and maintain protocols that ensure the organization is prepared to respond thoughtfully and effectively.

What We Offer

Supporting You Today

At Flying Horse Farms (FHF), we believe great work starts with a team that feels connected to the mission and to one another. We’re an all-in team committed to safety, fun, and excellence, where team members are encouraged to take initiative, see the best in one another, and bring an attitude of optimism to work.

• A mission-driven team connected by a clear vision, guiding principles, and shared operating values
• A workplace where your ideas, perspective, and contributions are valued
• A culture of collaboration, connection, and support
• An open, inclusive workplace built on trust and transparency
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible PTO
• 13 paid holidays

Protecting Your Future

We want you to feel supported not only in the work you do today, but in the life you’re building for tomorrow.

• Retirement Saving plan
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability
• Parental leave

What It’s like to Be Part of Our Crew:

The best way to understand our culture is to hear from the people who experience it every day.

“There’s an emotional awareness of the organization. We can connect and be ourselves and communicate maturely and with care at the center.”

“It’s the most cohesive culture I have seen with more clear unity around where were going.”

“We’re the team who always asks, “what else can we do for the mission?”

“The intentionality of [meetings] build trust. I am seeing the Leadership Team make a genuine effort to keep everyone informed.”

What You Bring

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations, or 7 years of relevant work and management experience (5 years in a leadership role preferred)
• Experience serving in a fractional, consulting, or advisory capacity
• Experience working in or with nonprofit organizations
• Comprehensive knowledge of marketing, communications, and public relations
• Demonstrated ability to quickly diagnose challenges, prioritize opportunities, and execute high-impact initiatives
• Excellent and thoughtful verbal, written, and nonverbal communication skills; including strong writing and editing capabilities
• Strong capability in providing strategic direction and oversight for direct reports, designers, videographers, or creative agencies
• Strong capability in pipeline development and growth strategy, including external relations, prospecting, and pipeline creation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred
• Technologically current and trend aware
• Working knowledge of photo/video editing tools and web content management systems
• Familiarity with donor and constituent relationship management systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge)
• Experience with crisis communication strategy and execution

Physical Expectations:

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Ability to work for extended periods at a computer and perform repetitive tasks associated with keyboarding, writing, and other office technology.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through digital communication platforms.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and move throughout the workplace and camp property as needed.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move materials and equipment related to meetings, events, programs, or organizational activities.
• Ability to navigate indoor and outdoor camp environments, including uneven terrain, as needed to support FHF activities and events.

Environmental Conditions:

The environmental conditions described below are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• This is a hybrid position with work performed from a combination of a home office, FHF’s office, the camp property, and off-site locations as needed.
• Work may occur in typical office and home-office environments, as well as indoor and outdoor camp, event, and community settings.
• May be exposed to varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, humidity, and rain, when participating in camp activities, events, or organizational initiatives.
• May occasionally work in environments with elevated noise levels associated with camp activities, events, and group gatherings.
• May require occasional travel to meetings, events, community engagements, partner locations, or other organizational activities.
• Work schedules may occasionally include evenings, weekends, or extended hours based on organizational needs, events, campaigns, or communications requirements.

Expectations & Requirements for all Flying Horse Farms Staff

We live our Values. We are each responsible for knowing our values and nurturing our culture:??

• We are All In. We demonstrate a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done, we are supportive and loyal, show up present and ready and we are passionate about "Campers First."
• We have an Attitude of Optimism. We find what’s working and make more of that happen, demonstrate adaptability within ambiguity, spread joy and hope and ensure everyone we interact with feels "Welcomed Home."
• We are Trustworthy. We are consistent, dependable, and steady, truthful and operate with transparency, take ownership for our work and "See the Best" in others.
• We Take Initiative. We are driven, work towards goals with fortitude, pay attention to details and find innovative solutions with "Fearless is Free" attitudes.

One Barn

At Flying Horse Farms, we embrace a “One Barn” approach in how we show up as a team. In action this means creating collaborative opportunities for team members to enhance their individual voices and perspectives, gain personal and professional growth, and make overall organizational impact. To demonstrate this and underscore our operating value All In, every employee participates in organization-wide and cross-departmental efforts. These efforts include (but are not limited to) fundraising, event support, program participation, facilities assistance work, “volunteering” during a camp experience, and supporting camps social enterprise model.

Flying Horse Farms provides magical, transformative camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families – free of charge. Located on 200 acres in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, camp first opened its gates in 2010 and hosts about 900 children and families each year.

Flying Horse Farms is the first camp in the Midwest to become a full member of the SeriousFun Children’s Network. Founded in 1988 by actor, philanthropist and Ohio native Paul Newman, the Network is a community of independently managed and financed camps and programs creating opportunities for children with serious illnesses and their families. The Network has evolved from one camp to a global community serving 732,000 children and families across five continents.

The children who attend camp have illnesses including cancer, heart conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, blood disorders, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders, and facial anomalies.

At Flying Horse Farms, for a weekend or week at a time, being sick takes a backseat to being a kid. And fun is priority number one. Campers participate in activities like swimming, boating, fishing, archery, high ropes and arts and crafts. Campers receive first-rate care at our on-site health center, staffed 24/7 by medical professionals from children’s hospitals across Ohio and beyond.

Flying Horse Farms is an ACA-Accredited Camp with the American Camp Association.

Ready to Join the team?

If you're excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today to join the Flying Horse Farms team.

Need assistance with the application process? Contact Human Resources at 419-751-7077.

EEO: Flying Horse Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.