Description

Ballinger | Leafblad is honored to partner with the Bush Foundation on the search for its next Communications Officer.

The Communications Officer serves as a cross-functional communications lead and creative producer, helping turn strategy into coordinated, high-impact communications across the Foundation. This role leads communications projects and campaigns from concept through execution, guiding content, messaging, audience engagement, and brand efforts in partnership with colleagues, consultants, and community partners.

The Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography. Through its grantmaking, fellowships, and partnerships, the Foundation works to inspire and support creative problem solving that makes the region better for everyone.

The ideal candidate brings strong communications experience within complex, collaborative organizations and excels at managing integrated projects, campaigns, and partnerships across multiple audiences and platforms. They are an exceptional editor and adaptable writer who can navigate nuance, coordinate cross-functional work, and guide communications efforts from planning through execution. They bring strong judgment, curiosity, and a commitment to collaboration, learning, and relationship-building.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $127,733.

Compensation includes participation in Bush’s comprehensive benefits package. More provided in the position profile here. 

View the full position profile at
https://www.ballingerleafblad.com/current-searches

TO APPLY

All applicants must apply online here.

To apply, a resume and cover letter are required for consideration.

We strive for a transparent and supportive process, starting with an initial review of applications, followed by exploratory conversations with qualified candidates, in-depth interviews, and open communication throughout. There will be an immediate and ongoing review of candidates, so we encourage and appreciate early applications.

All inquiries will be handled with strict confidentiality, subject to standard recruiting practices and any applicable legal disclosure obligations.

For more details or questions, inquiries may also be directed to Jamie Millard at jamie@ballingerleafblad.com.

Applications will be accepted through May 28, 2026 at noon CST or until the position is filled. Review of materials begins immediately. We encourage early application.

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Significant experience (at least 5 years) in a communications role within a complex organization.
• Candidates should be within commuting distance of the office to support the role’s hybrid, in-person collaboration expectations.
• Advanced project management skills, which include strong planning, delegation, budgeting and critical thinking skills, with demonstrated success leading and motivating cross-functional teams.
• Highly effective relationship manager, able to build key allies inside and outside the organization, while exercising independent judgement and communicating effectively with a broad range of partners.
• Exceptional editing and copy-editing skills, able to review materials for nuance, style and form, while ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Adaptable writing skills, able to understand nuanced context and style and apply in different ways and in different contexts.
• Comfort operating in highly collaborative, matrixed environments with shared ownership, iterative feedback processes and evolving priorities.
• Ability to manage evolving timelines and iterative project approaches and workflows while identifying challenges and implementing effective solutions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress), social media tools and e-marketing platforms (e.g., MailChimp, Salesforce)
• Knowledge of and curiosity about emerging communications trends and related technologies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to building relationships and understanding of people of different backgrounds and communities; able to question own biases in understanding issues and people.
• Enthusiasm for Bush’s operating values and a willingness to reflect, learn and act to do what it takes to live up to them.