Associate, Direct Marketing

Organizational Overview 

Smile Train is the world’s leading cleft focused organization. Our goal is to transform the lives of every person impacted by a cleft lip or palate. We train and support doctors and medical professionals to provide our patients with free, life-changing, comprehensive cleft treatment. Our sustainable model has allowed us to reach more than 2 million children in 90+ countries in the past 25 years, and we still feel like we’ve just started. We are truly changing the world one smile at a time!

Make a Difference!

As Smile Train’s Associate, Direct Marketing, you will serve as an important member of our team providing hands-on support for mass marketing campaigns over several fundraising channels. You will assist in the implementation, management, and review of individual giving campaigns, with the support of internal staff and the management of agency partners.

The Direct Marketing Associate reports to the Senior Director, Direct Marketing but will work closely with all members of the Direct Marketing team, aiding where needed across the department, in both offline and online fundraising programs. This Associate will assist in delivering on the goal of the Direct Marketing department to acquire, retain, convert, and upgrade donors, via fundraising programs such as direct mail, telemarketing, direct response TV ads, email, paid search, banner ads, and social media – generating substantial revenue for Smile Train’s cleft care programs.

This is an entry-level role that will allow the Associate to learn the ins and outs of non-profit marketing. An ideal candidate is curious and eager to learn about non-profit development and mass marketing strategies. They will start by learning about Smile Train and its various systems, while supporting the marketing team in an administrative capacity by processing invoices and scheduling meetings. By month 3, the Associate will support existing campaigns with copywriting, communicating with vendors, and reporting on campaign results. By month 6, they will be leading campaigns with supervision and taking an active role in department meetings by contributing

ideas to Smile Train’s overall fundraising strategy. By 1 year, they should be able to independently manage fundraising campaigns from start to finish, including budgeting compliance, creative decision making, and campaign analysis against KPIs, with support from team members as needed.

This is a full-time role based at our headquarters in New York City, starting as soon as possible. This is a hybrid role (in-office at least two days per week).

Reports To

Senior Director, Direct Marketing

Key Responsibilities

• Attend weekly campaign review meetings with the Direct Marketing team to monitor performance of programs.
• Provide creative input for development of campaign materials.
• Assess performance of marketing campaigns by evaluating results against target key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Coordinate with other internal departments and external vendors to gather copy and creative assets to compile for donor-facing communications creation.
• Ensure expense alignment against budget, handle cost estimates, and process invoices.
• Review donor-facing communications for grammar, accuracy, and brand compliance.
• Perform database reporting and basic quantitative analysis.
• Prepare and share contact files for telemarketing campaigns by using database reporting tools.
• Maintain direct marketing schedule on SharePoint for shared visibility of campaign activity.
• Perform administrative tasks, such as scheduling meetings, taking notes during meetings, and filing archived campaigns.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a curious, detail-oriented, and highly organized early-career professional who is eager to build a career in nonprofit fundraising and direct marketing. They bring strong written communication and analytical skills, a proactive approach to managing multiple projects, and the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and external partners. Comfortable working with data and performance metrics, they enjoy learning how campaigns are planned, executed, and optimized to achieve results. They are a self-starter who takes initiative, embraces

feedback, and thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. Most importantly, they are passionate about advancing global health and excited to contribute to fundraising programs that inspire donor engagement and support Smile Train's life-changing work around the world.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, non-profit organization management, statistics, or related field
• Experience in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Passion for international health and an eagerness to grow in the fundraising field
• A proactive self-starter
• Comfort with basic quantitative analysis
• Strong writing and editing skills
• Project and time management skills
• Keen attention to detail and organizational skills

Compensation

$50,000 - $55,000 annually

Accountability Expectations

• Ownership of Outcomes: Take full responsibility for one’s own performance, ensuring alignment with Smile Train’s mission and objectives.
• Transparent Communication: Communicate openly and effectively with team members, fostering trust and a shared understanding of expectations and priorities.
• Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrate empathy, understanding, and cultural sensitivity to contribute to an inclusive and supportive team environment.
• Empowerment: Effectively communicate with supervisors to ensure you are equipped with the resources, guidance, and autonomy you need to excel in your role
• Team Cohesion: Contribute to a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared accountability, helping the team to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Why You’ll Love Working Here!

Meaningful Work – Be part of work that creates meaningful, lasting impact — changing the world one smile at a time.

We’ve Got You 100% Covered – Prioritize the health of you and your family with top tier, comprehensive health, pharmacy, dental, and vision coverage.

Plan for Your Future - Build toward your long-term goals with our 401(k) retirement plan and generous employer match to help invest in your future.

Rest and Recharge - Enjoy a generous PTO package, paid holidays, and sick time so you can rest, recharge, and return feeling your best.

Family Matters - We support employees through life’s most important moments with paid parental leave and family care benefits, giving you time and flexibility for the people who matter most.

Mind Your Mental – Free access to professional mental health counseling to keep you grounded.

Learn and Grow - Take advantage of an annual professional development stipend and opportunities to expand your skills and continue learning.

Work Your Way - Balance collaboration and flexibility with our hybrid work model, based out of our conveniently located Midtown Manhattan office.

Travel the World – See our impact firsthand while partnering with global colleagues and programs through opportunities for domestic and international travel.

Application Process

Smile Train is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates from all groups and communities to apply.

To apply, please complete the application online. Include your CV and a cover letter explaining why you would be a good fit for Smile Train and this role. Only those who provide a cover letter as directed will be considered. We encourage interested applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible.