Communications Specialist

Job Summary: Communications Specialist works closely with the Senior Marketing & Communications Executive, CEO, Program and Business Development Managers, Executive Team members, Digital Marketing Specialist and Special Projects Specialist. This position will promote a positive public image and manage the dissemination of information, especially brand messaging, aligned with our communication pillars and branding structure. They will create and maintain communications that lead to a positive public and internal perception.

Job Duties: is responsible for the organization’s media relations initiatives and online appeal using targeted and innovative communications methods. As such, the communications specialist is tasked with identifying media opportunities, maintaining existing media relations, and promoting positive public awareness of the organization and its products and services using social media, email, radio, newspapers, television, the website and other channels. The Communications Specialist communicates and markets the organization’s messages, programs, and services both externally and internally. This role is responsible for growing, shaping, and maintaining a company's reputation and brand.

Experience and Education: Typically possesses a bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, advertising, or relevant field.

Reports to: Reports to the Senior Marketing & Communications Executive.

Competencies: Excellent oral and written communication skills, and strong editing skills.  Experience in public relations, community relations and/or public speaking. Experience in social media management and content creation. Graphic design working knowledge is preferred.

Job Responsibilities:

Public Relations:

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with media outlets.
• Develop and distribute press materials for media outlets, including but not limited to press releases, advisories, images, pitch letters, case studies, feature articles, and trend stories.
• Arrange press conferences, interviews, and other media and event appearances.
• Craft events notices, blogs.
• Provide specialized, researched writing, such as speeches, for target audiences.
• Track, evaluate, and share results of PR efforts.

Social Media:

• Create social media content (photos, videos, reels, posts and/or stories) for all platforms that appeal to the target audiences.
• Create and maintain a social media calendar.
• Generate analytic reports on a monthly basis.
• Create the messaging for special audio/video projects.
• Evaluate public opinion of clients through surveys, polls, and social media listening.
• Monitor and manage comments and reviews in all platforms.

Branding:

• Ensure that the organization’s branding is maintained throughout all written, audio and visual communications.

Events:

• Handles logistics of marketing and communications to support events, in collaboration with the Senior Marketing & Communications Executive and the Digital Marketing Specialist.
• Assists in annual fundraising events.

Marketing activities:

• Assist with production of the annual report and program brochures.
• Assist in marketing support for specific programs.
• Assist in graphic design for flyers, posts and brochures.
• Evaluate advertising and promotional programs to ensure they align with PR goals.
• Handle the marketing and communications initiatives to support specific programs.
• Complete any required training and/or assigned tasks before the deadline (as provided by the onboarding process or your direct supervisor upon hire
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• English language is required (can read, write and speak fluently).
• Bachelor’s degree in a marketing/communications discipline, such as Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Mass Communications, or a related field.
• Minimum five years’ experience in any of the following functions: public relations, digital marketing, news writing and reporting, and/or community relations.
• Minimum three years in corporate social media management and content creation.
• Thorough understanding of social media platforms, and its technical requirements (trends, file formats, photo resizing, tagging, new technology etc.).
• Command of various writing styles to inform, persuade and educate diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with online marketing strategies and skills, including Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
• Proactiveness, initiative, and strong organizational skills.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Deadline and detail-oriented with the ability to work independently or with a team.
• Possess graphic design skills in Canva or any other design software.
• Possess video creation/editing skills (required).

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Solid understanding of project management principles.
• Bi-Lingual (Spanish or Creole).
• Experience in media management, writing press releases, alerts, notices.
• Established media contacts.
• Proficiency in computer skills such as Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Experience creating flyers, postcards, logos using Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and/or others.
• Working knowledge of photo and video-editing software.
• Photography experience as it relates to social media is highly encouraged/required. 
• Outstanding organizational and planning abilities.
  
• Leadership skills with the ability to work with other team members.
• Passionate about Marketing and Communications.
• Committed to excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• May have to travel to multiple locations.
• May have to attend after-hours scheduled work events.
• Available to work occasional evenings or weekends.

Personal Characteristics Strongly Desired:

• Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve the image and functional capacity of the organization and to create new opportunities. Proactiveness and initiative are highly valued.
• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices and ensure your own behavior and the behavior of others are consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Focus on Client Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of schools, community organizations and individual clients to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that support the sustainability of the organization.
• Strong Time Management Skills: Possess strong multitasking skills; able to work independently and as part of a team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment; be organized enough to run several campaigns at the same time; be versatile and flexible.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Effectively reading and interpreting information; identifying issues and resolving problems in a timely manner using creativity and good judgment.
• Replicate Core Values: Implement core values for all tasks and activities within the workplace.

Physical Demands:

This position is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, speak, and hear. The position requires extensive computer use so the employee must have sufficient hand dexterity to use a computer keyboard and be capable of reading a computer screen. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Limitations and Disclaimer:

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Hiring is contingent to references and Level II background screening and Sex Offender background check successfully passed.

Salary : $50,000