Communications Specialist - Communities In Schools North Carolina

About Communities In Schools of North Carolina:

At Communities In Schools, we are “all-in” for kids. It is our passion-- it is our mission. As the State Office for North Carolina, we deliver CIS programs across the state and we collaborate with local affiliate organizations, to provide resources and create communities of caring adults who work hand-in-hand with educators to make sure young people have the tools they need to stay in school and achieve in life. Communities In Schools is the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization, serving 1.5 million students in 2,400 sites across the country. We achieve this mission by hiring bright, creative, and innovative team members who have a passion for what we do. At CISNC, we value relationships, collaboration, learning, integrity and commitment.

Position Overview:

The Communications Specialist contributes to our mission by building brand awareness and raising the profile of the CIS across North Carolina. The Communications Specialist manages agency-wide public relations, supports marketing and fundraising efforts and creates communications content for storytelling and donor relations. This position helps lift the brand state-wide by driving messaging with stakeholders, media narratives, and develops CIS thought leadership voice on relevant issues. This position also drives acquisition and retention of individual donors state-wide through targeted community messaging that supports localized fundraising campaigns.

Essential Functions:

Builds CIS Voice & Brand (50% of time):

• Leads media relations and earned media strategy through a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion lens ensuring the placement of timely thought leadership pieces, localized stories, and media efforts that build brand awareness for CIS and our affiliates state-wide

• Works with Communications Manager to conceptualize and produce communications collateral for the organization; includes materials needed for internal & external audiences, Board of Directors support, annual Impact Conference, special events, and more

• Builds media relationships and lists to drive strategic placement of CIS stories and messages

• Supports stakeholder communications strategies (e.g. messaging to schools and districts, corporate partners, etc.).

• Supports CIS Affiliates as needed with message strategy story development and distribution

Content Collection and Curation (20% of time):

• Helps generate stories/blog content/photos to be used in CIS communications tools and campaigns

• Helps maintain CISNC Website and social platforms as needed

Individual Donor Messaging (30% of time):

• Develops localized messaging to attract, recapture, and retain individual donors

• Conducts individual donor prospect research and qualification using research database and other tools

• Supports donor stewardship efforts

Necessary Skills:

Core Competencies

Relationship building, teamwork, results focused, communication, development & continual learning, accountability & dependability, valuing diversity.

Job Specific Competencies

Public/media relations experience, writing and speaking, creativity, customer focus, initiative, managing projects and relationships, organization, planning and organizing, thoroughness.

Physical/Environmental Competencies

This position requires regular sitting, standing, and the use of office equipment such as computers. Occasional travel to media events, program sites, or company meetings may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Working Hours and Flexibility

This position is a hybrid role with a minimum of Tuesdays and Thursdays required in the office (days may vary around special events or campaigns and during onboarding and training). Core business hours of availability are 9:00AM-4:00PM with at least 40 hours expected every week.

Required Education/Experience:

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism or a related field.

• At least 2 years’ experience in marketing/communications; with an understanding of the organizational elements of marketing, advertising, PR, media and digital media.

• Demonstrated success building media relationships and pitching/placing stories that garner coverage.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, Canva (skills in InDesign, WordPress, Adobe Illustrator a plus).

NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this role. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties as necessary.

Perks:

We offer outstanding benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 403(b) and MORE!!! We offer paid vacation, sick time and holidays. Our team is friendly, fun and collaborative.

Learn more at www.cisnc.org, and stay connected with CISNC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.