Our current communications guy, Jake Lynch, is returning home to his native Australia later this year, and so The Hub is looking for our new Director of Strategic Network Communications.
Here’s all the details, and the info you need to apply. Deadline for applications is May 5.
The Director of Strategic Network Communications directs The West Virginia Community Development Hub’s communications program, which works to generate a broad and powerful narrative about the community development work being done in West Virginia, and boost the communications capacity of the wide network of community development advocates and partners across the state.
This work requires a creative and flexible approach to both internal and external communications strategies. We see this position continuing to have a measurable impact on not only the visibility of community development success stories in the media, but also on how grassroots organizations operate internally, connect with each other, share resources, collaborate and coordinate using simple, effective communications techniques.
The Director of Strategic Network Communications will ideally have experience working in the media, but must also demonstrate a non-institutional creative capacity to imagine and identify new possibilities, draw connections between seemingly disparate actors and agencies, and convene people around emerging opportunities.
- Managing and promoting the West Virginia Communications Listserv, in order to grow this online community of communications professionals and grassroots practitioners.
- Maintaining and expanding relationships between community organizations, the mainstream media, communications professionals and The Hub.
- Convening and growing the New Story network to highlight and build on creative and innovative things happening around the region.
- Play a key role with Hub staff and partners on the reinvention and promotion of Hubapalooza, The Hub’s semi-annual community development network event.
- Continue to work with the Appalachian Regional Commission and our peers and partners across the region to coordinate and strengthen community development communications.
- Respond to requests for communications training, content creation, consultancy services and other needs to support the communications efforts of organizations and individuals across the state.
- Identify opportunities for partners to connect with each other to strengthen their own initiatives and find new audiences.
- Maintain and grow The Hub’s Blog as a “one-stop shop” feed of community development news and information, including posting and creating daily content.
- Explore opportunities to expand Hub storytelling with audio and video content creation.
- Maintain The Hub’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds.
- Maintain and update wvhub.org, and the websites of Hub initiatives, such as the Abandoned Properties Coalition and West Virginia Physical Activity Network.
- Write press releases, fact sheets and other informational pieces for media and the general public.
- Manage The Hub’s weekly email news send.
DEVELOPMENT & FUNDRAISING
- Take the lead on creating public engagement fundraising campaigns to increase The Hub’s stream of individual giving.
- Respond to and identify fee-for-service contract work opportunities to conduct communications training with other organizations.
- Support the Executive Director in identifying potential private sector donors and supporters.
SUPPORTING HUB PROGRAMS
- Provide all necessary communications support to Hub programs, including Energizing Entrepreneurial Communities, HubCAP, Turn This Town Around, and other programmatic efforts in communities. This work includes but is not limited to blog and web training, assistance with press outreach, building Constant Contact event pages and other communications support work.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s Degree required.
- At least three years’ experience working within the media, organizational communications or nonprofit PR sector.
- Must have proven track record of quickly and consistently producing effective story content for an organizational communications stream.
- Experience in creating cross-platform public engagement campaigns is highly valued.
- Experience and/or interest in fields relating to new media, creative placemaking, civic engagement, and grassroots community development is beneficial but not required.
- Must have experience in facilitating meetings and coordinating coalitions, teams or volunteer groups.
- Experience supervising staff, interns or volunteers beneficial.
- Must be energetic, positive, imaginative, well-organized, and capable of functioning effectively in an independent environment and on a small team.
- Excellent computer skills using Adobe Creative Suite apps, WordPress, Microsoft Office, Google Products and other relevant software.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- A combination of education and experience will be considered for this position.
- The salary for this position is between $40,000 – 45,000, with full benefits and generous vacation time.
- Opportunity for rapid professional advancement is available for the right candidate.
- This position is full-time, and will be based in either Fairmont or Charleston, West Virginia.
- Regular travel is expected and all travel expenses are reimbursable.
The Hub is an equal opportunity employer.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send a cover letter, resume, and links to at least 3 samples of media content creation to firstname.lastname@example.org by May 5, 2017.
Your cover letter should clearly state your relevant experience, your interest in this position and why you feel you are the best candidate to move forward The Hub’s community development policy work.
Applications should include “Director of Strategic Network Communications Position” in the subject field.