Manager, Design and Communication

At Easterseals Crossroads, we envision a community with 100 percent equity, inclusion, and access for people with disabilities. To achieve our vision, we serve and advocate for people with disabilities and their families.

We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging. Together we are building and sustaining an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates differences. We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination or harassment based on race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, ethnicity, national origin, genetic information, disability, body type, or veteran status. This policy applies to all employment practices including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and termination.

Position Summary:

The primary function of the position is to oversee and/or design, create, develop and author materials to be used for print and online promotion of the agency. Communicate with heavy emphasis on engaging the community and stakeholders with Easterseals Crossroads through efforts including content design/creation, social media and media relations.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision
• Flexible spending account (HSA or FSA)
• Generous paid time off, paid sick time, and ten paid holidays per year.
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance
• Pension with employer contribution and 403(b) with employer match

Essential Functions

Content Creation

Oversee, create and document content that engages, informs and educates our various communities (consumers, donors, general public) about Easterseals Crossroads and disability services by optimizing all aspects of written, print, visual and online communications platforms.

This includes the ability to

• Oversee, create, design and distribute print and online material on a daily basis
• Write content for storytelling on social media, within newsletters and for agency blog
• Create and activate digital marketing and engagement opportunities through newsletters, email, earned media/paid media and other outreach
• Oversee and maintain Easterseals guidelines and branding standards in all materials

Online Community Engagement

• Manage the online presence of Easterseals Crossroads across all websites and social media platforms
• Enhance existing strategy through platform determination, messaging and audience identification; grow newsletter followers and social media engagement
• Generate, edit, publish and share daily, compelling content (original text, images, video or HTML) that builds meaningful connections and encourages community members to take action
• Oversee/set up and optimize agency websites/pages/presence amongst all web platforms
• Create editorial calendars and syndication schedules
• Continuously improve by capturing and analyzing the appropriate social data/metrics, insights and best practices, and then acting on the information
• Work with staff in other departments to identify compelling stories, arrange photo shoots and create content
• Route web requests for information

Public and Media Relations

Nurture a strong media relations network, increase awareness and develop an enviable corporate image by developing and executing effective communication and media relations programs. Secure earned media placements.

• In conjunction with CDO and content creation manager, develop media relations strategy seeking high-level earned media placements in print, broadcast and online media
• Coordinate public relations activities managing an outside agency
• Direct content to engage audiences across traditional and new media
• Develop and maintain media relationships, cultivate new contacts within business and industry media; maintain current and updated media contacts database
• Manage media inquiries and interview requests; attend all opportunities for consistency
• Create content for press releases, byline articles and keynote presentations
• Monitor, analyze and communicate PR results on a quarterly basis
• Build relationships with thought leaders to grow industry awareness
• Maintain a keen understanding of industry trends affecting clients and make appropriate recommendations regarding communication strategy surrounding them
• Arrange media training opportunities for staff and media ambassadors
• Launch media ambassador program

Special Projects

• Develop content (written, photographic, visual) for fundraising and program events for the agency
• Work with all program areas to represent each department in a consistent and informing manner
• Create materials for program area events/meetings/camps/etc.
• Create/manage/update/monitor new web presences through microsites, including the following
  • eastersealscrossroads.org
  • empowerpossibility.org
  • crossroadsindustrialservices.com
  • techna-fit.com
• Maintain Easterseals national branding standards in all materials
• Work with the Crossroads Guild to advance their outreach
• Create materials for workflow within the agency (letterhead, envelopes, stationery, cards, promo items, forms, QR codes, etc.
• Attend community events, gatherings, discussions and outreach activities for the agency and assist with setup/engagement/clean up duties

Annual Engagement Campaign (August through January)

• Identify a theme for the campaign
• Contact program staff to learn about story options
• Develop a strategic plan to showcase a diverse group of program participants for report
• Engage a videographer and set schedules (typically 3 – 5 days of shoots)
• Write questions for interviews that will guide the conversations and engage program staff in interviews where it will enhance the stories
• Take photos to be used for print report
• Write stories for print version of report and to help guide the video production
• Work with videographer to finalize videos – usually up to 8
• Layout/design print report and remittance envelope
• Create online version of report with video links to share
• Create the materials for the run of the campaign (November – January). This includes animated gifs for paid promotion (up to 24 ads); also includes videos for paid promotion; work with video producer to identify content for :30 spots for social and connected tv
• Create and send newsletters throughout the campaign (minimum of two per week; heavier emphasis on Giving Tuesday promotion)

Job Specifications

Education, Licenses or Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communication, public relations or like field preferred.
• Experience with photography, website design, content creation.
• Excellent use of Adobe Creative Suite with major focus on Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop.
• Excellent writing skills and proofreading ability.

Working Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with occasional media commitments and special events outside these hours. Position is a hybrid of in-office and remote work.