Communications Associate

Description

Who We Are

At Steppingstone, our mission is to prepare students from under-resourced communities to access, navigate and graduate from college. 

• In Boston, we provide academic, social-emotional, and college readiness programming from as early as fifth grade and continuing through college graduation through the Steppingstone Scholars Program (SSP).
• Nationally, we connect the people, practices, and innovations essential for eliminating barriers to college and career success, through the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA).

Who You Are

The Communications Associate role is a strong fit for an early career professional with the talent to expand organizational outreach and strengthen relationships through compelling storytelling. As part of the Advancement team, you will report to the Senior Director of Communications and will contribute to marketing, fundraising, and program outreach efforts. The ideal candidate is a proactive communicator with strong writing, content creation, and organizational skills who demonstrates excellent attention to detail. This candidate will be enthusiastic about learning, eager to support colleagues, and committed to our mission.

Start Date: Spring 2025

Salary: $60,000

Reports to: Senior Director of Communications

Responsibilities:

Content Creation & Storytelling

• Maintain clear and consistent messaging and branding online and in print
• Conduct interviews for published stories using ethical best practices and honoring the subject’s agency
• Draft storytelling content such as Scholar spotlights, social media posts, marketing emails, one-pagers, and presentation slides
• Optimize content to resonate with different audiences, with support and feedback from colleagues who manage relationships within the organization
• Support the writing, formatting, and coordination of seasonal newsletters to engage families, donors, and schools
• Assist in sourcing photos and other assets for major publications such as the annual report
• Occasionally take photos and videos at smaller events and programming for social media or email campaigns

Website, Social Media, & CRM Management

• Update website content to ensure accuracy and relevancy as needed
• Follow best practices for UX, accessibility, and branding
• Field “Contact Us” form submissions and direct inquiries to the appropriate colleagues
• Schedule and post approved content to social media
• Support direct engagement with social media followers via replies to comments and messages, exercising professional judgment
• Help colleagues maintain up-to-date contact lists to maximize deliverability of marketing emails
• Keep contact lists, emails, and other media organized within existing structures
• Assist in developing and scheduling email campaigns within HubSpot

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with Program Advisors and fundraising staff to support clear and effective communication strategies
• Support colleagues across the organization in utilizing HubSpot efficiently, providing resources and coordinating solutions as needed

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated commitment to educational access and success
• Clear written and verbal communication style; the ability to adapt communication style to different audiences
• Strong content development and editing skills, including the ability to organize ideas, proofread, and develop a narrative 
• High attention to detail, particularly when handling sensitive information related to student privacy and safety
• Experience working with individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences
• Experience as an effective team member in a changing environment; ability to manage multiple projects and priorities
• Strong relationship-building and group facilitation skills across differing stakeholders; resolves conflicts constructively and respectfully
• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility, critical thinking, and independent problem-solving capabilities
• Familiarity with Google Workspace
• Layout and branding skills are a plus. These include the ability to format material consistently within a brand guide, understanding of design principles to promote ease of reading and follow-through on calls to action, and experience with design tools such as Adobe InDesign and Canva
• Experience with website content management and CRM (in particular Hubspot/Salesforce) a plus. Training in HubSpot, Salesforce, and Webflow will be provided if needed.

Education and Work Experience:

• Bachelor's degree with a strong focus on writing and communication
• 2 years of relevant professional experience preferred 

Hybrid Schedule:

The Associate will work a full-time Monday-Friday schedule. This position is a hybrid role with at least two days per week in office with some flexibility around work hours. A $500 home office set-up stipend will be provided upon hire, followed by quarterly stipends of $50. Laptops are provided to each employee to enhance the hybrid experience.

Physical Demands:

• Lifting up to 20 pounds, standing, walking, sitting, reaching, operating computer and office equipment 
• Pursuant to the ADA, Steppingstone will provide reasonable services and accommodation(s) to employees with qualified disabilities in order to perform the essential functions of their employment, except when doing so would be unduly disruptive and/or result in undue hardship to the organization.

Employee Benefits:

• Generous paid time off (over 8 weeks total, as outlined below)
• 15 days PTO
• 2 days Discretionary Time Off
• 5 wellness days
• 12.5 holidays
• 2 weeks paid office closure (the weeks before Labor Day and New Year’s Day)
• $500 Home Office Set-up Stipend; plus $50 quarterly
• Health, Dental and Vision coverage
• Life, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
• Healthcare Reimbursement Account Plan (HRA)
• Pet Insurance
• Flexible Schedule     
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition & Professional Development reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health and Dependent Care
• Pre-tax Transportation Plan (Transit & Parking)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Membership to the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA)

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter, and a writing sample. If you have experience with graphic design, please include a sample or portfolio link as well.

Steppingstone Core Values

Mission First - Keep Scholars front and center in all we do.

Lead with Inclusion - Elevate every voice, consider every perspective. 

Stronger Together - Team up and trust each other.

Own It - Act with integrity, stay accountable, and be transparent. 

Learn. Grow. Innovate. - Embrace change, drive creativity, and never stop learning.

A candidate will be found unsuitable for employment with Steppingstone and automatically disqualified if they use threatening language or behavior either written, verbal, or physical during any phase of the interview process.

Steppingstone is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any individual, employee, or application for employment in accordance with law.

Salary : $60,000