Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) seeks a skilled and dynamic Communications Specialist to join our fast-paced team. This individual will play a pivotal role, with a focus on creating compelling content, managing social media channels, assisting with successful marketing campaigns, identifying trends and insights from data to improve strategy and storytelling, and other communications efforts. The ideal candidate will be a precise writer with proven expertise in content creation across multiple platforms and will adapt communications to fit various marketing strategies. The candidate should be well-versed in using social media tools, tracking analytics reporting on key performance indicators. CFHV is on a growth trajectory and is looking for team members who enjoy a dynamic work environment with a strong mission and set of core values. This role will interact and collaborate with staff across the organization.
Essential Job Functions & Key Responsibilities:
This role requires a self-starter who thrives in a collaborative environment. Responsibilities include:
- Content creation: Drafting and distributing press releases, articles, newsletters, blogs, social media posts internal communications that align with the organization’s voice and goals, adapting content for various platforms and marketing purposes.
- Social Media Management: Implement and manage social media strategies across platforms, including scheduling posts, engaging with followers monitoring channel activity
- Website: Perform proactive and routine website updates, and optimize website content, ensuring accuracy, SEO best practices timeliness.
- Commission, solicit, catalog, organize, and store visual assets including photos, videos and graphics.
- Identify, pursue coordinate execution of sponsorships, including attending events and setting up, promoting and coordinating staff attendance and submitting any sponsorship requests including logo and ad submissions.
- Event Planning: Coordinate with staff event team to execute an event plan including a strategic marketing plan, promotional materials, budget, timeline required resources; Coordinate with vendors, sponsors volunteers to ensure all elements are in place.
- Media and PR Outreach: Maintain media lists, pitch stories, coordinate interviews manage inquiries.
- Analytics and Reporting: Track and regularly report on key metrics related to communications and marketing efforts, such as website traffic, social media engagement, email performance media coverage. Collect and analyze data to evaluate marketing campaigns
- Data Management: Develop reports and presentations to communicate data findings to the marketing team; Manage data entry and database maintenance procedures; Identify target audience and prepare campaign mailing lists.
- Schedule all photo and video shoots including collecting permission from those featured; if featuring clients from nonprofits or scholarship recipients, collect relevant paperwork
- Work with established guidelines and templates to create compelling visual presentations for meetings, events and more.
- Manage the creation and distribution of CFHV’s branded material, collateral and stationery inventory (including business cards), ensuring they are up-to-date and in stock perform routine publication updates.
Physical Requirements
- Office environment: Predominantly operates in an office environment.
- Moving and lifting: Some work (less than 5%) requires moving and lifting of equipment during events.
Required Qualifications:
- 4-5+ years of experience in a communications or marketing role, preferably within a fast-paced environment
- Associate’s degree or higher in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with proven experience in writing for various platforms (press releases, blog posts, social media, etc.)
- Social media content development and management across all platforms and the ability to engage audiences and monitor performance and report out results
- Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
- Demonstrated curiosity, integrity initiative
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of tasks, ensuring quality while meeting deadlines
- Experience with email marketing tools such as MailChimp
- Experience with WordPress and a solid understanding of SEO principles
- Experience with CRM data management
- Media relations experience, including writing press releases and pitching to media outlets, is highly desirable
- Flexible and calm under pressure, with the ability to adapt to shifting priorities and work well in a collaborative team environment
- Experience working with consultants, vendors, staff
- Portfolio required showcasing strong writing and social media management skills
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or similar design tools is a plus
Attributes:
- Participates in CFHV’s organizational life, including work groups as assigned and events as required
- Positively demonstrates the values and contributes to CFHV’s culture
- Interacts professionally with other employees and external stakeholders
- Works effectively as a team contributor
Salary Range: The annual salary range for this position is $50,000 to $60,000, commensurate with experience. The position includes a comprehensive employee benefits package that includes paid time off benefits; health, dental, and vision insurance (with 100% of health premiums paid by CFHV for the employee); and a 401(k)-retirement plan with a 3% safe harbor contribution.
CFHV employees can work up to 2 days remotely.
To Apply: Please send a resume, cover letter provide at least one writing sample from the following categories of published work: social media campaigns/posts, blogs or articles, graphics, or other content you have created. Please submit the full packet in one PDF document to careeropportunities@communityfoundationshv.org. In your cover letter, please address your qualifications and interest in the position. Please use “Communications Specialist– CFHV” in the subject line.
Equal Opportunity Employer: CFHV is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity, equity inclusion in all aspects of employment. We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.
About Us: Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) empowers individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to fulfill their philanthropic goals through the establishment of charitable funds that support the needs of Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster counties. With over $100 million in assets, CFHV manages nearly 600 charitable funds and has distributed more than $777 million in grants and scholarships since January 2000. We lead initiatives to address urgent community needs such as food insecurity and educational challenges, offering both immediate relief and long-term support.