The Joint Center recognizes the value of strategic communications and is making a significant investment in this area. We are building out the Communications Department to rival Communications Departments at the nation’s top 10 think tanks. We are focused on thought leadership development, making data, analysis, and research accessible, and deepening engagement with audiences ranging from policymakers to funders.
The Joint Center’s Communications Associate is a new position designed to provide support to the Communications department and plays an integral role in supporting the department’s overall goals of amplifying and advancing Joint Center’s strategic audience engagement, research priorities, and growth ambitions. Reporting to the Vice President, Communications, the Communications Associate will contribute to a range of communications functions, including overseeing the Joint Center’s weekly and monthly newsletters; monitoring media placements; and managing the press pages, blogs, and event placements on the website.
The role
The Communications Associate will embody the Joint Center’s cultural principles, including a deep commitment to healthy, growing, and empowered Black communities in the United States and an unapologetic focus on and prioritizing Black people, and disseminating accurate data, research, and solutions that reflect Black interests.
Key roles and responsibilities
- Manages the drafting, editing, and distribution of the Joint Center’s weekly roundup and monthly newsletter;
- Performs daily monitoring of media clips, analyzes media coverage, and compiles and distributes media reports for the Joint Center’s staff and board;
- Manages the media section of the website, which includes content, such as blogs and news items;
- Provides social media support; basic understanding of drafting posts to pulling and comprehending analytics;
- Tracks events where Joint Center staff are invited to speak and manages the (pending) online events calendar;
- Assists with research, planning, and logistics for public and private events; and
- Provides assistance for a range of special projects as assigned by the Vice President, Communications.
Experience and skills
- Bachelor’s degree;
- Minimum of two-to-three years of communications experience required;
- Mission driven; the successful candidate will be interested in the advancement of African American communities;
- Strong writing skills and the ability to tailor writing styles to comport with the voice and style of the Joint Center; knowledge of Associated Press style is a plus;
- Excellent verbal skills to effectively communicate within the organization;
- Experience with WordPress;
- Experience with media monitoring software systems, such as Cision, Talk Walker, etc.;
- Experience with newsletter software, such as Constant Contact; Hubspot, etc.;
- Experience with video editing and graphic design is a plus;
- Demonstrates high attention to detail with strong performance in producing materials under deadline and without errors;
- A task-oriented style, with a focus on achieving clear and ambitious goals;
- Demonstrated ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization and managing time effectively;
- Strong interpersonal skills; able to develop and manage productive relationships with members of the Joint Center’s communications, programmatic, and leadership teams, consultants, and others involved in developing or implementing the communications efforts of the Joint Center; and
- Excellent listening skills. Ability to exhibit skills of diplomacy. Able to work productively as part of a team and individually as well as with a wide array of different people throughout the institution.
Other useful information
This is a full-time position. The salary for this position will range from $40,000-$50,000 based on experience, and comes with an excellent benefits package that includes health, vision, dental, and life insurance. The Joint Center is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status.