Communications Specialist

About the Program

Reporting to the Director of Communications, the Communications Specialist will help support teams, programs, and initiatives across the organization.

In this role, you will educate and engage different audiences and sectors as we grow a movement of people motivated to make a difference — including community advocates, other nonprofit organizations, elected officials, foster families, youth, donors and partners, and the general public. The Communications Specialist will:

1. Support targeted efforts to educate key populations about the Federal Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Voucher program.40-50% of youth who age out of foster care will experience homelessness within18 months. This is happening despite the availability of a federal resource designed specifically to provide housing to youth transitioning out of foster care: Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Choice Vouchers. The reasons for this gap are complex, but we believe Massachusetts can do more to leverage these vouchers and make them accessible to youth who need them—and that strategic communication is a key piece of this puzzle. With support from Liberty Mutual Foundation, HopeWell has teamed up with two other nonprofits to address this challenge and ensure all youth aging out of foster care have the safe, stable housing they need to grow and thrive.
2. Support a wide range of organizational communications efforts, including but not limited to writing and designing materials, search engine optimization, and social media.
3. Support our fundraising team by creating compelling annual appeals and donor communications.

Please note that this is currently a grant-funded position for a 3-year duration, with the possibility to extend longer-term.

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for a communications professional who wants to utilize their unique skills to build awareness and support around the life-changing work we’re doing on behalf of children, adults, and families at HopeWell. The ideal candidate is a strategic, creative, and detail-oriented communicator with a passion for social justice and a deep understanding of the issues facing the communities we support (or a willingness to learn!) We are seeking someone with top-tier writing and graphic design skills, who is fluent in digital media and marketing, such as social media and web strategy.

Your Impact Will Include (Job Responsibilities)

The Communications Specialist role will focus on three main bodies of work:

#1: Special Project: FYI Vouchers

With support from our Director of Communications and Policy & Advocacy team, the Communications Specialist will create and disseminate educational and marketing materials for key groups, including elected officials, youth, child welfare organizations, and more.

This work will involve developing and implementing a targeted communications strategy and calendar. The Communications Specialist will craft and help distribute audience-specific content, including:

• Social Media: Create and post thoughtful social media content, including managing paid advertising.
• Website and Blog Content: Highlight stories, key information, and tools/resources related to FYI vouchers and other youth services.
• Presentations: Create clear and persuasive PowerPoint decks for a variety of audiences.
• Print Materials: Write, design, and produce brochures, fact sheets, and other collateral for distribution to target audiences.
• Media Relations: Draft press releases and media alerts. Coordinate media inquiries about FYI vouchers. Help identify opportunities to connect with journalists, radio/TV reporters, writers, and podcast producers to elevate our expertise and leadership in this area.

#2: Organizational Communications

Writing, Design, & Content

• Create high-quality, well-designed materials (such as PowerPoints, brochures, and one-pagers).
• Write short-form content, including factchecking, editing, and incorporating feedback along the way.
• Ensure consistent visual identity and on-brand messaging throughout HopeWell’s footprint.

Social Media

• Craft and implement a social media strategy to grow HopeWell’s visibility and engagement.
• Regularly create and post content and manage HopeWell’s accounts (LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube).

Newsletter

• Write and design a quarterly newsletter using Constant Contact.
• Implement best practices and creative thinking for email marketing, including audience growth, list segmentation, A/B testing, and staying up to date on field-tested strategies.

Website & Digital Marketing

• Use Word Press (Elementor) to develop new web content, such as blogs, toolkits/resources, photo albums, and specialized landing pages. Update existing web content, as needed.
• Review SEO metrics and make adjustments to content accordingly.
• Develop and implement digital advertising strategies — including running paid social media campaigns, coordinating with a vendor to maximize our Google nonprofit ads grant, and identifying other opportunities for impact.

Partnerships & Programs

• Collaborate with the Director of Communications to shape and execute communications strategies, campaigns, and calendars, based on both needs and opportunities.
• Work closely with HopeWell’s offices and programs by responding to requests for support and delivering small-to-medium sized projects, such as one-pagers and event assets.
• Capture and edit basic photos and video clips at events.
• Follow key issues, conversations, and outreach trends in social services, foster care, and the nonprofit landscape. Use insights to help shape timely and relevant communications.

Data & Administrative

• Regularly monitor and track analytics to assess the effectiveness of our efforts and inform decision-making. Provide information on trends and key takeaways to the Director of Communications and other HopeWell team members.
• Coordinate with external partners and vendors, including peer organizations, event planners, consultants, printers, web developers, and designers.
• Track and submit invoices and expense reports.

#3: Development/Fundraising

• Create and rollout materials for fundraising appeals (twice per year), including a printed mailer, emails, website content, social media posts, and targeted digital advertising.
• Support fundraising and stewardship events by creating invitations, website landing pages, and event signage; promoting attendance and engagement via social media and community calendars; and providing follow-ups, such as photos, quotes from attendees, and post-event emails.
• Help shape content that shares inspiring stories and demonstrates our impact to current and prospective donors.
• Assist with funder meetings by creating and updating materials and presentations tailored to funder interests, including clear talking points and polished design.

The Expertise We Can’t Do Without (Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, digital media, visual communication, graphic design, journalism, or related field — or relevant on-the-job experience.
• 2+years of work experience in communications or marketing, preferably within a nonprofit, social services, or public sector environment.
• Advanced graphic design skills and proficiency with tools, such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Canva.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, including the ability to summarize complex material and data sets into short, accessible formats.
• Strong digital marketing skills, including social media management, email marketing, website CMS, SEO, and data analytics.
• A high-level of proficiency with Microsoft Suite (Word, Outlook) is required.
• A combination of strong organizational skills/attention to detail AND fun, creative thinking!

Additional Skills That Set You Apart (Competencies)

Additional Expertise & Experience

• A user-experience mindset and proven ability to consider content from multiple perspectives and differentiate for diverse audiences.
• Basic photography and videography skills, including editing.
• Working knowledge of how to design print and digital content for accessibility.
• Basic knowledge of AP style writing/editing.
• Professional communication skills to act as a liaison to outside vendors — for example, providing a vendor or contractor with complex directions or critical feedback.
• Familiarity with the Massachusetts nonprofit landscape and state-level social services is a plus.

Proficiency With Communications Tools

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Constant Contact
• Word Press(Elementor)
• SEMrush(or other SEO tools)
• Google tools, including Google Business, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Google Tag Manager, and Google Ads.
• Project management tools (such as Monday.com)

Approach to the Work

• Intellectually curious — willingness to ask questions, do research, find solutions, and learn new skills and information.
• Belief in the dignity, strengths, and leadership of the youth, adults, and families we serve, with demonstrated care to prioritize inclusion and representation.
• Comfort managing multiple tasks at once and complex, multi-faceted projects.
• Ability and willingness to contribute as a thought-partner, anticipate organizational needs, and “manage up.”
• Commitment to giving and receiving feedback.

Other Essential Requirements

• Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law.
• A strong commitment to HopeWell’s mission and values, with sensitivity to the issues facing children, youth, and families in the child welfare system.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations.
• This isa hybrid role, reporting in-person to our Dedham office twice per week (remote the rest of the week).
• In rare instances, emergency response outside of normal business hours may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

The HopeWell Difference — Benefits Beyond the Paycheck

• We offer a generous bilingual bonus to new hires who speak a second language (other than English) that meets the needs of our families – up to $3,500.
• Access to our excellent BCBS medical benefits.
• Retirement benefits including 401K match up to 6%.
• Generous paid time off
• Professional development opportunities, such as tuition reimbursement (up to $3,000 per year) and discounted tuition rates to select partnership colleges and universities! Additional funds for training and development.
• Wellness benefits, including access to employee resource groups, discounted gym memberships, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Student Loan Pay-Down Program – Let us help you pay down your student loans!
• And more…Click this link to find out more about our benefits beyond the paycheck! hopewellinc.org/careers/benefits