Communications Specialist

Homeless Children’s Network is a leading provider of trauma-informed behavioral health services to Black/African American families in San Francisco and the hub for a network of 50+ community-based organizations and agencies citywide. We provide whole person mental health and family support to more than 2000 children and families who are homeless or at-risk. Our boldly Afri-centric approach is built into every aspect of our work from service design to infrastructure, program delivery, community building and healing.

HCN is growing rapidly. As a Communications Specialist, you will have an exciting opportunity to have a big influence in an organization making a major impact in the unhoused community. Working closely with the Development Director and the Development and Communications team, key program staff, and external vendors, you will facilitate marketing activities across the organization with a focus on developing an organizational marketing strategy, creating original content for and managing HCN’s social media, website, and blog, a regular newsletter and more. You will also play a role in supporting marketing around all things having to do with development and fundraising.

The right candidate is focused, organized, entrepreneurial and self-directed, with a high level of cultural and technical fluency. You’re someone who loves learning new technology, and is a clear, direct communicator. Be ready to jump in and work, proactively meeting challenges and finding ways to advance HCN’s mission and the Development and Communications team.

This position is full time and offers industry-leading benefits and paid leave. HCN staff are currently working remotely, but gradually returning to in-office work.

Frequent activities in this role may include, but are not limited to:

Marketing and Communications (60%)

● Developing and executing an organizational marketing strategy and plan to increase visibility and giving.

● Create effective communication strategies for HCN including:

○ optimization of the organization’s website and social media presence

○ recommending and implementing strategies for increasing active engagement and conversions from supporters to donors.

○ Identifying opportunities for HCN to expand its media presence and leverage coverage for development and other uses.

● Developing and applying a deep understanding of HCN’s programs and your own lived experience to effectively tell the story of the organization.

● Managing the content, production, and delivery of HCN’s monthly newsletter, including maintaining up-to-date and segmented mailing lists.

● Creating impactful, timely, and accurate, compelling email, print, and social media content including custom graphics and video.

● Posting created content on HCN’s website, blog and all relevant social media platforms.

● Design and production of HCN annual and special reports.

● Develop and maintain relationships and regular communication with HCN Media List

● Manage media inquiries and arrange interviews, statements, etc.

● Represent HCN in the community at events, information tables, and more

● Support Communications and Development teams as needed

● Other duties as assigned by the Development Director

Event Planning (25%)

● Supporting creative in-person and online events for donors and supporters.

● Other duties as assigned by the Development Director

Administration (15%)

● Tracking social media, website, and email marketing analytics, identifying trends, using analytics and similar data to develop strategy and report on communication trends with high accuracy and consistency.

● Other duties as assigned by the Development Director

Desired Qualifications:

● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred

● 5-7 years of professional or volunteer experience demonstrating skills and accomplishments that are transferable to this role. These include:

● Deep understanding of the causes, manifestations, and impacts of racism on Black/African American children and families, preferably in San Francisco or the Bay Area, acquired through experience and/or formal education.

● Highly compelling storytelling, written, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to adapt the style and format for different audiences and organizational needs.

● Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously from design to completion, meet deadlines, produce high quality deliverables, coordinate with and across teams, and change course, as needed, in a demanding work environment.

● High level of proficiency using online platforms to create and execute timely messaging and successful campaigns, as well as marketing and development tools for donor management (EveryAction preferred), email marketing (MailChimp or other), content management (Wix or other), and project management (such as Trello).

● Knowledge of graphic design tools including Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign

● Web design experience with Wix (WordPress is a bonus)

● Video editing experience in DaVinci, Adobe Premiere, or other similar software

● Fundraising and community event production experience

HCN’s Culture:

In alignment with our diverse and devoted staff, HCN seeks candidates who are genuine, caring, enthusiastic, team-orientated individuals. Successful candidates have a positive attitude and proven ability to work successfully with people of different ethnic, socioeconomic, educational, religious, gender, and sexual orientations.

We also emphasize the heartfelt quality of compassion, with exquisite cultural responsiveness as a primary guiding quality. Please bring an analysis of how race, ethnicity, culture, language, region, poverty, sexual and gender identity, age, education, opportunities and resources generationally made available or not, and systemic oppressions impact a person’s mental health.

For consideration, please submit:

● One-page cover letter describing your relevant experience and why you are interested in the Communications Specialist position at HCN.

● your current resume.

● (Optional) Work sample relevant to this position. If you prepared it with another person or as a team assignment, include a brief statement of no more than 150 words explaining how it was created, with whom, and your contribution(s).

● Applications will be reviewed as received until the position is filled.

Homeless Children's Network

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Communications Specialist