Job Identification

Job Title: Senior Project Specialist, Communications
Department: Communications
Incumbent: 18
Reports to: Program Director, Communications
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
FLSA Status: Exempt

Statement of Purpose

The Senior Project Specialist, Communications is responsible for managing and executing communications plans for NIB. They will conduct day-to-day work in the areas of writing, editing, production, and project management. They will serve as NIB’s primary staff writer and editor, responsible for marketing and public relations copy, speeches, and other materials as necessary. They will serve as the lead writer for Opportunity magazine, the NIB annual report, the NIB blog, the NIB This Week newsletter, and other publications, and they will review and contribute to public-facing content such as website text, social media posts, and reports to external stakeholders. This position also plays a supporting role in the planning and execution of several company conferences and events.

Business Communication

Employees in Other Divisions Regularly
Supervisory Personnel Regularly
Associated Agency Personnel Regularly
Federal and/or State Government Agencies Occasionally
Third Party Vendors and Contractors Regularly

Education

BA/BS degree in journalism, public relations, communications, marketing, or related field, graduate degree preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may also be acceptable.

Training and Specialized Knowledge

Superior verbal and written communication skills.
Experience contributing to the production of print publications, such as magazines, newsletters, annual reports, or similar publications.
Experience using project management software to collaborate with team members on complex projects.
Demonstrated ability to write for different types of materials and ensure consistency in content and style across a range of materials for a variety of audiences.
Proven ability to work under pressure and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Association or nonprofit experience preferred.
Experience working with social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and email clients, such as Constant Contact.
A results-oriented mindset with ability to provide regular hands-on support.
Excellent team player with collaborative style; able to identify, prioritize, and manage workload and work well independently.

Core Competencies

Accountability
Communication Skills
Ethics/Integrity
Customer Care
Job Knowledge/Technical Skills
Process Improvement
Decision Making
Judgment and Problem Solving

Experience Required

8+ years hands-on marketing and communications experience preferred.

Travel Required

5%

Specific Duties And Responsibilities

Marketing

- Serve as the communications team’s lead writer/author for marketing collateral, including brochures, posters, flyers, sell sheets, catalogs, print and digital advertisements, and other materials.
- Liaise with business development team to develop, review, and align corporate messaging and value propositions on marketing collateral, including presentations, brochures, leave-behinds, etc.
- Provide communications support on high-visibility national issues and initiatives; oversee and integrate communications efforts and messages across organizational departments and external stakeholders as necessary.
- Review and edit public-facing communications, such as web and social media posts, fact sheets, brochures, and other collateral.

Communications

Serve as the communications team’s lead writer/author for corporate communications, including award nominations, executive correspondence, and employee announcements.
Serve as the lead writer for Opportunity magazine and NIB’s annual report.
- Manage the production lifecycle for the annual report and two editions of Opportunity magazine each year, including article identification and assignment, writing, editing, and coordination with NIB and associated agency stakeholders.
- Work closely with NIB’s creative team and external vendors on photography, layout, and design.
- Manage external freelance writers as needed.
- Author feature stories, annual report content, and news articles.
- Assist in developing and maintaining production and editorial calendars.
- Collect input from NIB leadership and subject matter experts on editorial content.
Serve as the editor-in-chief for NIB This Week.
- Manage the entire production process, including collecting and editing input; building NIB This Week in Constant Contact; facilitating internal reviews; and releasing the newsletter to subscribers.
- Gather and solicit input from NIB departments and associated agencies; ensure input meet NIB editorial standards.
- Write NIB This Week announcements on behalf of NIB leadership as needed.
- Maintain the NIB This Week distribution list.
- Track and report metrics and make recommendations to optimize the effectiveness of NIB This Week.
Provide communications support on high-visibility national issues and initiatives; assist in integrating communications efforts and messages across organizational departments and external stakeholders as necessary.
Work with NIB departments to collect content for quarterly reports to associated agency leadership. Edit and unify content as necessary.
Execute detailed tactical communications plans for multiple projects simultaneously.
Lead complex projects, collaborating with internal stakeholders and vendors as needed.
Evaluate the effectiveness of NIB’s communications, including tracking and measurement of the level of engagement through various channels over time.
Regularly and closely coordinate with internal departments (operations, business development, human resources, training and development, etc.) on messaging and project management.
Support the development, management, and execution of yearly department goals, objectives, and strategies.

Events

Help to manage and execute conferences, trade shows, and industry events as necessary.
- Collect, write, and edit content for NIB conferences, including speaker invitations, event agendas, speaker profiles, and employee of the year biographies.
- Draft and distribute email communications to prospective attendees, vendors, and sponsors.
- Draft announcements for publication in NIB This Week.
- Draft scripts for speakers.

Miscellaneous

Serve as a backup to the program director, communications, for other ad hoc writing assignments and special projects.

This job description does not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. The incumbent in this position will perform such other tasks as may be required for the effective operation of the Division/Department upon receipt by his/her supervisor.

NIB IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

NIB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

National Industries for the Blind

New Jobs

Senior Project Specialist, Communications