New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is a community development corporation committed to sustainable development in housing opportunities, economic development, vacant land strategies, community engagement, and real estate development. NKCDC advances social equity and economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live and actively shaping their neighborhoods of choice. To that end, NKCDC provides free resources to residents and businesses in the Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond neighborhoods.
NKCDC has a strong reputation, both locally and nationally, with longstanding credibility of serving as trusted and valuable partner and collaborator. The organization is currently one of only two community development organizations in the City of Philadelphia that are chartered members of the NeighborWorks America network. Our current work using a trauma-informed community engagement model, applying a racial equity lens across the organization, and leading programs at the intersection of health and housing are keeping NKCDC at the cutting-edge of community development. NKCDC draws on the strengths of the communities in Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond — a population of over 62,800, 23% of whom live below the federal poverty level — to make sure neighborhood development benefits all residents. More information can be found at nkcdc.org.
Function
The Communications Manager works to engage and effectively communicate with the Kensington neighborhood and its affiliates. The Communications Manager develops and implements communication strategies that promote NKCDC’s brand, products, and services. As Communications Manager, you will engage with communities and partners to effectively tell stories from the communities' point of view, soundly piece NKCDC’s efforts to combat Kensington's obstacles, and enhance the internal communications processes at NKCDC.
Reports to
Vice President of Development
Responsibilities
- Coordinate, write and design compelling community-centric content for print and digital materials, including but not limited to newsletters, press releases, social media posts, fundraising appeals, brochures, and annual reports.
- Promote events by designing and advertising event posters.
- Interview community members & clients for content.
- Report news.
- Highlight NKCDC and community successes.
- Collaborate with staff across NKCDC departments on communications priorities, e.g., promoting local businesses, engaging residents in community planning efforts, and informing the public of opportunities and services provided by NKCDC and partner organizations.
- Spearhead public relations and communication strategies around cornerstone events. Coordinate promotion, create signage, and document events as needed.
- Build and maintain relationships with local press outlets and community groups to ensure that NKCDC and partner program initiatives are well-publicized and accurately reported. Coordinate media requests with experts across the organization.
- Manage website content (WordPress), working with external providers to ensure that the website is properly maintained and updated regularly. Coordinate outside printing jobs, including the quarterly print newsletter.
- Manage NKCDC social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), collaborating with staff to obtain up-to-date information about events and issues important to constituents.
- Work with the Vice President of Development to oversee the development and growth of the organization’s annual appeal and individual gifts and contribute to grant-writing efforts.
- Assist with administrative tasks including but not limited to research, graphics, filing, copying, collating, and other public relations and development activities.
- Assist with the documentation of NKCDC projects, either by taking photographs and making videos, or by contacting photographers and videographers as needed.
- Manage, maintain, and organize NKCDC’s digital assets (files, photos, templates) for ease of use.
- Document and update procedures.
Qualifications
- No minimum education is required; a bachelor’s degree may be an indicator of capacity for this position.
- Professional manner and good interpersonal skills. Excellent verbal and visual communication skills, including the ability to communicate with a broad range of constituents.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively, prioritize work, take initiative, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrate flexibility in managing time-sensitive tasks and projects.
- Experience in copywriting and editing.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Experience with racial justice work through a trauma-informed lens preferred.
- Proficiency in writing, design software, web content management systems, and common applications and platforms, e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Mailchimp, WordPress, InDesign, Canva, Buffer, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Experience/interest in photography/videography a plus.
- Spanish language skills preferred.
Compensation
The salary for this position will be $67,410/yr. with a full-time schedule, 35 hours per week. To counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity, we use a nonnegotiable starting salary system, while benchmarking our pay to competitive markets in the nonprofit sector. Excellent benefits including an HMO health plan, long- and short-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid vacation, and a 403(b)-retirement plan. This position will work on-site at our main office, 2771 Ruth Street, Suite 1, Philadelphia, PA 19134.
Application process
Applicants should submit a cover letter, and resume to Amirah Perry, HR Generalist at hr@nkcdc.org with “[YOUR NAME] Communications Manager” in the subject line. Please feel free to include links to some past work or work samples. Applications received by Monday, May 29, 2023, will be given full consideration. All candidate resumes are given due consideration and are kept on file for one year, but we cannot always respond personally due to the high volume of inquiries.
NKCDC provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, race, national or ethnic origin, gender identity or expression, religion, language, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or physical ability. If you meet some of the qualifications above, we encourage you to apply or to reach out for more information. We know groups subjected to systemic oppression– including people of color, women, people from working-class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other communities who are marginalized.