job posting: Digital Communications Strategy Manager

Digital Communications Strategy Manager

Location: Washington, DC
Company Order Number: 334
# of openings: 1



The Marketing and Communications team at Americans for the Arts seeks a Digital Communications Strategy Manager to identify, create, and curate stories and other engaging content for the organization’s website, blog, and social media channels. This MarCom team member is a storytelling hub for the organization—working with staff across all departments to create content that engages audiences, builds new relationships, and helps stakeholders in communities across the nation better understand the transformative power of the arts. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in defining and targeting existing and potential audiences and communicating with them by email, on the web, and through social media.

The Manager creates and curates content that is timely, resonates with targeted stakeholders groups, and communicates the work of Americans for the Arts, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization advancing the arts and arts education. You should understand best practices of marketing and communications, and have a strong desire to collaborate with others. The day-to-day work of the position involves collaboration with staff to identify and convey the impact of events, programs, services, and initiatives that are content-generating. You will curate information across Americans for the Arts’ website; manage and grow social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn; and coordinate the organization’s blog which garners upwards of 25,000 page views a month.

With an eye focused on problem solving and investigation, the Manager will be proactive in identifying content throughout the organization and will create and manage an integrated digital communications strategy that delivers consistent and timely messaging across all channels. The Manager will also work with external partners and stakeholders to generate content for the website, social media channels, and the blog that demonstrate how the arts can transform America’s communities. The position is critical in helping Americans for the Arts serve, advance, and lead the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America.

You should enjoy not only creating content on your own and with others, but also analyzing communications efforts so that your work can become more impactful. The Digital Communications Strategy Manager must be able to prioritize and manage a varied flow of work, anticipate the needs of others, stay organized, and communicate well with both internal and external stakeholders.

Share the organization’s information
•    Manage and update organizational communications calendar for an array of vehicles that reach more than 100,000 stakeholders primarily through web and social media.
•    Communicate and collaborate with departments to identify which events, programs, services, and initiatives are content-generating, and determine the best positioning for the content and the ideal vehicles for that content to reach intended audiences.
•    Work with Vice President of Marketing and Communications to ensure content delivers the intent of the program and impact on the target audience, while increasing stakeholder engagement.
•    Be a content conduit for the Marketing and Communications department, working closely with both the MarCom and Web teams.
•    Share information in the appropriate organizational channels such as monthly e-newsletters, websites, social media, the organization’s blog, and a quarterly membership magazine.

Create, curate, and edit content
•    Manage and update social media for the organization including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
•    Manage the organization’s blog, ARTSblog, which garners up to 25,000 page views a month. Work with staff on production of daily content and recurring topic-driven blog salons.
•    Work with staff to edit web content to ensure consistency of message and language as needed and provide editing as necessary. Tag content appropriately so that it is cross-promoted on the website.
•    Work with departments and program leads to develop content and distribute and repurpose content to all print and electronic channels. When necessary, draft content independently.
•    Identify and work with external stakeholders who may generate content related to the value and transformative power of the arts for channels including ARTSblog, social media, and websites.
•    Write, collect, and update the news sections of the website frequently, keeping it current and packed with value for web visitors. Identify news items and information that can help bolster visibility for the organization.
•    Work with staff to improve web content by teaching and demonstrating proper web standards for appropriate length and style per usage trends and the organization’s style guide.
•    Use social media and other digital channels to advertise the organization’s events, programs, and services.

Analyze communications
•    Track metrics and produce regular reports on all digital communication vehicles.
•    Assess the impact of existing communications vehicles and look at consolidating, strengthening or establishing new vehicles in partnership with the Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
•    Complete research on best practices to identify possible changes in communication strategies.

•    Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, English, or a related field.
•    A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).
•    Good experience (and a real comfort) with blogging and creating other written content.
•    Experience managing social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
•    Strong knowledge and experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Familiarity with platforms like WordPress or Drupal is ideal.

The Basics
•    Outstanding written and verbal communication skills. A good communicator (and writer) is essential for this position.
•    Be articulate, with savvy interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively. Must be a multi-tasker who thrives in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
•    Proactive and self-motivated, with a the ability to problem-solve.
•    Comfortable communicating effectively across multiple mediums and digital platforms.
•    Be creative and demonstrate an entrepreneurial attitude.
•    Be flexible when working with others, but have a sense of urgency toward meeting deadlines.
•    You should enjoy working with a team of creative, diverse, and hard-working marketers and staff.
•    Be committed to advancing the arts in America.