Communications and Creative Content Lead in Mills River, North Carolina at MANNA FoodBank

Mission: MANNA’s mission is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina

Vision: A hunger-free Western North Carolina

MANNA embraces a philosophy that recognizes and values diversity by creating an environment of mutual respect, transparency, and sharing of different opinions and ideas. MANNA’s goal is to attract, develop, retain, and promote a talented and diverse workforce in a culture where all employees will contribute to their fullest potential. The celebration of inclusivity and diversity is essential to helping MANNA achieve its mission to involve, educate, and unite all people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina.

Compensation: Non-exempt, Hourly; $23.59 - $26.07 per hour

Benefits Package:

· Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance

· 136 hours PTO in the first year (after 90 days of employment)

· 10+ Paid Holidays

· Paid Breaks

· Parental Leave

· 401k Retirement Plan with 3% company match (after 90 days of employment)

· Short Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance

· Accidental Injury Insurance

· Employee Assistance Program

Schedule: 40 hours per week. Typical schedule is Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:00PM. However, a flexible schedule is required, including some evenings and weekends as needed. In instances of a federal, state or locally declared emergency or order, MANNA FoodBank is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all employees may be called upon to perform regular or emergent duties.

Travel: Minimal, but routine travel is required within the service area and out of area for conferences and knowledge sharing with other food banks.

Position Summary: The Communications and Creative Content Lead is a public-facing role within MANNA’s Communications Team that supports the creation, coordination, and delivery of mission-aligned content across MANNA’s digital, print, and organizational communications channels. This role is responsible for managing and producing social media content, supporting email newsletters and outreach communications, creating written and visual content, capturing photo and video assets, and helping maintain accurate and up-to-date website and marketing materials. Working closely with the Communications Manager and Director of Marketing and Communications, the Content Lead supports communications project management, audience engagement, brand consistency, advocacy messaging, programmatic storytelling, and reporting across MANNA’s communications channels. This role requires basic design skills to create and update print and digital marketing assets, while also coordinating with outside design vendors on larger or more complex graphic design projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The duties listed below encompass the essential responsibilities of the position in the areas of departmental and project management, direct department and organizational support, content creation, and communications support.

Content Management & Creation

• Attend community markets and other public-facing spaces on behalf of MANNA to capture digital assets, such as video, still photography, audio, etc., to produce new visual and written content monthly.

• Daily monitor and respond to external audiences via MANNA’s social media channels and online platforms.

• Create custom content needed (photos, videos, copy, graphics, etc.) for a variety of communications, reporting, and compliance needs. Prepare content for donor engagement and fundraising initiatives.

• Lead and prepare programmatic communications with the Communications Manager.

• Organize and manage our image and video archive.

• Provide content as needed to support all organizational departments.

• Create compelling graphic designs to support MANNA’s communication efforts, including newsletters, brochures, social media posts, event materials, email campaigns, presentations, fundraising collateral, website visuals, signage, and print advertisements. Ensure all designs align with MANNA’s brand standards and effectively convey the organization’s mission and impact.

• Collaborate with outside vendors for graphic design requests

Every MANNA FoodBank employee must subscribe to a Criminal background check and pre-employment drug testing. Valid Driver’s License and clean driving record required.

• Manage, create and produce monthly Fresh News email newsletter, blog posts, and social media content.

• Support the Volunteer Manager with the creation of the quarterly HeartBeet Bulletin email newsletter.

• Manage and coordinate all social media scheduled posting and reporting.

• Produce vertical and short-form video content to support organizational work and strategic initiatives.

• Write, edit, and adapt compelling, mission-aligned content for diverse audiences across MANNA’s communications channels, including social media, website content, newsletters, donor and fundraising communications, media materials, advocacy messages, and programmatic storytelling.

Organizational Communications Support

• Manage communications projects and content workflows through Monday.com, tracking requests, timelines, deliverables, approvals, and reporting needs across MANNA’s communications channels.

• Maintain and grow email newsletter base and email open rate growth strategies.

• Assist in refreshing and maintaining MANNA marketing and communications materials as needed, ensuring content is accurate, current, mission-aligned, and consistent with brand standards.

• Collaborate with and support the Communications Manager in maintaining accurate and up-to-date website content, including drafting, editing, and implementing copy updates on mannafoodbank.org as needed.

• Manage MANNA’s social media channel content, including content creation, strategic engagement strategies, and audience growth strategies in line with Resource Development team goals, and overall organizational strategic initiatives.

• Work with Programs department on social media outreach initiatives and grant reporting requirements.

• Support the Helpline team with social media messaging and email requests from neighbors seeking food assistance, ensuring communications are accurate, timely, accessible, and aligned with available community resources.

• Support MANNA’s advocacy activities and communications with ad hoc Call to Action email blasts and social media communications.

• Provide monthly reports on social media and email communication engagement for the Monthly Business Report.

• Provide staff support for internal communications tools, visual needs, program, and outreach tools, etc.

• Help maintain and support excellent brand consistency across the organization.

Resource Development Support

• Work as a member of the Resource Development team to support events, recognition initiatives, and industry specific campaigns.

Qualifications:

• Education/Experience: A range of education, training, certifications, and experience will be considered for this position.

- This range could include a High School diploma or equivalent, combined with four+ years of relevant and successful work experience, and up to a four-year degree with two to three years of successful work-related experience.

- Fields of experience can include administrative support, customer service, social media management and digital marketing, or nonprofit experience.

• Bilingual Spanish/English proficiency is preferred to support communication with our neighbors. However, qualified candidates without Spanish language skills will be considered.

• Advanced computer skills with an elevated level of proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook are essential.

• Intermediate to advanced graphic design skills is a requirement, with a preference for candidates who have strong Canva and Adobe Creative Suite capabilities (i.e. InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, Premier Pro). Candidates will be required to submit a portfolio of creative samples.

• Demonstrated ability to learn and navigate technology and databases.

• Demonstrated proficiency in working with social media platforms.

• Experience with basic web platforms (WordPress preferred).

• Demonstrated decision making skills and sound judgement regarding creating externally facing content.

• Successful experience in photo and video production.

• Proven ability to work remotely with some office time, work to deadlines and manage multiple priorities.

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

• Exceptional communication skills to engage with a diverse group of key stakeholders and staff.

• A commitment to the mission of MANNA FoodBank in the work toward ending hunger in Western North Carolina

• Proof of current, valid Driver’s License, auto insurance, use of a personal vehicle and clean MVR

Additional Skills:

• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule and adapt in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• Desire to educate and inspire others in the mission of MANNA FoodBank

• Training or familiarity with principles of project management, especially with tools such as Monday.com

• Familiarity with photography, still photo editing, and video editing

• Food bank experience, a plus

Working Conditions: Work will be performed remotely, with some office time at MANNA’s headquarters in Mills River, NC, as well as in the field with exposure to local travel in a personal vehicle.

Physical Demands: The physical demands required are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the job's essential functions.

The physical demands of this position are considered medium work. While performing duties the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and move objects up to 25lbs. Specific vision abilities require the visual acuity to operate motor vehicles; close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus close visual acuity to perform activities including but not limited to preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, extensive reading.

Functions also require the ability to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard, and to verbally communicate to exchange information.