Communications & Outreach Manager at Community Link, Inc – Breese, Illinois

SUMMARY: The Communications and Outreach Manager leads Community Link’s storytelling, public engagement, and donor communications. The role strengthens community awareness, supports fundraising initiatives, and builds meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers, and local partners through strategic communications and events.

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES:

All employees of Community Link are expected to advocate and demonstrate the values of the organization. These values include: - Dignity – We respect and celebrate all individuals; Integrity – We earn trust through honesty and accountability; Compassion - We treat everyone with kindness and empathy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Communication and Storytelling

· Create compelling written, photo, and video content for event promotion, donor appeals, newsletters, and press releases featuring program participant stories.

· Adapt messaging across platforms including email, direct mail, web, and social media.

Community Outreach

· Build relationships with businesses, donors, volunteers, and community partners.

· Represent Community Link at networking events and community activities.

Event Coordination

· Assist with planning and executing fundraising and awareness events.

· Coordinate logistics with staff, vendors, volunteers, and sponsors.

Donor Communications

· Draft donor communications for solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship.

· Maintain accurate records of donor transactions and engagement.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to execute each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited program in communications, marketing, journalism, nonprofit management, or related field.

Minimum of 3 years experience in public relations, communications, fundraising, community outreach, event planning, and/or volunteer management.

ABILITIES:

· Engage and connect with others and forge strong relationships and partnerships

· Leadership skills and experience to supervise volunteers and vendors

· Effectively communicate both verbally and in writing to present information and generate enthusiasm

· Ability to think strategically with excellent follow through and strong attention to detail

· Increase visibility of organization and programs, connect with target audiences

· Strong writing skills with ability to understand key audiences and target messaging to different audiences

· Balance a variety of tasks and deadlines concurrently

· Able to utilize multiple social media platforms and email service providers to schedule regular communications

· Work both independently and as a member of a larger team

· Respond to and/or delegate common inquiries or complaints from various stakeholders such as, participants, families, donors, volunteers and members of the community

· Define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to relate comfortably and professionally with a wide range of personalities, economic diversity, and constituents; must possess good conflict management skills.

REASONING SKILLS: Must possess skills in solving practical problems and dealing with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Must possess skills in interpreting a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Must possess basic computer proficiencies and working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, as well as familiarity with content creation programs, like Canva and Animoto, email marketing platforms, donor CRM systems, and social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Must be proficient in calculating figures and amounts such as discounts, proportions and percentages.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and climb stairs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters

while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.