MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY:
- Work with Executive Director and cross-functional Market Leadership Team on marketing and promotional strategy for signature initiatives and special events.
- Help design and implement strategy, ensuring adherence to marketing best practices.
- Work with Executive Director in conjunction with an external PR Agency to increase presence and brand awareness for Cradles to Crayons in Chicago, including providing support for the creation and implementation of the organization’s first city-wide marketing campaign.
- Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the market. Work with the market leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
EMAIL:
- Oversee, design, coordinate, and help implement external email communications to Cradles to Crayons Chicago’s email database, working in partnership with the Development, Partner Relations, and Community Engagement departments.
· Create and implement email blasts, including targeted outreach, annual appeals, and special promotions/notices via Sugar
SOCIAL MEDIA:
· Manage, design, plan, write, and edit content for the website and social media sites, and increase awareness of Cradles to Crayons through building its online presence.
DESIGN:
· Design flyers, informational packets, and other print and online materials.
· Manage internal and external communications and collateral materials to ensure they are current, effective, and consistent with Cradles to Crayons’ brand & messaging.
· Maintain the integrity of sponsor logos and brand in marketing and sponsor materials.
WEBSITE:
· Create and maintain new and updated content for the website, work with other departments to ensure information is engaging, accurate and timely, and relevant depending on initiative and campaign. Includes Chicago website calendar, news, and pages.
GENERAL:
· Lead work with external agencies and partner vendors, including graphic designers and PR and digital media agencies.
· Maintain a press archive for print, radio, video, or TV articles.
- Collect and distribute “impact stories” and short video snapshots for promotional and fundraising purposes.
· Design the marketing plan, and internal and external calendars, in conjunction with the Executive Director.
· Assist in the planning of existing and new events; assist during events as needed.
· Maintain photo database for use in email communication, social media, and marketing collateral.
· Test and track marketing (e.g., email, social media, website) to determine which elicits the best response/return. Adjust marketing efforts accordingly.
· Report out regularly on marketing results.
· Represent the Chicago market and marketing and work with the national marketing team on market and national projects and initiatives as appropriate and schedule allows.
· Help facilitate functions for special events (as needed).
DEVELOPMENT:
· Facilitate and support the development team’s fundraising efforts through research, donor communication, mailings, and materials (as needed).
· Collect and distribute stories about Cradles to Crayons’ impact on local children living in poverty.
· Help facilitate functions for special events (as needed).
· Act as a spokesperson at external events when necessary, presenting the Cradles to Crayons mission and model.
OPERATIONS:
· Work with volunteers, assist with product drop-offs, and give tours of the “Giving Factory” as needed.
· Establish and maintain effective communication and coordination with other employees, distribution partners, volunteers, and visitors.
· Work safely and provide a safe and secure environment for other employees and volunteers.
· Maintain security of data and secure storage of all institutional materials.
· Assume responsibility for related duties as required or assigned, and complete special projects and miscellaneous assignments as required.
Required Experience/Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
· College degree in a related field
· 2-5 years of relevant marketing/PR and graphic design experience.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.
· Experience using digital marketing to raise awareness and take action.
· Working knowledge of Sugar, or other email/marketing automation tools.
· Facility/familiarity with Adobe Suite design tools, Salesforce or another CRM, and WordPress.
· Team player.
· Can-do attitude.
· Comfortable in a matrix-management situation.
· Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.
· Ability to think strategically and liaise will all levels within an organization.
· Non-profit experience a plus.
· Ability to work some evening and weekend hours each week, easily walk up and down stairs, bend down, reach, push, and pull and lift up to 50 lbs.
COVID-19 VACCINES:
Cradles to Crayons has a COVID vaccine requirement for all staff. We are committed to a safe workplace and doing our part to address the pandemic.
DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH:
Diversity and Inclusiveness are core values at Cradles to Crayons, and we continuously strive to be a team where everyone feels welcome and supported. It is the policy of Cradles to Crayons to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.
Working Conditions:
This is a warehouse environment and normal changes in temperature are to be expected while working inside the warehouse or outside, on or around the loading dock. There are no hazardous or significantly unpleasant conditions. When not working with volunteers or preparing for a shift, the Group Volunteer Leader will complete tasks that are physical in nature in the Giving Factory and may also be tasked with researching and recruiting new volunteers, specifically those who have never volunteered with us in the past.
Accommodation:
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made by Cradles to Crayons which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others, or which impose undue hardships on the organization.
To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume with relevant experience at: https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/what-we-do/careers/
Job Summary