What are the responsibilities and job description for the Digital Communications Manager position at DC College Access Program?
About DC CAP
The DC College Access Program (DC CAP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting D.C. students' access and complete college with little to no debt. Through financial aid, college advising, university partnerships, and long-term student support, DC CAP works to remove barriers to higher education and expand opportunity for students across the District.
DC CAP is in a period of growth and transformation, with expanding partnerships and ambitious long-term goals through our 2050 Moonshot initiative. Our Communications team plays a central role in shaping how DC CAP tells its story, builds trust, and engages students, partners, donors, and the broader community.
Position Overview
DC CAP is seeking a Digital Communications Manager to execute our editorial storytelling and audience engagement strategy across social media, email, and web platforms. Reporting directly to the Director of Communications, this role will manage day-to-day social media, content production (specifically graphic design and copy editing), campaign execution, and performance tracking while helping shape how DC CAP shows up online.
This role is ideal for a strong content manager and storyteller with 5 years of experience shaping digital narratives, managing editorial calendars, and producing compelling audience-facing content. The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and editor with sharp creative instincts, excellent project manager, has strong cultural fluency, and a clear point of view about how organizations build engagement online. The Digital Communications Manager will serve as the engine behind DC CAP’s digital presence, translating organizational priorities into timely, thoughtful, and engaging content that strengthens visibility, trust, and connection across audiences.
Success in this role requires a unique combination of creativity and operational excellence. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing content ideas, writing copy, managing campaign timelines, coordinating stakeholders, and ensuring content is published consistently and strategically across platforms.
Please Note: This is a highly collaborative and fast-paced role for someone who enjoys building and managing content ecosystems. The Digital Communications Manager will help shape how DC CAP shows up daily across platforms and audiences.
Key Responsibilities
Editorial & Content Leadership
- Own and manage DC CAP’s editorial content calendar across digital platforms
- Develop compelling, audience-centered content that advances organizational priorities and strengthens engagement
- Write and edit high-quality copy across social media, email, web, campaigns, executive messaging, and storytelling initiatives
- Collaborate across departments to translate complex programmatic work into clear, compelling public-facing content
- Build systems in collaboration with Communications Director for story collection, student storytelling, and content sourcing across the organization
- Produce digital storytelling content, with a focus on student voices, program impact, and organizational initiatives
- Assist with content capture at in-person events and support real-time storytelling
Digital Strategy & Execution
- Draft and implement digital plans outlining campaign goals, target audiences, content strategies, and engagement tactics
- Collaborate with DC CAP teams to design and execute coordinated rollout plans around key moments, campaigns, and events
- Assist with in-house production of visual and multimedia assets, collaborating with external design and video partners as needed for bigger projects or engagements
- Test new ideas, experiments, and approaches to strengthen DC CAP’s reach, engagement, and impact
Social Media Management
- Actively manage and post across Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Facebook, and Threads, with fluency across TikTok and YouTube
- Create social toolkits and provide additional social support to internal teams and partners
- Monitor platform performance and adjust strategy based on data and audience insights
- Monitor industry trends in digital engagement and cultural shifts among target audiences to identify new opportunities
- Use project management software to assign tasks, track progress, and manage workflows
- Balance multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining high quality and attention to detail
Ideal Candidate Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, digital media, marketing, or related field
- 5 years of experience managing digital communications, social media management, content strategy, or marketing required; experience in nonprofit, education, advocacy, or mission-driven environments preferred
- A portfolio that demonstrates hands-on content creation, not just strategy decks or campaign plans, but actual posts, graphics, videos, and copy you personally produced
- Proven experience managing organizational social media accounts and digital campaigns
- Proficiency in digital design tools, including Canva and/or Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop
- Comfort navigating content management systems, such as Webflow or similar tools, to support basic updates and content publishing
- Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects on tight deadlines
- Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to create engaging content for various audiences
- Strong interest in higher education access, youth development, and storytelling for impact
- Occasional local travel and limited evening or after-hours availability may be required for events and special initiatives
Why Join DC CAP
This role offers the opportunity to help shape DC CAP’s digital presence during a pivotal moment of growth and transformation. The Digital Communications Manager will play a central role in elevating DC CAP’s storytelling, strengthening engagement, and building systems that support long-term impact.
DC CAP is an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace that supports employees professionally and personally through our employment practices and benefits offerings. We encourage applications from individuals who represent a variety of backgrounds, including those based on sex, race, ethnicity, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, and other factors protected by law. If we can make the application process easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please reach out to jobs@dccap.org.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit the following materials in an email to jobs@dccap.org with the subject line, “Digital Communications Manager” :
- A resume outlining relevant experience
- A brief cover letter describing your interest in DC CAP and how your background aligns with this role
- Work samples that demonstrate your digital communications experience. Please submit one or both of the following:
- A link to an online portfolio, or
- A single PDF or document containing up to 3 examples of work you have led or meaningfully supported
- Work samples should reflect variety and depth and may include examples such as social media campaigns or platform-specific posts, email campaigns or newsletters, digital graphics or visual storytelling, short-form video or multimedia content
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Please note: candidates will be asked to complete a brief, fictional communications assessment as part of the interview process.
Salary : $75,000 - $85,000