What are the responsibilities and job description for the External Communications Coordinator position at Tucson Festival of Books?
Company Description Mission: The Tucson Festival of Books is a premier, free-to-attend, family-friendly celebration of literature that engages our community. We present notable recently published authors from all genres to discuss big ideas and express creativity freely.
Vision: Through an annual festival and associated programs, we support, elevate, and amplify literacy so that words and imagination come to life for readers of all ages. We inspire our community to fund and utilize Southern Arizona literacy services to improve literacy rates.
The next Tucson Festival of Books will be held March 13-14, 2027 at the University of Arizona.
Role Description The External Communications Coordinator is a seasonal, part-time, hourly hybrid role based in Tucson, AZ. We are seeking an energetic, detail-oriented External Communications Coordinator to lead communications for our annual nonprofit event. This is a hands-on role for a strong writer who can also manage audience segmentation and build efficient communication workflows leading up to the event.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with Executive Director, volunteers and customer service team to lead efforts to ensure consistent, clear, and accurate communications reach all stakeholders. This includes attending some Volunteer meetings in evening hours, which will be compensated.
- Write, edit and execute communications campaigns for presenters, volunteers, vendors and other public audiences
- Manage and segment contact lists within a custom database and campaigning system
- Build and maintain communication workflows to ensure timely, targeted outreach
- Maintain and improve operational communications materials, including volunteer and vendor handbooks, guides, and training resources
- Maintain and update public-facing event information on the website
- Assist with media relations, including responding to inquiries
- May create and/or proofread contributions to Between the Lines Newsletter
- Perform other event-related duties as assigned as a member of a flexible, collaborative, community-driven team
- May oversee work of one part-time student assistant and/or collaborate proactively with volunteers who will assist with accurate data entry to support author and volunteer communications
Qualifications
- Excellent writing and editing skills to reach multiple audiences
- Strong reading, listening, and inquiry skills with experience applying those to respond with care, compassion, and clarity to the needs of high profile individuals as well as in community contexts.
- Professional, diplomatic, flexible, with collaborative and inclusive leadership style
- Experience with email campaigns and audience segmentation (CRM/database preferred– training on our custom database will be provided)
- Strong organizational and process management skills
- Detail-oriented, self-directed, and comfortable managing multiple timelines
- Familiarity with website content management systems is a plus
- Interest in books, nonprofit events, and community engagement
Additional Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree minimum 3 years work experience in non-profit or community setting required
- Must be available to work extended hours during the four weeks prior to and including event dates (March 13-14, 2027).
- Starting at $25/hr DOE. Hours above 40 per week will be compensated with overtime pay.