Communications Manager

Rural Schools Collaborative Overview

Rural Schools Collaborative’s mission is: Building sustainable rural communities through a keen focus on place, teachers, and philanthropy. Founded in 2015, the RSC is emerging as a national leader in supporting rural school communities and encouraging the development of teacher-leaders. RSC believes a healthy American future must include a thriving rural landscape, and that public schools will be at the forefront of this effort.

Job Description

Stories are at the heart of what we do. As a growing organization, RSC needs to scale its communications accordingly. We are seeking a Communications Manager who is visionary, authentic, energetic, and committed to rural development. The Communications Manager reports to the Director. The position includes interactions with board members, staff colleagues, donors, grant recipients, advocates, regional hubs, strategic partners, and the general public. The work of the Communications Manager includes:

• Primary responsibility for RSC’s marketing, media, and communications (60%):
  • Communications ownership, creation, and execution (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Podcasts, email campaigns, press releases, etc.)
  • Producing stories, features, and news content
  • Website management and optimization
    • Creating and implementing web content strategy for sustainable storage/archiving/upkeep
    • Implement SEO best practices
  • Crafting a mission-driven narrative across platforms
  • Measuring, growing, reporting on online engagement KPIs
  • Coordinate marketing projects and initiatives
  • Managing the communications plan, both strategically and day-to-day content
  • Responsible for RSC’s brand best practices, both internal and external
  • Vendor management as needed for videos, graphics, support, etc.
• Assisting the Director and colleagues (30%):
  • Grants in Place storytelling
  • Cooperative work with RSC Hubs and Partners
  • Board of Directors’ meetings and related planning/communications
  • Event coordination
  • Assisting with annual report and other informational pieces
  • Supporting Regional Hubs partnership development and project implementation
  • Working with colleagues on narrative building, planning, and implementation

• Development (10%):
  • Foster relationships with new/existing partners by sharing/promoting content, writing features to highlight their work, and sharing resources for synergistic promotion of rural efforts
  • Participate in high-profile projects with donors/partners
  • Donor communications and tracking

• Other expectations will be within the typical parameters of nonprofit work and public service

Qualifications and Experience

• Strong communicator with a commitment to storytelling
• Experience with a rural-centric nonprofit, advocacy organization, or educational entity
• Experience managing an organization’s voice across social media platforms
• Familiarity with email platforms (like MailChimp), web CMS, and design platforms
• Excellent copywriting and editing skills
• Demonstrated understanding of digital best practices
• Knowledge of public education and rural experience a plus
• Design experience a plus
• The ability to multitask and “get things done” in a timely manner
• A collaborator with a focus on teamwork
• A sense of rurality and dedication to RSC’s mission

Location, Compensation, and Benefits

• This role will be based out of RSC’s office in Monmouth, IL
• This role may include up to 20% travel
• The anticipated salary range will be $33,000 to $40,000 annually, depending on the experience and qualifications of the candidate
• Benefits include ample vacation time, health, and retirement benefits

How to Apply

Target start date is July 1, 2021 - The search begins immediately with final interviews planned for early June. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a candidate is identified. Please send a letter of interest and resume to taylor [at] ruralschoolscollaborative.org.

RSC is committed to the principal of equal employment opportunity and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at RSC are based upon organizational needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social, or ethnic origin, sex, age, physical, mental, or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations of where RSC operates. RSC does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Please send a letter of interest and resume to taylor [at] ruralschoolscollaborative.org.