Development Director
Position Type: Part-time
Time: 20-30 Hours Per Week
Pay: Commensurate with Experience
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
In-Person: Mostly virtual but in-person required for certain meetings and events
Position Overview: The Director of Communications will increase community awareness of The Arc’s mission of full inclusion and participation of people with developmental disabilities in the community throughout their lifetimes.
The Director of Communications will work with the Executive Director, The Development Director, marketing committees, and task forces of the Board of Directors to define and meet short and long-term marketing and public awareness goals by identifying valuable stories and promoting the unique voices of the I/DD community while also supporting marketing efforts for fundraising campaigns.
The Director of Communications will:
- Work with Director of Development to produce annual communication plan for The Arc including promotion of personal, local I/DD stories, fundraising events, volunteer opportunities, program updates, online giving days, HR needs, and advocacy opportunities
- Develop content and timeline for marketing of community giving days such as Giving Tuesday and Great Community Give alongside Director of Development
- Stay up-to-date with program developments; identify and share dignified and valuable stories of program participants including staff, volunteers, sponsors, and board highlights using photography, videography, and written text
- Maintain and maximize The Arc’s internet presence and impact via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Salsa (mass e-news platform), etc. with relevant, engaging, and consistent content
- Update The Arc’s WordPress website with regular additions including blog posts, pictures, fundraising opportunities and local event calendar for Harrisonburg and Rockingham I/DD community; update components of website design and function with external website developer
- Design and produce The Arc’s quarterly print newsletter to mail out to 400+ unique supporters; update mailing list to include potential donors, former sponsors, volunteers, and staff
- Work with Director of Development and Director of Support Services to include current and upcoming program announcements and upcoming events and fundraising campaigns in all of The Arc’s media outlets
- Stay up-to-date with advocacy issues relevant to I/DD community and share with appropriate followers to impact local, state, and federal legislation
- Write and publish press releases, radio ads, and videos for events, fundraisers, and unique program announcements
- Engage with and co-lead Marketing committee of board members to help solicit in-kind communication donations
- Ensure all content is as accessible as possible across all platforms including print media
- Increase viewership and engagement across all communication channels
- Speak on behalf of The Arc at civic group meetings or other public events as needed
- Update and support production of printed materials such as organization brochures and other hard copy communications materials
- Support fundraising events in-person; organize photography and videography of relevant events and stories
- Support Director of Development in distribution of annual appeals
- Any other duties assigned by the Executive Director
Qualifications and Requirements:
Education, Knowledge, and Experience:
- A four-year or two-year associates degree in communications, marketing, journalism or similar field
- Commitment to the mission of The Arc and to its vision of full community inclusion for all people with developmental disabilities
- 2-3 years experience writing content for non-profits and managing social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter
- 2 years of experience managing non-profit websites, ideally WordPress
- Experience working with mass e-news platforms
- Experience in or open to learning us of Customer Relationship Management tools
- Comfortable navigating Microsoft Word, Excel, and Publisher
- Comfortable use of Google Workspace including Google Drive, Calendar, and other applications
- Comfortable use of graphic design software such as Canva or Photoshop, etc.
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 duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
- The employee must have the ability and willingness to work evenings or weekends when necessary for meetings or events
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. The workplace is a tobacco- and tobacco product-free environment.
COVID-19 Requirements
- Comply with all current CDC and Commonwealth of Virginia guidelines regarding face coverings, quarantine, isolation, reduced physical contact, physical distancing, and maintenance of clean surfaces
To apply to the Director of Communications position, please send resume to marketing@hrarc.org.
