Creative Communications Specialist

Position: Creative Communications Specialist

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri is a growing and purpose driven organization focused on taking the best care of its many constituents. Our Mission: We partner with young people in their pursuit of a meaningful, stable, and independent life.

POSITION PURPOSE: The primary goal of this position is to design, create, update, and implement multi-media collateral to support the strategic marketing and communication goals and mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. The goals are centered on increasing brand awareness, volunteers, fundraising, and conversion outcomes through marketing activities.

Core Job Responsibilities

COMMUNICATION DESIGN, GRAPHIC DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND VIDEOGRAPHY DEVELOPMENT

• Illustration and Design
• Serve as the lead graphic designer for print, web, and multimedia collateral
• Conceptualize creative ideas and visual expression and maintain brand standards and guidelines
• Consistently utilize fundamental design and illustration principles in all assets and work
• Ensure deliverables meet agency standards and deadlines
• Campaign and Event Photography & Videography
• Support agency campaigns with photo and video assets
• Lead and coordinate plans to capture key photo and video assets to support agency objectives
• Organize and maintain files and catalogs, and repurpose video and photo assets
  

Marketing and communication management

• Creative Project Management & Customer Service
• Routinely review and assess internal marketing and communication requests and develop assets
• Prepare quality creative briefs and project plans to guide and execute creative projects
• Manage end-to-end creative project workflows to ensure deadlines are met and deliverables meet and/or exceed expectations
  

COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS AND IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES

• Drive Success through Relationships, Reflection, and Forward-Thinking
• Build solid and effective relationships with the Marketing & Communications department and agency staff
• Collaborate with philanthropy, volunteer recruitment, and other internal departments and team members to ensure marketing efforts support organization goals
• Routinely track and review results and metrics to maintain consistency and improve outcomes
• Routinely seek, acquire, and implement knowledge of relevant tools, standards, and practices
  

JOB COMPETENCIES

Interpersonal Savvy – Relates well to all people inside and outside of the agency; builds appropriate rapport; listens; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; truly values people; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably. Approachable, attentive and others oriented. First seek to understand.

Customer Focus – Anticipates customer needs and provides services that are beyond customer expectations. Uses customer insights to drive and guide the development of new offerings. Serves as strategic partner to build, grow and maintain effective relationships.

Process Management –Good at figuring out the most effective and efficient processes get things done; focus on continuous improvement; knows how to organize people and activities; understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient workflow; knows what to measure and how to measure it; can see opportunities for synergy and integration where others can't; can simply complex processes; gets more out of fewer resources.

Drives Results – A bias for action; an eagerness to take initiative. Agency performance is top of mind. Communicate vision, set priorities, develop, and execute plans to achieve desired outcomes. Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.

AGENCY VALUES

We Center Youth (the Individual and their Family)

• We prioritize the needs and the safety of youth and families in our decision-making, actions, and owning our outcomes.
• Listen to, learn from, and support youth to be experts of their own lives and futures. We develop with youth, not for youth.
• We welcome all youth regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or ability. We respect and affirm young people's personhood, unique abilities, contributions, and ideas.
  
  

We Progress and Grow Intentionally

• We strive to improve our services and impact in our community.
• Demonstrate intention by choosing partnerships, making decisions, and using language that aligns with where we want to go.
• We use creativity, innovation, and continuous learning to engage as many stakeholders as possible.
  
  

We Cultivate Belongingness

• We encourage everyone to be their authentic selves, and we strive to cultivate an environment where all youth, families, staff, board members, mentors, and community partners feel respected, valued, and accepted.
• We bring participants together to provide an environment where they feel like they belong. We bridge gaps to drive agency-wide connections and partnerships.
• Make opportunities to enjoy time together in meaningful ways.
  
  

We Commit to Access & Opportunity for All

• Recognize and affirm the diverse backgrounds and lived experiences of all our stakeholders – youth, families, donors, mentors, staff, vendors, and community partners.
• We amplify the voices of individuals who have historically and systemically been denied opportunities to affect change. We know our organization will continue advancing when we seek diverse viewpoints.
• Progress Access, Belonging and Opportunity through continual learning and providing opportunities for our stakeholders to contribute to our mission.
  
  

We Succeed When We Collaborate and Communicate

• Through strong communication between our staff, mentors, youth, parents, board members, and partners, we build impactful connections. Relationship building is at the core of our work.
• We provide opportunities for staff and program participants to express their experiences, with the goal of advancing the organization and making improvements to support our communities.
• We commit to building and sustaining effective collaboration throughout the organization. To do so, we must incorporate clear, inclusive communication in all our efforts.
  
  

Education And Experience Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of one (1) year of experience or an equivalent combination of education and relevant marketing experience preferred
• Proven proficiency in graphic design, and a demonstrated understanding of fundamental design and illustration principles
• Knowledge of marketing (traditional and digital), project management, and communications
• Knowledge of SEO, SEM and other web and digital strategies
• Proven project planning and management skills; able to manage multiple key projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated proficiency in photography, videography, editing and post-production techniques desired
• Experience in non-profit sector helpful, not required
  
  

Skills And Abilities

• Technology/computer skills needed. Proficient in the following platforms: Adobe Creative Cloud, Procreate, Canva, MS Office Suite (specifically Word, Excel, & Teams); Outlook, & Zoom
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet the needs of schools, team members and community leaders/organizations including routine nights and weekends
• Experience with Social Media – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
• Familiarity with MailChimp or similar email marketing platform
• Knowledge of WordPress or comparable web content management system
• Google Analytics
• Working knowledge of Customer Relationship Management and Workflow Management platform(s)
  
  

COMPETENCIES

• Adaptable/Agility
• Self-Awareness
• Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
• Curiosity
• Accountable
• Integrity
• Empathy
• Civility
  
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Routine and flexible office environment with the ability to work away from the office and beyond regular work schedules when needed to complete the work.

Compensation And Benefits

• Salary will be based upon professional and academic experience
• 401(k) – 3% match per year following first year of employment
• .625 cents reimbursement on business miles and 100% of out office parking for business meetings, etc.
• Immediate and 100% coverage on health and dental insurance
• Life insurance, short term and long-term disability insurance following the first ninety days of employment
• After 90 days staff will receive five (5) days of paid vacation and ten (10) days of paid vacation after one year of service 
• Accrue one (1) day per month of sick leave (can also be used for family illnesses) – can carry up to 30 days of sick leave
• Two (2) personal days per year following the first ninety days of employment
• Annual raises based on performance, culture and agency's ability
• Eleven (11) paid holidays