Communications Associate; MEI

The Communications Associate supports the development and implementation of Maker Ed’s communication-related strategic priorities. They support the communications team with content creation and publishing of content across multiple platforms, manage the internal contacts database and communications-related documentation, track analytics, and support field-wide community building and outreach.

• Produce and schedule Maker Ed’s communications in accordance with publishing matrix and editorial calendar — e.g., network communications, social media posts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Linked In), newsletters, announcements, appeals, events, etc.
• Promote Maker Ed’s professional development events (such as onsite workshops and the Maker Educator Convening), special projects (such as the Youth Makerspace Playbook and other publications), program-related recruitment, fundraising and awareness campaigns, and job opportunities through online communications platforms
• Plan and support documentation of Maker Ed’s in-person events through photography, videography, and/or written articles
• In collaboration with the relevant team members, elevate the voices of Maker Ed’s programmatic partners and community members through communications and storytelling campaigns
• Assist with branding, web design and development, and technology-related projects as needed, by: ensuring that all content is held to high standards of grammar, accuracy, and functionality; creating and updating pages on Maker Ed’s website; and planning, editing, and publishing blog posts on makered.org
• Write and disseminate press releases for Maker Ed’s major announcements around new projects, programming updates, and events

• Coordinate the creation, organization, and maintenance of Maker Ed’s internal CRM system
• Manage Maker Ed’s internal photo and video library, including tracking permissions and keyword tagging

• Collaborate with the Director of Impact to set up systems to consistently review data collected from Maker Ed’s communication platforms
• Assess and report on website traffic and email program performance on a regular basis — e.g., monitor email list growth, engagement, and A/B testing of new tactics; monitor and analyze implications of website traffic through Google Analytics or other tools; monitor and report on usage statistics for resources within Maker Ed’s online Resource Library; etc.
• Assist the Director of Development with grant proposals and reports, by gathering and tracking programmatic data about Maker Ed’s workshops, programs, and events
• Assist the Director of Development with grant cycle tracking: thanking, reporting, and submitting final reports on grant-funded projects

• In collaboration with partners at Digital Promise, manage the Maker Promise digital media campaign, including the Maker Promise website, newsletters, and the creation and publication of new advocacy resources
• Assist with operations, coordination, and execution of an annual Maker Educator Convening
• Represent Maker Ed at local or regional gatherings and major conferences, whether to host meetups or to connect with and hold focus groups about maker educator communities
• Contribute to and utilize Maker Ed’s CRM to track and analyze outreach and publicity efforts, including actively building relationships with school districts and other institutions, such as libraries and museums, involved in maker education
• Support the development and execution of a long-term press and media outreach plan
• Utilize Maker Ed’s CRM to identify, track, and reach out to press outlets and writers who may be interested in Maker Ed’s work, maker education, and/or other related topics

• Must be a quick learner and self-starter with strong organizational skills.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and be able to accurately and professionally represent our organization.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task with attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
• Must be able to work well with others and be flexible and adaptable in a changing and sometimes…