We’re Hiring! Manager, Strategic Content and Communications

Posted By Pillars Fund  /   August 12, 2024

The Role

The Manager, Strategic Content and Communications is Pillars’ central storyteller who collaborates with the entire Pillars team to enhance the awareness and impact of the Muslim leaders, creatives and organizations Pillars supports. The ideal candidate will grow Pillars’ ability to lead and shape public conversations with the perspective of Muslims in America and their experiences. This includes creating meaningful digital content for various platforms, supporting the organization’s thought leadership through essays and op-eds and highlighting the relevance of Pillar’s work to current events and movements. This role is part in-house journalist and part creative marketer.

The ideal candidate has excellent storytelling skills, a strong knowledge of social media, and the ability to plan and produce long-term projects while also being nimble and responsive in order to turnaround content quickly. We’re looking for someone motivated by Pillars’ values, which are rooted in social justice, and the communities we serve. They bring fresh ideas to the table, can cultivate an online community, and feel comfortable experimenting with new forms of visual storytelling. Graphic design abilities, photography, videography and video editing skills are significant advantages. 

Applicants are required to submit examples of their work.

 

Primary Responsibilities

Content Creation

• Create visual content and write compelling copy for social media platforms including Instagram and LinkedIn
• Create original content that showcases Pillars’ expertise; this can take various forms, including videos, graphics, and essays/articles
• Create and manage content calendar and establish posting cadence, balancing long-term planning, monthly targets, and rapid response needs
• Identify and engage stakeholders (e.g., grantees, fellows, trustees, partners, and champions) to expand the audience committed to amplifying Muslim voices and taking action toward opportunity and justice
• Stay immersed in news and trends related to our work and our audiences in order to quickly take part in online conversations and identify longer-term opportunities for engagement
• Track, analyze, and report on digital metrics to identify successes and opportunities for growth and adjustments
• Draft, edit, and/or publish email campaigns and correspondence, including quarterly newsletter, monthly trustee updates, board correspondence, and announcements
• Equip Pillars’ team to participate in social media opportunities (e.g., live updates from events, crafting Instagram stories, etc.)
• Work with other departments to create promotional materials and assets for various programs, campaigns, and projects

Website and Social Media Upkeep

• Oversee basic website content maintenance and updates,
• Coordinate website postings, including drafting written content and/or coordinating staff to draft and publish content
• Coordinate website design updates, including working with relevant website vendors/contractors to execute projects or updates
• Manage all Pillars social media accounts, including posting, responding and monitoring activity
• Monitor the social media accounts of Pillars’ grantees, fellows and other stakeholders in order to amplify posts as needed and collect assets for Pillars’ archive.

Media Relations

• Monitor local and national press to stay current and advise team on relevant stories and events
• Identify rapid response opportunities to quickly insert relevant Pillars work into ongoing news cycles
• Identify opportunities for staff to publish opinion and editorial pieces in local, national, and trade publications
• Create press materials necessary to maximize press engagement, including team/partner talking points, press advisories, press releases, statements, op-eds

Attributes

Pillars seeks candidates who are highly organized, detail-oriented, and strong communicators capable of working in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment. The ideal candidate will have: 

• Strong critical thinking/analytical skills and an ability to be enterprising, resourceful and creative
• Exceptional writing and editing skills and ability to synthesize concepts for multiple audiences
• Experience creating and publishing a variety of original content for multiple platforms
• Great eye for detail and visual cohesion; ability to complete basic graphic design tasks (e.g., using graphic design templates in Adobe) within quick deadlines; and understanding of best practices for visual organization on social media platforms
• Basic video, photo and audio editing and website maintenance skills with a willingness to learn more and advance those skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to demonstrate discretion, empathy and cultural competence to effectively work with diverse stakeholders
• An embodiment of Pillars’ values and commitment to amplifying the leadership and voices of Muslims in the United States
• Ability and willingness to develop a deep(er) understanding of Muslim communities in the United States and the issues that impact us across multiple identities 
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and ability to articulate and amplify work through that lens
• Comfort and fluency with communications tools and social media and willingness to embrace evolving technologies
• Excellent time management and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail and organization; ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and to set and meet deadlines
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally, including some out-of-state travel and attendance at events on nights and weekends

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this role begins at $85,000. The Pillars Fund offers a competitive total compensation package, including health, employer-subsidized dental and vision, basic life insurance, short- and long-term disability, parental leave, and generous time off. Pillars believes in investing in talent and providing opportunities for professional growth. We offer professional development such as training, conferences, and other opportunities to grow one’s leadership.

Location

Pillars has a physical office in Chicago, where much of the team is based, and staff members are encouraged to work from the office if desired. This role is remote for candidates not based in the Chicago area.

Work Samples

As a part of the application process for this position, writing and/or content samples are requested. Work samples will ideally showcase the skills and abilities outlined in this job description. For example, work directed at specific audiences or stakeholders (like newsletters or email blasts), writing related to project management (like briefs or updates), or anything that showcases the ability to communicate complex information succinctly (like laying out complex travel choices and making recommendations for a busy executive) would all be good writing samples.

To Be Considered

Pillars Fund ​is ​committed ​to ​building ​​an ​organization ​that actively pursues equity ​and ​fosters ​an environment ​of inclusion. Pillars embraces diversity across multiple dimensions and does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant based on race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, socioeconomic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibilities, or any other protected characteristic as established under law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, termination, promotion, transfer, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Pillars will make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities in our hiring process and on our team. Please let us know at any stage of the process if you need any accommodations to participate fully. Some examples include, but are not limited to:

• Providing written materials in different formats
• Modifying application/assessment exercises
• Adjusting the interview format (in most cases, interviews take place via Zoom)
• Providing qualified readers or interpreters

Those wishing to be considered should submit a cover letter, résumé or CV, and two work samples to this form. Applications for this role close on August 30, 2024.

Pillars will keep all inquiries and submissions confidential. Candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

Apply HERE