Communications Manager (71101)

ABOUT PRATT CENTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PRATT INSTITUTE

Founded in 1963, Pratt Center for Community Development is a non-profit organization that is housed within Pratt Institute. Pratt Center brings research, policy, planning and community engagement expertise to community organizations that are working on the frontlines to make New York City strong, equitable and sustainable. In recent years, Pratt Center has collaborated with long-term community partners on efforts to strengthen tenant rights , facilitate community-led planning across the city, launch a climate justice program to retrofit homes for low-income people in Brooklyn, and expand the Made in NYC initiative, which supports local makers and small manufacturers. Pratt Center is part of a robust research and strategic partnerships unit in academic affairs reporting to the Provost, with offices in the The Research Yard .

Founded in 1887, Pratt Institute is a global leader in higher education dedicated to preparing its 4,700 undergraduate and graduate students for successful careers in art, design, architecture, information, and liberal arts and sciences.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Pratt Center (PC) is seeking a Communications Manager to develop, manage, and execute strategic communications at Pratt Center for Community Development. The Communications Manager will report to the Director of Development and Communications and work collaboratively with the Executive Director and a team of 10 planners, policy managers and other programs and operations staff at Pratt Center to help us expand and sharpen our external profile, deepen engagement with our work amongst key audiences, including peers, policy makers, community partners and supporters, and advance our policy, advocacy, planning and implementation priorities.

It is an exciting time to join Pratt Center as we celebrate our 60 year anniversary and work with our new Executive Director to help implement a strategic vision of deep community engagement to ensure that Pratt Center is a go-to resource for communities across New York City.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Co-Develop and Execute Communications strategy
• Develop goals for communications that advance organizational priorities, in collaboration with Director of Development and Communications and Executive Director
• Develop an editorial calendar that helps to highlight, amplify, and deepen impact of PC's work with our community partners
• Co-create response strategy for how to engage with breaking news and key political and policy moments that intersect with our work
• Create strategy to amplify and disseminate PC's work through digital and in-person events, panels, op-eds and other creative approaches, with the support of Director of Development and Communications and Executive Director
• Collaborate with the fundraising team to develop communication strategies that bolster our fundraising efforts
• Effectively Communicate Organizational Narrative and Impact
• Communicate the impact of PC's work to external audiences and establish a consistent organizational voice
• Manage and update our website to ensure that it reflects our work and can act as a go-to resource for the public and our community partners
• Develop various strategies to capture and illustrate our work and ensure the voice of our community partners are centered
• Strengthen External Profile
• Assess and define the makeup of our current audience
• Co-create goals and strategies for growing our network that are aligned with organizational goals
• Compile and produce newsletters, email, social media content, and policy reports to disseminate current work of PC to key audiences
• Develop messaging and materials for external presentations by staff, aiming to establish PC and community partners as thought leaders
• Develop relationships with, engage and track key media contacts
• Amplify and widely disseminated earned or social media content about our work
• Operationalize communications and manage content creation
• Build systems to manage and execute communications
• Create project management system that streamlines the team's communication requests
• Ensure uniform brand representation and uphold quality standards across external content and public-facing events
• Create, design, and publish reports, publications, newsletters, toolkits, and social media posts
• When budget allows, collaborate with and oversee graphic designers, copy editors and other consultants
• Additional responsibilities to be agreed upon as needed

Qualifications

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following experience and skills:
• At least 5 years of communications experience
• Proven success in co-developing and executing creative communications strategies to achieve measurable goals
• Experience with email marketing, social media (Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), and website CMS
• Strong collaboration and project management skills; with the ability to integrate feedback from multiple sources
• Superb attention to detail, effective time-management skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Deep commitment to community-based planning and social, racial and economic justice
The most successful candidates will also have the following skills and experience:
• Excellent editorial judgment, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Experience in storytelling for social impact
• An eye for design/visual communications
• Experience with earned PR/press and social media engagement
• Familiarity with Mailchimp, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CMS graymatter and/or video editing software
Education & Experience
BA/BS or equivalent and 5 years of demonstrated success in communications for impact, non-profit or community-based organizations.

Salary Range and Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The salary range for this position is $76,000-86,000. This position is 100% grant funded and is renewable upon budgetary approval. The position will be based in New York City and is hybrid in office and remote. Currently Pratt Center staff are onsite 2 days/wk, and remote 3 days/wk but that is subject to change.

Generous Benefits:
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Care Coverage
• 403B Retirement Program
• Supplemental Retirement Account
• Tuition Benefits for Employees and Dependents
• Tuition Exchange Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts - commuter, medical, dependent care
• Child Care Benefit
• Basic life and AD&D insurance provided by Pratt
• Reduced teaching load in first year (1 course release)
• Sabbatical leave, as described in the Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Additional Perks - Free entry to select museums and cultural institutions, free use of campus recreation facilities
About Pratt Institute:
Pratt Institute provides the creative leaders of tomorrow the professional knowledge and experience to make a better world. A world-class and internationally ranked college with programs in art, design, architecture, liberal arts and sciences, and information studies, Pratt offers nearly 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The Institute's impact expands beyond its 25-acre residential campus in Brooklyn to cutting-edge facilities throughout the borough, a landmark building and public gallery in Manhattan, as well as an extension campus, Pratt Munson College of Art and Design in Utica, New York. On Governors Island, Pratt is a core partner on the Stony Brook University team selected to develop the New York Climate Exchange, a research and educational hub poised to establish New York City as the global leader for the most pressing issue of our time: climate change. Another extension of Pratt's campus is the Research Yard, a 20,000-square-foot facility that brings together the research activities of Pratt Institute under one roof in the Brooklyn Navy Yard (BNY).
Note: Employment data shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the criteria. If you meet many but not all the criteria and feel you may be a good fit for the role, we encourage you to apply.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume using Pratt Institute's hiring portal. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until July 19.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pratt Institute recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce.