Reports to: Communications & Content Director
Direct reports: None
Status: Exempt
Date: Posted (open until filled)
Mission Statement
The Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy strengthens the countywide adult English literacy network to support a thriving community and effective workforce.
Strategic Plans
MCAEL’s current strategic plan will conclude at the end of 2021. That plan focused on the following: By 2021, MCAEL will increase the number of learners who are on a pathway to proficiency from 15,000 to 21,000. Additionally, in 2020 MCAEL adopted a Race Equity Strategic Plan which will be incorporated into its next strategic plan.
About MCAEL
MCAEL is a leading nonprofit in Montgomery County, with less than 10 employees. MCAEL traces its beginnings to 2002 when the Montgomery County Council, adult English literacy service providers and community stakeholders worked together to address the growing demand for programs and services. MCAEL incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization in 2006 and received its 501(c)(3) tax status in 2008. The organization, now in its 15th year, continues to grow and develop and enjoys an excellent reputation in the county and with our partners.
MCAEL strengthens the community by advancing a coalition of organizations dedicated to enabling all Montgomery County residents to achieve their full potential by improving their English language skills. MCAEL is the hub of the coalition, bringing English language service providers together to learn and share, driving a system of continuous improvement. For the coalition – over 60 programs, which have 1000+ instructors/program staff, serving 15,000 adult learners each year:
- Training and professional development (at no cost) to any instructors and program administrators in Montgomery County
- Centralized data collection and analysis
- Advocacy on behalf of the coalition
- The directory of all adult English classes in the county
- Public engagement around the issue of adult English literacy
Job Summary:
The Digital Communications Specialist is a full-time position and supports MCAEL’s communications and outreach work. This position reports to the Communications and Content Director. The Digital Communications Specialist will develop, implement, track and optimize the organization’s digital communications campaigns across all digital channels. The Specialist will write, edit and/or assist with internal/ external collateral (newsletters, web pages, press releases, annual directory etc..). The Digital Communications Specialist will work with staff across departments to maintain and grow MCAEL’s reach and visibility.
Summary of Essential Job Functions:
- Help plan and execute digital communications campaigns, including web, SEO, email, social media and display advertising.
- Maintain our social media presence across all digital channels. Create actionable plans to both grow and maintain followers through popular social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- Provide measurements and reporting on the performance of all digital communications campaigns against goals
- Identify trends and insights, and optimize spend and performance based on the insights
- Brainstorm new and creative growth strategies
- Write and edit digital content for social media, the website and e-newsletter, with strong attention to detail; update website pages as needed
- Create and publish relevant, original, high-quality content (images, video, written and audio/podcast) for all channels
- Create a regular publishing schedule and promote content through social advertising
- Implement a content editorial calendar to manage content and plan specific, timely communications campaigns
- Use current communication tools including iContact for regular newsletters
- Leverage the right tools to manage content (FB vs. Linkedin vs. Twitter)
- Collaborate with internal teams to create and edit web landing pages and optimize user experience
- Work with partners to regularly update events calendar and online directory listings
- Provide on-site support at local events for setting up booths, live tweeting and reporting back takeaways to use for social media efforts
- Integrate all channels of communication (social media, SEO, content marketing, email, print and digital marketing)
- Perform some photo and video editing for use in social media and other collateral
- Monitor, listen and respond to users in a “Social” way
- With other staff, develop and expand community and/or influencer outreach efforts
- Become an advocate for MCAEL in social media spaces, engaging in dialogues and answering questions where appropriate
- Monitor trends in social media tools, applications, channels, design and strategy
- Support special events across the organization through assistance with invitations, collateral, and promotion.
- Occasional night and weekend event attendance required.
Education & Experience:
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Proven working experience in digital marketing/communications
- Strong writing skills
- Interest in mission-driven nonprofit work, collaborative work style
- Demonstrable experience in SEO, marketing/communications database, email, social media
- Highly creative team player with experience in identifying target audiences and devising digital campaigns that engage, inform and motivate
- Exhibits the ability to jump from the creative side of communications to analytical side, able to demonstrate why their ideas are analytically sound
- Experience in optimizing landing pages
- Solid knowledge of website analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Facebook Analytics, Sendible and others)
- Working knowledge of ad serving tools
- Working knowledge of web page updating tools
- Up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in social and digital marketing/communications and measurements
- Ability to prioritize workload in a timely manner
- Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (and or other platforms such as InDesign/Photoshop)
- BS/BA degree in marketing/communications or a related field or equivalent education/experience
- Proficiency in other languages or fluency preferred (especially Spanish, French)
This position is exempt, full-time with generous benefits and a competitive salary commensurate with experience. Salary is $55,000-$70,000 range depending on skills and experience. Other benefits include: health insurance, retirement plan, paid time off at a rate commensurate with employment status; professional development support. At the present time, MCAEL staff are granted a mix of working in the office and at home.
TO APPLY: Interested candidates must e-mail a cover letter explaining how your skills and background fit this position and a resume to admin@mcael.org. Resumes sent without a cover letter will not be considered. Please be prepared to provide references upon request. Please refer to Digital Communications Specialist position in the subject line. No phone inquiries please. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. Position is open until filled.
MCAEL seeks to hire individuals who have interest and experience in any or all of the following: building community, immigrant integration, coalition building, partnership development and adult education. Bring an inquiring mind, a desire to address community development by helping those without English literacy skills acquire them, passion, innovative thinking and flexibility are all traits that would enable a MCAEL employee to be successful. Additionally, bilingual or multilingual capabilities are preferred. Experience living in a culture that is not one’s native culture would be a plus. MCAEL’s staff is small but mighty, thus the ability to work as a part of a dynamic, high-energy team and individually to accomplish mutually shared goals and support a growing and dynamic coalition of 60+ programs, 1500 staff and instructors and almost 15,000 learners is critical.
MCAEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All correspondences will remain confidential.
