Communications Associate

About the Role/Purpose:

Big Picture Learning (BPL) seeks a Communications Associate to play a pivotal role in advancing the organization's mission by effectively communicating its values, goals, and initiatives to diverse audiences. This role is dedicated to crafting and disseminating clear, compelling, and consistent messages across various platforms, ensuring the organization's voice is both unified and impactful. By supporting internal and external communications strategies, the Communications Associate will enhance public awareness, foster stakeholder engagement, and promote the organization's brand identity. Through collaboration, creativity, and a keen understanding of the evolving media landscape, the Communications Associate will contribute to building a strong, positive reputation and driving the organization's success

Primary Responsibilities: specific scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Work closely with BPL’s Chief Communications Officer and other members of the BPL Communications team to spread knowledge of BPL’s mission and impact across new, existing and emerging markets and audiences
• Assist BPL team members from across the organization with their respective graphic design needs, which may include document formatting, slide deck design, social media post creation and (much) more
• Be a BPL brand steward, champion, advocate and ambassador - both internally and externally
• Inject new creative energy across BPL’s various social media channels and platforms
• Edit new and existing video content for cross-channel promotion
• If skills allow, take photographs and shoot video and regular BPL events and convenings.
• On occasion, provide assistance and advice on effective branding and communications to schools across the Big Picture Learning network. 
• Support efforts to advance DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) and antiracism on a micro (self), meso (organization), and macro (systems-level/external) level
• Support, participate in, and attend annual BPL conferences and other org-wide events as needed
• Other duties, as assigned

Desired Credentials:

• BA (bonus, but not required, if it’s in a field related to this position). Advanced degrees are also appreciated; however research demonstrates that education requirements can be a deterrent for qualified candidates and may also perpetuate gender and racial disparities. Thus, independent of your level of education attainment, we encourage all candidates with the professional experiences and leadership qualities outlined in this position specification to apply. 
• Experience, expertise and/or proficiency (or at least working knowledge) of the following communications platforms: Adobe Creative Suite (especially Illustrator and Premiere Pro), Wix, Mailchimp, Google Office Suite or like platforms.
• Experience designing for and/or managing various social media channels  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 

Qualifications

Candidates for this position must share our passion and commitment for rethinking the possibilities of education for decades to come. We steadfastly believe that students should be at the center of their own learning and that education (in particular public education) is due for a reorientation that allows students to be confident in the pursuit of their own passions and interests.

The geographic spread of BPL’s work and the fact that all BPL staff work virtually, requires individuals to have strong internal accountability.  The organizational culture supports flexible and contextually appropriate decision making processes. As a result, individuals who thrive in BPL are comfortable juggling multiple projects and prioritizing tasks, advancing the work in the face of uncertainty, willing to take risks, exhibit entrepreneurial behaviors, take ownership and see tasks and ideas through from conception to implementation, and possess the communication and interpersonal skills needed to work well with people at all levels of the organization.

Organizational Skills

• Steadfast belief that students should be at the center of their own learning and that education (in particular public education) is due for a reorientation that allows students to be confident in the pursuit of their own passions and interests
• Strong internal accountability (especially important due to the geographic spread of BPL’s work and our virtual teams), comfort juggling multiple projects and prioritizing tasks, and the ability to work remotely in distributed teams across multiple time zones
• Ability to exhibit entrepreneurial behaviors, take ownership, and see tasks and ideas through from conception to implementation
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (speaking, writing, listening) in person and virtually
• Commitment to continuous improvement, a relentless approach to growth and learning, and an openness to constructive critical feedback
• Collegial and empathetic approach to working with others, while bringing a creative, flexible and thoughtful approach to your work
• Support efforts to advance DEI on a micro (self), meso (organization), and macro (systems-level/external) level
• Support, participate in, and attend annual BPL conferences and other org-wide events as needed
• Ability to use - or quickly learn - multiple tech platforms (i.e., Google Suite, Salesforce, Asana)

Application Process and Timeline:

Confidential inquiries are welcomed. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. It is advantageous to apply as soon as possible. Final deadline for applications is September 1, 2024.

Desired Start Date: October 15, 2024

Click here to apply  

You will need to provide the following documentation:

1. Thoughtful and Tailored Cover Letter of Introduction (≤ 2 pages)
2. Resume/CV
3. List ≥ 2 Professional References

Location: Remote

Reports to: Chief Communications Officer

Compensation

• BPL provides a competitive salary commensurate with experience 
• Annual salary range for this position is $55,000 - $65,000 (full time)

Benefits Package

• Fully paid medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Fully paid life insurance policy, including short term and long term disability insurance
• Pension plan which includes a company contribution of 5% of your salary with 100% vested after 6 months of employment
• Eight (8) weeks paid parental leave
• Thirteen (13) paid holidays, plus 2 religious floater holidays
• End of year holiday break (from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day)
• Eleven (11) personal/sick days, plus paid birthday
• Eighteen (18) days of paid vacation, which is earned and accrued at 1.5 days/month beginning the first full month of employment

Other workplace benefits offered full time employees

• Use of company laptop computer
• Printer/copier/scanner for home office
• Office supplies for home office
• Cell phone bill is paid or can become part of the company plan. BPL will pay up to $400 towards the purchase of a new phone

About BPL

It is our vision that all students live lives of their own design, supported by caring mentors and equitable opportunities to achieve their greatest potential. We move forward prepared to activate the power of schools, systems & education through student-directed, real-world learning. We are activists. - www.bigpicture.org

At BPL, we are practitioners and practice the implementation of truly innovative designs. We are story doers and we work with an intensity and drive that rivals any other organization or business. We relentlessly focus on elevating the voice of students, parents, and communities. At BPL, innovative and valuable ideas matter more than the role of the person sharing them. We work together to achieve our mission because we know we can accomplish more as a team.  Many BPL team members report that

the "family feel" of our organization is what makes our work so rewarding. Working at BPL is a vibrant and ongoing learning experience and we seek to offer all staff the opportunity to experience work that aligns with the ten student expectations described in Leaving to Learn.