The Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI) is a nonprofit organization working to disrupt systems of harm and create opportunities for autonomy and success by providing college access to people inside Tennessee prisons, preparing students for skillful re-entry, and reducing barriers to continued education and achievement. THEI is a grassroots, community organization committed to principles of harm reduction, healing, and centering the lived experiences of the people we serve. We engage in reimagining and building toward the world we want to see through systems work and direct service.
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THEI seeks a full-time Development and Communications Manager. The Development and Communications Manager will work under the supervision of the Executive Director to support organizational operations and raise awareness and financial support for THEI’s mission of getting people free through the transformative and liberative power of education.
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Familiarity with Higher Education in Prison (HEP) programming, the landscape of re-entry, and HEP policy are a benefit. The ideal candidate must have reliable transportation, and be comfortable working in a carceral setting and collaborating with incarcerated individuals.  We encourage people who have been impacted by the criminal legal system to apply.
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The position is a full-time, exempt position. Starting salary is $60,000 per year, plus travel reimbursements, full medical/dental insurance, a simple IRA with 3% employer match, a monthly wellness stipend, and generous paid leave and holidays. The review of applications will begin immediately.

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Key Responsibilities:

Communications

• Communicate THEI’s brand and initiative efficiently and accurately via many channels (website, printed materials, social media, etc.).
• Provide training to the THEI team to ensure consistent and effective brand communication via social media, website, video production, print materials, and verbal communication.
• Work in partnership with our third-party web manager to ensure THEI’s website functions properly.
• Develop and implement systems to update website content and design across all program areas.
• Design and publish marketing pieces utilizing emerging tools to help increase awareness.  
• Coordinate communications efforts for special events.
• Manage media relations, including building relationships with media contacts and proactively securing media opportunities.
• Craft talking points and develops effective media strategies that may include press outreach, op-eds, and innovative social media.
• Create, format, and distribute regular email newsletters as well as updates and manage email lists using MailChimp.
• Develop marketing and social media strategies, using social media data and analytics to make key decisions.
• Lead efforts to continue sharpening social media presence to engage supporters, build momentum and share success stories.
• Edit video and create shareable video content.
• Manage the organization’s communications assets, including photo library, success stories, logo library, infographics, design files, print, and digital collateral.
• Manage and coordinate communication with contractors.
• Provide assets to other team members as needed.
  

Development

• Cultivate potential diversified sources of public and private funding.
• Establish and maintain relationships with prospective donors, foundations, and partners’ contacts.
• Research and identify potential grant opportunities
• Draft grant applications as assigned.
• Draft interim and final reports to funders
• Manage and maintain donor database to include basic donor information, donations, and donor acknowledgments.
• Responsible for timely acknowledgment and recognition of donors as appropriate.
• Utilize the donor database to pull reports, mailing lists, and donor records to assist in fundraising efforts such as individual asks, annual mailings, and grant writing.
• Ensure donations are accurately accounted for and routed to the correct program area in our accounting system.
• Manage in-kind donations including tracking, gift acceptance, and gift acknowledgments.
• Create relevant policies and procedures to ensure compliance with best practices.
• Stay current with foundation trends and giving priorities.
  

Events Management

• Provide administrative support for special events including data management, mailings, marketing, and other communication initiatives.
• Work closely with the Executive Director to develop new events to support the organizational mission.

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Qualifications:

Social Justice Requirements

• A strong commitment to providing service to at-risk populations and understanding the mission of THEI to be located within a larger social justice movement.
• A strong commitment to breaking cycles of poverty and incarceration.
• A commitment to use Person First language because there is evidence that language can shape perceptions about an incarcerated person's capacity to change.

Core Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent desired
• Minimum of 3+ years of communications experience
• Experience with content creation software
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills, and the ability to write in a clear and compelling style
• Proven track record of running successful social media campaigns and increasing subscribers and engagement
• Demonstrated ability to increase productivity and continuously improve methods and approaches
• Ability to analyze the effectiveness of all marketing and communications efforts
• Ability to prioritize and lead multiple projects, activities, and actions with competing deadlines and levels of urgency
• Self-motivated, accountable to goals and willing to learn new techniques, ideas, and skills
• Excellent personal organization, work planning, and time management skills
• Desired computer skills include proficiency with G-Suite, Slack, Bloomerang