Communications Specialist

Greater Capitol Heights Improvement Corporation (“GCHIC”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development and neighborhood improvement organization that focuses on the inner-Beltway communities of central Prince George’s County, Maryland, that surround the District of Columbia’s East Corner boundary. Its mission is to stimulate revitalization, redevelopment, and reinvestment in the socioeconomically disadvantaged communities within its geographic focus area, with particular emphasis on the Capitol Heights-Addison Road Metro (“CHARM”) regional activity center.

GCHIC envisions a bold transformation in Greater Capitol Heights. We want to see a community that provides sustainable urban living, working, and recreational opportunities for the Washington Metropolitan Area’s residents. We seek a Greater Capitol Heights that

will be:

• Connected : With a robust multimodal transportation infrastructure that emphasizes nonmotorized mobility (walking, biking) and includes a gridded street network, wide sidewalks, and buffered bicycle lanes.
• Urban : Having the look, feel, and spirit of an urbanized city, with a diverse population, ample retail, dining, entertainment, recreation, and employment options for all to enjoy.
• Engaged : Where residents and businesses are actively involved in the betterment of their community.
• Scenic and Sustainable : Having a visually appealing and environmentally sustainable urban built environment and a discernable brand that creates a sense of place.
• Unified : With the area’s five municipalities working collaboratively with the unincorporated areas to act with a “one city” mindset that can effectively compete with some of Maryland’s most populated places.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

GCHIC is looking for an enthusiastic Communications Specialist to manage our external and internal communications, both print and digital. You will promote a positive public image and disseminate vital information on our organization’s behalf. You should have phenomenal oral and written communication skills and be an experienced project manager. Your enthusiasm and positive attitude will be essential in helping you gain the trust of colleagues and external parties alike.

Some examples of your day-to-day activities include:

• Developing effective organizational communication plans and strategies
• Managing internal communications (memos, newsletters etc.)
• Drafting content (e.g., press releases, blog articles, issue briefs, alerts, etc.) for dissemination to the media, on our website, or via our social media channels
• Organizing initiatives and planning events, such as webinars or press conferences
• Liaising with media and handling requests for interviews, statements etc.
• Assisting in clear communication of GCHIC’s messages, positions, and priorities
• Fostering relationships with community members, government officials, and other key stakeholders
• Collaborating with marketing and fundraising professionals to produce material for advertisements, articles, and appeals
• Performing “damage control” in cases of bad publicity
• Facilitating the resolution of disputes with the public or external vendors
• Performing other reasonable duties as required (i.e., pitching in and cheerfully assisting this small nonprofit to succeed, wherever and however needed)

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Strong writing, research, and oral communication skills
• Detail-oriented and able to prioritize
• Ability to multitask and work productively in a remote environment with limited day-to-day supervision, using productivity and time-tracking platforms such as Hubstaff
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Experience in copywriting and editing
• Experience in designing or producing content for websites
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; remote meeting platforms such as WebEx and Zoom; website platforms such as Wix or WordPress; email campaign applications such as Zoho Campaigns or Mailchimp; social media scheduling platforms such as Fedica; visual content and video editing applications such as Canva and VEED; and AI-assisted content-production tools such as ChatGPT and ElevenLabs