Communications & Outreach Specialist

Communications & Outreach Specialist

Location: Remote, applicant must reside within Wisconsin

Reports to: Executive Director

The Communications & Outreach Specialist will develop and implement comprehensive consumer education and marketing strategies to amplify Thriving Wisconsin's statewide impact. This role is responsible for designing general, program-specific, and project-specific materials tailored to various audiences, including funders, Network members, child care providers, parents, policymakers, and the media.

The Specialist is responsible for managing and enhancing the organization's digital presence through website administration, social media management, and media relations. This role develops and implements strategic branding and marketing initiatives that increase awareness, engagement, and visibility for Thriving Wisconsin and its Network Members, while ensuring consistent and effective communication across all platforms.

This role serves as the primary communications lead for the organization and works closely with the Executive Director, Assistant Director, program staff, and statewide partners to align communications strategy. May coordinate with external designers, freelancers, or vendors as needed.

Primary Responsibilities:

Communications & Graphic Design

• Content Creation: Design, write, and publish high-quality marketing and consumer education materials including one-pagers, newsletter articles, online digests, annual reports, social media tiles, and e-blasts tailored to diverse stakeholder groups.
• Brand & Campaign Assets: Create print and digital collateral to promote services, enhance access and engagement, and support new initiatives, while ensuring consistent adherence to brand guidelines across all regional partners. Maintain strengths-based accessible, and audience-centered communication style across all materials.
• Digital Media Management: Manage and update the agency website and social media platforms. Develop, maintain, and execute a strategic social media calendar.
• Accessibility: Develop and review communications and marketing materials to ensure they are clear, culturally appropriate, and accessible to individuals of varying abilities, language preferences, literacy levels, and target audience. Ensure the organization's website meets federal and state accessibility requirements.
• Audience Engagement: Manage the organization's contact database using Constant Contact and/or other web-based communication tools.
• Media Relations: Monitor media coverage on child care and early childhood education issues. Cultivate relationships with journalists and develop media resources (press releases, media kits, advisories, and an online press center). Pitch stories to media highlighting program outcomes and statewide impact.

Programmatic Support

• Partner Collaboration: Coordinate with state and community-based partners, including Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies and Family Resource Centers (FRCs), to align marketing efforts and maximize collective impact.
• Membership Management: Support updating marketing components of annual membership renewal process.
• Member Support & Engagement: Plan, organize, and facilitate ongoing marketing and communications Communities of Practice (CoP) events, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and engagement among member agencies.
• Network Communications Alignment: Monitor and support the implementation of consistent network language, branding, and required website components across CCR&R member agency websites to strengthen the network's unified identity.
• Outreach & Promotional Activities: Coordinate outreach initiatives, events, and campaigns to enhance organizational and network visibility. Manage the design, procurement, and distribution of promotional and marketing materials for events.
• Build Brand Awareness: Expand public awareness of Thriving Wisconsin and member agencies through marketing, communications, and educational initiatives that highlight available services and resources.
• Consumer Education: Create and promote educational campaigns, resources, and content that empower consumers to understand and access services offered by member agencies throughout Wisconsin.
• Earned Media Relations: Develop and execute media outreach strategies that secure earned media coverage, increase organizational visibility, and highlight the impact of member agencies across Wisconsin.
• Reporting: Lead development of impact reports and data-informed storytelling for funders and policymakers.
• Strategic Communications: Develop and implement marketing and communications strategies that advance network-wide priorities and increase engagement with key stakeholders.

General

• Actively participate in monthly staff meetings and quarterly in person meetings
• Support agency mission, vision, and strategic aims
• Other duties as assigned

Key Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Minimum of bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Graphic Design, Public Relations, or closely related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in communications, marketing, or programmatic support.
• Experience with the nonprofit sector, human services, or the early care and education field is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and deliverables

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, with a proven ability to translate complex systems change into compelling storytelling.
• Outstanding diplomacy and solutions-oriented approach to building relationships with media, funders, and diverse community stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work independently in a remote environment while remaining deeply collaborative and team oriented.
• Excel at managing competing demands, multitasking, and shifting priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• Technical Proficiency
• Required: Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite, website design/maintenance software, and major social media platforms including CMS platforms such as Wordpress or similar.
• Preferred: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Constant Contact, and related digital design tools. Familiarity with basic analytics tools such as Google Analytics or social media analytic platforms

Travel & Logistics

• Valid driver's license and current auto insurance
• Ability to travel statewide, including overnight stays as needed for quarterly meetings or events.

Thriving Wisconsin is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.