Communications Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Communications Specialist is an integral part of Northwest Harvest’s communications team, helping advance our mission to end hunger in Washington.

In this role, you’ll create and deliver impactful communications across print, digital, live events, and media, ensuring our messaging reflects our values and centers community voices. You’ll also build and maintain relationships with campaign partners, influencers, and community collaborators to keep our communications aligned, inclusive, and community driven.

This position calls for a skilled communicator who is agile, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.

Every aspect of this role is grounded in our Six Agreements and PACI Values, with a strong focus on amplifying community voices and fostering meaningful engagement. The Six Agreements and PACI values are outlined in the Abilities section of the job description. Please refer to that section for the full list.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsive Communications Support

• Field and respond to communications requests from internal teams
• Execute quick-turnaround tasks such as website updates, email deployments, template creation, and asset sourcing
• Maintain a proactive, solution-oriented approach to shifting priorities and cross-departmental needs

Content Creation & Storytelling

• Develop compelling, audience-specific content for newsletters, blog posts, social media, press releases, and donor communications
• Support storytelling efforts that center impacted communities and elevate partner voices
• Write and edit materials for campaigns, events, and advocacy initiatives with clarity, consistency, and impact

Digital & Media Communications

• Contribute to digital strategy and execution across platforms, including social media, websites, and email
• Draft media advisories and press releases, support media outreach and coordination
• Assist with digital analytics tracking and performance reporting

Partner & Influencer Relationship Management

• Coordinate relationships with campaign partners, influencers, and community collaborators
• Conduct outreach, manage communications and contracting, and ensure timely exchange of resources
• Serve as a liaison to select partners, maintain professionalism, and alignment with organizational values

Event & Campaign Support

• Collaborate on messaging and materials for live events, campaigns, and advocacy actions
• Provide on-site event communications support, including photo and video content collection, and live posting and broadcasting on social media

Internal Communications Collaboration

• Work closely with the Internal Communications Manager to ensure alignment between external messaging and internal engagement
• Support internal campaigns and initiatives that build staff awareness and connection to organizational priorities

Brand Stewardship

• Review and refine editorial and visual content to ensure consistency with brand guidelines
• Uphold high standards for quality, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness across all communications

Performs other duties as assigned.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Demonstrate initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency and understanding of oppression and its impact

Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency

RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal: Support Communications team members, partner with other teams within the Advancement division, and provide cross-departmental assistance across the agency.

External: Coordinate relationships with influencers and community partners. Ensure timely and professional interaction with social media communities, email subscribers, and website visitors.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A combination of real-life experience, education, and training that provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position.

Successful completion of a background check is required.

Knowledge of:

• Marketing automation platforms (Salesforce Marketing Cloud)–To lay out, schedule, and report on email communications and campaigns
• Content management systems (WordPress)– To make general updates and content additions to our organizational website
• CRM systems (Salesforce)– To run reports, update contact records, generate lists, and otherwise support outreach to and engagement of contacts in our database
• Design templates and software (Canva)– To create one-pagers, social media assets, email graphics, signage, merchandise mockups, and other design assets
• Project management systems (Asana)– To collaborate on projects and track tasks, timelines, and responsibilities
• Social media management and advertising platforms (Meta, Sprout Social)– To support social media content scheduling and reporting
• Digital analytics and measurement tools (Google analytics)– To assess website performance
• Digital asset management– To maintain a comprehensive, well organized, searchable database of photo and video resources
• Microsoft Office suite and organizational platforms– To function effectively within our organization’s platform ecosystem
• Digital accessibility standards– To help ensure that our communications are accessible and in compliance with regulations and best practices

Ability To:

• Understand individuals who have experienced poverty or food insecurity
• Demonstrate interest and commitment to supporting equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ populations and people living with disabilities

Equity and Connectedness:

• Adopt the PACI (purpose driven, anti-racist, connected and interwoven) model and practice our Six Agreements:
• Speak our truths responsibly
• Listen to understand
• Stay engaged
• Be willing to experience discomfort and do things differently
• Expect and accept non-closure
• Honor confidentiality

• Write skillfully and produce clear, engaging, and audience‑appropriate communications
• Think strategically while executing tactically, balancing big‑picture planning with hands‑on delivery
• Build strong relationships across diverse teams, stakeholders, and communities
• Analyze data and translate insights into actionable recommendations to improve communication strategies
• Lead collaborative projects, coordinating multiple contributors and meeting deadlines in a structured, reliable manner
• Create compelling digital content, including graphics, newsletters, intranet posts, and multimedia assets
• Adapt quickly to emerging tools and technologies used in modern communications
• Support equity and inclusion initiatives, ensuring communications reflect and advance inclusive practices
• Manage sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion
• Communicate effectively with all levels of the organization, executives, managers, and employees
• Problem-solve independently and collaboratively, knowing when to take initiative and when to partner with others
• Demonstrate cultural competency and communicate respectfully with diverse audiences
• Work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and shifting needs with composure

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

Bachelor's degree in communications, digital media, marketing, journalism, or a related field or an equal combination of education and relevant work experience with a personal orientation as a lifelong learner.

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of three (3) + years of experience in communications, public relations, or a related field—preferably in a nonprofit or mission-driven context.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Nonprofit communications experience (desired but not required)
• Community-centered storytelling expertise (desired but not required)
• Knowledge of Washington state communities and issues (desired but not required)
• The ability to speak additional language(s) (desired but not required)
• Experience or training in digital storytelling, ongoing professional development in communications, and/or diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) and community-centered communications. We welcome candidates who bring a willingness to learn in these areas.

DISCLAIMER:

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an adaptive organization, responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and mission metrics.

BENEFITS AND OTHER COMPENSATION:
Northwest Harvest offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package this includes but is not limited to; medical/dental/ vision/ insurance, long term disability insurance, Life/AD&D insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 401(k) retirement plan, Vacation and Sick leave, 8 paid holidays; New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, Floating holidays for you to use should you observe a holiday not outlined in Northwest Harvests current observed holidays or at your discretion, and birthday holiday. Employees are eligible to participate in payroll deducted supplemental benefits i.e., Flexible Spending account-HRA and DCE, various AFLAC and New York Life plans.