Communications Specialist

Job Overview

Help tell stories of generosity and impact in Eastern Iowa, build connections with key audiences, and support our staff’s communication capacity.

Location: Dubuque, Iowa
Employment Type: Full-time, on-site
Department: Communications
Reports To: Director of Communications
Benefits: 403(b), paid time off, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, paid family leave, paid parking

Your Opportunity

Imagine a role in which your creativity directly inspires generosity and strengthens communities. In this role, the words you write, and the images you create are bridges that connect kindhearted community members and passionate nonprofit leaders to improve the lives of your neighbors.

This is the opportunity the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is offering.

As our communications specialist, you will be trusted to craft the authentic voice of an organization, shaping how people across Eastern Iowa understand our role in unleashing the power of community philanthropy to transform communities for the better. You will directly contribute to ambitious projects and programs that tackle some of the most pressing issues of the day. Your passion for creative storytelling will help improve education to feed families to make housing accessible and affordable and so much more.

Who You Are

You are a natural, intrepid storyteller who weaves narratives about generosity and impact that inform, engage and inspire. From writing articles to creating videos to posting on social media channels, you are savvy with a variety of communication tools and use them to build brand recognition and trust.

You’re also a self-starter, someone who can take an idea and run with it. You accept feedback and direction, and at the same time, you are comfortable letting your creativity and expertise guide your work. You understand that great communication and marketing isn’t just about making things look good, but rather it’s about building relationships, motivating people to act, and making a positive difference.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Storytelling and Content Creation

• Own our social media presence. Develop and execute a dynamic social media strategy that showcases our impact, amplifies our brand voice, and engages people across platforms. You will create original content, manage our social media schedule, and use analytics to continuously refine our strategy.
• Be a brand ambassador and content creator. Craft compelling stories that resonate with people and present them via print and digital media in a way that strengthens our brand and reflects our authentic voice. Reports, newsletters, brochures and advertisements are just a few of the many communications pieces you will design in this role.
• Capture and share community impact. Through photography, videography and written storytelling, document the real people and real impact happening in small towns and cities across the Dubuque region. You will write press releases, draft stories for annual reports and newsletters, edit brief videos, and take pictures at events.
• Build internal communications capacity. As an in-house communications and marketing expert, you will work with colleagues across departments to meet their communications needs and help the entire team communicate more effectively.
• Manage relationships with our community partners. Oversee our database of contacts (akoyaGO), working across departments to ensure we are maintaining strong connections with donors, nonprofits and civic leaders.

What You’ll Bring to the Role

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or professional experience in marketing, communications, social media management, public relations or journalism
• Exceptional storytelling skills and the ability to develop clear, accessible and compelling narratives around complex issues
• Proven social media management experience with a portfolio that demonstrates strategic and creative thinking
• Graphic design proficiency (Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva or similar programs)
• Comfort with photography and videography (how to use a camera and basic photo/video editing skills)
• Brand sensibility and the ability to maintain a consistent voice and visual identity across all communications
• Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative spirit
• Self-motivation and independence

Nice to Have (We’ll Help You Learn)

• Experience with CRM/audience database systems and troubleshooting minor IT issues
• Familiarity with Microsoft365 and cloud-based collaboration tools

Why This Role Matters

In this position, you are more than a content creator – you are a change maker. Your marketing and communications expertise will inspire donors across the seven-county Dubuque region to invest in their communities, enhance nonprofits’ capacity to deliver essential services, help people meet their basic needs, and deepen people’s understanding of the many ways we help build strong, thriving and resilient communities – today, tomorrow and forever

How to Apply

Apply online at AccessDubuque.com or LinkedIn. Or, send your resume and cover letter to Jeff Danna, Director of Communications, at jeff@dbqfoundation.org.

About the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque

The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque envisions a vibrant and inclusive Dubuque region where everyone can thrive. Since 2003, we have inspired people to give back to their community, and we turn this generosity into lasting change across our region, increasing access to resources and opportunities that help all people succeed.

With our affiliate foundations across the seven-county Dubuque region, we chart clear paths forward that address complex social challenges, from academic achievement to economic opportunity. We are committed to engaging, listening to and learning from all corners of the community to understand its most pressing needs today and tomorrow — and then building the partnerships and assets necessary to address them.

Generosity and collaboration fuel everything we do, and everyone has something to contribute. Visit dbqfoundation.org to learn about the many ways we are building a strong, thriving Greater Dubuque for all.