Associate, Digital Communications

MacArthur Foundation; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is seeking a Digital Communications Associate to expand its voice across social media, video, and web content.

You will support program communications, grantee news, and executive communications while maintaining a strong brand presence. Based in Chicago with a hybrid schedule, the role emphasizes content strategy, live event coverage, analytics, and collaboration with staff to reach diverse audiences and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Four to seven years of professional experience in social media engagement and digital content creation.
• Experience covering and curating live events on multiple platforms is preferred.
• An understanding of various social and digital media platforms and trends, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
• Effective writer and consistent proofreader.
• Advanced photography and video skills.
• Well-developed organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Able to juggle many projects simultaneously and under tight deadlines.
• Creative/entrepreneurial thinking.
• Interest in the work of the Foundation and its grantees.
• Positive, "can-do" attitude and a willingness to do what is necessary to get the job done.

Responsibilities

• Builds and strengthens the Foundation’s presence, brand message, and voice on digital platforms by creating and curating content that engages our audiences.
• Serves as a strategic partner to Communications Officers and Senior Communications Associate, by developing and implementing digital and social media content in support of executive communications, Foundation programs and grantee news, research, and reports.
• Reflects program communications strategies, suggests and develops new content for MacArthur’s digital platforms, including copy, video, GIFs, photographs, etc.
• Cultivates a community of engaged followers on social media.
• Engages audiences during virtual and in-person MacArthur and grantee events through the use of live tweeting, live video streaming, or collection of content to be posted at a later date.
• Writes creative briefs and defines content goals and objectives for initiatives.
• Creates analytics reports to track social media engagement and outcomes for high-profile announcements.
• Researches new content formats and digital platforms to surface trends and cross-channel opportunities, including audience engagement.
• Collaborates with Foundation teams, provides training, and advises Staff on best practices for sharing content on social media.
• Develops content for time-sensitive current events in collaboration with Communications team and public relations partners as needed.
• Creates and executes paid media strategy, including billing setup, budget spend, media planning, and conversion tracking.
• Develops guidelines for exploring new platform adoption and existing platform exit or reprioritization.
• Collaborates with internal teams to update social media policy as needed.
• Handles other responsibilities and projects as assigned.

Skills

Social media

Content creation

Live events coverage

Copywriting

Photography

Video production

Editing / proofreading

Organization

Deadline management

Entrepreneurial thinking

Job description

Job Description Summary

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur invests in solving some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., revitalizing local news, expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, and strengthening the well-being of Native communities. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. The Foundation also maintains offices in Nigeria and India. The Communications team collaborates with program teams and other colleagues across the Foundation to create and implement strategic communications plans that enhance the impact of MacArthur’s work and the work of grantees. The team is responsible for the Foundation's strategic efforts to communicate with the press, public, and policymakers, including media relations, web and social media efforts, printed materials, and events. The team also provides communications support and advice to MacArthur’s leadership, staff, and grantees. Team members include the Vice President, Director; three Communications Officers, who lead program communications; Manager, Digital Communications; two Associates, respectively focused social media, and writing/research projects; Content Manager, Associate to the Vice President, Coordinator, and outside consultants/firms as needed. The Associate, Digital Communications ensures accurate, engaging, and impactful representation of the work of the Foundation and its grantees on social media and digital platforms; develops multimedia content; expands the Foundation’s digital footprint; and tracks web and social media analytics.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Builds and strengthens the Foundation’s presence, brand message, and voice on digital platforms by creating and curating content that engages our audiences
• Serves as a strategic partner to Communications Officers and Senior Communications Associate, by developing and implementing digital and social media content in support of executive communications, Foundation programs and grantee news, research, and reports
• Reflects program communications strategies, suggests and develops new content for MacArthur’s digital platforms, including copy, video, GIFs, photographs, etc.
• Cultivates a community of engaged followers on social media
• Engages audiences during virtual and in-person MacArthur and grantee events through the use of live tweeting, live video streaming, or collection of content to be posted at a later date
• Writes creative briefs and defines content goals and objectives for initiatives
• Creates analytics reports to track social media engagement and outcomes for high-profile announcements
• Researches new content formats and digital platforms to surface trends and cross-channel opportunities, including audience engagement
• Collaborates with Foundation teams, provides training, and advises Staff on best practices for sharing content on social media
• Develops content for time-sensitive current events in collaboration with Communications team and public relations partners as needed
• Creates and executes paid media strategy, including billing setup, budget spend, media planning, and conversion tracking
• Develops guidelines for exploring new platform adoption and existing platform exit or reprioritization
• Collaborates with internal teams to update social media policy as needed
• Handles other responsibilities and projects as assigned

Qualifications

• Four to seven years of professional experience in social media engagement and digital content creation
• Experience covering and curating live events on multiple platforms is preferred
• An understanding of various social and digital media platforms and trends, preferably in the nonprofit sector
• Effective writer and consistent proofreader
• Advanced photography and video skills
• Well-developed organizational skills and attention to detail
• Able to juggle many projects simultaneously and under tight deadlines
• Creative/entrepreneurial thinking
• Interest in the work of the Foundation and its grantees
• Positive, "can-do" attitude and a willingness to do what is necessary to get the job done

Location, Working Hours, Compensation and Benefits

The position is hybrid and based in Chicago, Illinois. Annual salary for this role will start at $89,500. We offer a generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and a comprehensive benefits package to support your life, health, and well-being.

Work Environment and Reasonable Accommodations

The work environment is an office setting. Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job. Reasonable accommodations are also available during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

About the Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur invests in solving some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., revitalizing local news, expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, and strengthening the well-being of Native communities. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. The Foundation also maintains offices in Nigeria and India.