Job Description
Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) seeks a Communications Specialist to manage the organization’s digital media strategies, content, and communications. The position also builds network reach and engagement. This position plays a critical role in ensuring the organization achieves its mission to bring Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for the state.

The Communications Specialist is responsible for curating, developing, deploying, measuring, and optimizing social media, email, and web content and strategies for all CFA initiatives and programs. This role will involve using data to tell stories about The Arizona We Want and CFA’s impact. This position reports to the Manager, Marketing & Communications and works collaboratively with CFA colleagues across teams and subject matter experts, as well as visual/creative professionals contracted by CFA.

The ideal candidate is:
• A skilled communicator with strong storytelling and creative thinking abilities and experience translating scientific/technical information into engaging narratives
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills, an ability to effectively manage multiple projects and campaigns simultaneously, and meet deadlines
• Collaborative, with experience working laterally and vertically on projects with internal stakeholders, partner organizations, and creative vendors/consultants
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively and able to thrive in a fast-paced, outcomes-driven environment
• Able to take initiative and own production of projects with oversight

Essential Duties
• Researches, develops, writes, and executes content-driven social media strategies and email communication campaigns within CFA brand guidelines, tone, and with editorial consistency.
• Provides additional support with digital communications across website, events, and presentations or similar collateral as needed.
• Brainstorms new ideas and creative ways to bring stories to life for social media and email campaigns. Engages with CFA program staff to source content with an eye for creativity and visual design.
• Assists with capturing video/audio/photographic content as needed (personally or coordinating with a vendor).
Supports and attends CFA events to conduct real-time social media promotion and capture stories/updates for communications.
• Maintains social media and email content calendar with input and oversight.
• Analyzes social media and web analytics; helps generate performance reports.
• Researches trends and innovations in digital marketing and makes recommendations to the Manager, Marketing & Communications.
• Manages storage and organization of digital assets.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Marketing, Education or a related field AND three (3) years of related work experience in the development of comprehensive and creative communication; OR seven (7) years of related work experience; OR Any equivalent combination of experience and or education from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved. Certificates from a recognized programs that verify mastery of tools and techniques relevant to the assignment may substitute for up to six (6) months of experience.

Desired Qualifications
• Experience contributing to cultivating a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
• Evidence of effective written and verbal communication skills, including experience with Associated Press (AP) writing style and copyediting.
• Experience in communications assessment, editing, research, creation, and publication including, but not limited to: social media posts, emails, or articles summarizing data or complex subjects into compelling narratives.
• Experience in developing effective social media and email campaigns. Evidence of having planned & developed strategic content plans.
• Experience creating engaging content utilizing creative delivery methods in online platforms including, but not limited to, Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, LinkTree/Bit.ly (or other link management systems), Salesforce Pardot (or other email marketing platforms), and Umbraco (or other web content management platforms).
• Experience working with internal and external partners including but not limited to: creative design, web developer, and video/photo professionals; experience designing content in Canva or Adobe Suite is a plus.
• Experience measuring and reporting on digital campaigns using social media, Google, Hootsuite/Sprout Social, and other analytics tools.
• Experience in being a self-starter, managing multiple timelines, and successfully working independently and collaboratively.
• Experience co-developing and engaging in deadline-driven review processes.

Working Environment
• Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse.
• Hybrid in-person/remote work schedules available.
• On-site event support includes real-time social media promotion performed across the Phoenix metro area and the state.
• Required to stand for varying lengths of time.
• Occasional bending, reaching, lifting, pushing and pulling up to 20 pounds.

Department Statement
Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state. CFA listens to Arizonans to learn what matters most to them, shares trusted data about how Arizona is doing, brings critical issues to public attention, and works with communities and leaders to solve public problems. CFA works across the full spectrum of important issue areas and has deep and ongoing work in education, workforce and civic participation, recognizing how central these are to a bright and prosperous future for our state. A self-defined “do tank,” CFA is data-based, action-oriented, and committed to advancing prosperity, quality of life, and opportunity for all Arizonans. For more information about CFA and our current efforts, please visit www.arizonafuture.org.

Center for the Future of Arizona is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, supported by public and private donors and organizations from across Arizona and throughout the country. CFA was a finalist for the Phoenix Business Journal's 2022 Best Places to Work, and is committed to providing a positive space and place for teams to thrive.