Communications Specialist

The Organization:  Merit America

The American economy is broken. Today, 53 million working adults–nearly half of the U.S. workforce–do not earn a living wage. These talented workers have few options to advance: college is too long and expensive, full-time boot camp programs don’t offer enough flexibility, and online courses don’t have the structure or support to translate learning into a new career. The result? Talented workers, disproportionately people of color and women, get stuck in low-wage roles with no way to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Merit America is a national nonprofit that creates pathways to family-sustaining careers for Americans stuck in low-wage work. Our fast, flexible solutions are built for working adults: We start by analyzing tens of millions of job postings to identify in-demand, high-paying tech careers and then work with industry-recognized partners to train for these roles with part-time programs that combine flexible online learning with best-in-class coaching. Finally, we support our learners in their job search, helping them connect with a broad constellation of local and national employers such as JPMorgan Chase and Infosys to land higher-earning, family-sustaining jobs, driving an average wage gain of $24k three months or more after completing the program. Merit America is on a mission to build a scalable pathway for workers to join the middle class through merit, not money. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve generated a projected $1 billion in near-term wage gains for our learners. 

The Opportunity

The primary mission of the Communications Specialist is to support the Communications team in ensuring Merit America’s external and internal communications are consistently excellent and a strong mirror of our current work and aspirational vision for our internal and external stakeholders.

The Communications Specialist will report directly to Brittany Davis-Green, Director of Communications. 

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Communications Specialist will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Project Management-40%

• Drive logistics and execution for communications projects, including video and podcast projects, press releases
• Coordinate timelines, resources, and deliverables across various departments
• Monitor & track expenses  for communication initiatives 
• Build and optimize  efficient workflows for project execution
• Proactively identify and address  logistical challenges, ensuring on-time delivery of projects
• Liaise with internal teams and external partners to facilitate project requirements
• Manage freelancers & contractors

Content Creation and Management-30%

• Develop and maintain a system for organizing and categorizing marketing and communications assets.
• Implement version control protocols to ensure material consistency and traceability
• Ensure consistency in brand guidelines and materials
• Assist with drafting and revising a range of communication materials, including website content, learner stories and presentations

Awards & Recognition Coordination-15% 

• Scout and manage award submissions for the organization &  its leadership team
• Coordinate internal efforts to gather necessary information for submissions
• Draft compelling award submissions and manage the application process
• Manage and maintain the team's communications calendar
• Oversee the management of Merit America’s online store 

Internal Communications Support—15%

• Partner with Communications Director to implement  internal communication strategies
• Contribute to the creation and distribution of the organizational newsletter
• Edit and proofread internal communication materials for clarity, consistency, and alignment with organizational voice
• Help maintain a regular cadence of internal communications to keep staff informed and engaged

Skills and Competencies

We recognize that individuals from marginalized backgrounds, including women, people of color, and those with disabilities, are often less likely to apply when they don’t meet 100% of the job qualifications. Don’t let that be the reason you miss out on this opportunity! We want to emphasize that your unique skills, experiences, and perspectives are valuable, and we encourage you to apply if you can demonstrate many of the skills and competencies. Below are the skills that are relevant for thriving in this role:

Must Haves: 

• Exceptional writing and editing skills: Ability to craft clear, concise, and engaging content for a variety of audiences and channels.
• Strong verbal communication skills: Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills: Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Meticulous attention to detail: Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a commitment to accuracy and consistency.
• Proficiency in content management: Experience with creating and maintaining systems for organizing and categorizing communication materials.
• Proficient in relevant software and digital tools for content management and communication
• Committed to Merit America’s mission to pave pathways to family-sustaining careers, break the poverty cycle, and create upward mobility for low-wage workers
• Demonstrated history of embodying our values, which inform our work and drive our organization's culture
• Shared sense of responsibility and ownership for our collective work in making a positive impact on the community we support, true to our value of Win & Lose Together
• Committed to continuous learning and growth in understanding and addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Passionate about fostering a workplace culture that embraces and values individual differences, aligned with our core value of inclusivity

Nice to Have: 

• Experience successfully managing internal stakeholders across teams and across lines of difference
• Familiarity with award submission processes and event management
• Experience with internal communications and newsletter creation
• Basic understanding of budgeting and expense tracking
• Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced, growing organization
• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools (Notion is a plus)

Other Logistics 

• This position is full-time: 4-day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week)
• Location: Remote
• Salary:  $79,100

Our goal is to have competitive and equitable compensation.  We have a market-based compensation approach, which means we benchmark each role from reputable data sources. We compare our benchmarks against similarly sized non-profit organizations with comparable annual budgets and geographical areas. We pay the same rate for the same roles and adjust to comply with statutory mandates. 

We take care of our employees by providing the following perks and benefits: 

• 4-day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week)
• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance (100% Paid Employee Only Coverage)
• Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account
• Dependent care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Merit
• Education & personal development reimbursement
• Catalog of courses for professional learning and development
• Short and long-term disability
• Unlimited vacation (after a 90-day introductory period)
• Paid Parental Leave and Adoption benefits (after 1 year of employment)
• 11 federally recognized holidays
• 1 week office closure in July (week of July 4th)
• 2 week holiday office closure in December/January
• 401(k) retirement plan with automatic Merit contribution
• Wellness Benefits/Wellness Resources
• Discount perks at work program
• Phone/technology stipend
• Home office setup stipend
• Affinity groups and community building via virtual, in-person, and/or regional meetups

*Eligibility for some benefits may vary based on employment status, full-time or part-time. Eligibility will be outlined during the hiring process.

Remote Work & Sponsorship

Candidates must reside within the 50 states or District of Columbia and have full authorization to work in the 50 U.S. states & the District of Columbia (international work abroad, including the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other islands are excluded). In addition, Merit America doesn't offer employment visa sponsorship.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Building an inclusive, high-performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

This means we do not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of their race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

We actively strive and evolve to develop and maintain workspaces that are fully inclusive. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

Still excited about our work?  You can learn more about our work in this video we made with our founding partner, Google.

Fair Chance Ordinance

Applicants who have arrest or conviction records and are in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will be considered in accordance with the state’s fair chance ordinance law. Employment under the ordinance includes part-time work, seasonal work, contract work, contingent work, work on commission, and work through the services of a temporary or employment agency.

E-Verify Statement

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the I-9 Form.