Title: Communications & Public Relations Coordinator
Time Commitment: Part-time; 8-12 hours/week; additional hours potentially available depending on org needs. (6-month contract with possibility of extension)
Hourly Rate or Stipend: $20-25/hour (dependent on experience)
Location: This is a remote position. Preference for candidates in New York City as some in-person event coordination/meetings may be required once it is safe to do so.
Kweli Journal, the nation’s premier literary journal and community for writers of color, is now accepting applications for a 2023 Spring Communications & Public Relations Coordinator. The Communications & Public Relations Coordinator will work closely with the Editor-in-Chief, program staff, and Marketing Consultant to help execute Kweli’s communications strategy, including social media management, brand building, digital fundraising, website and content management, and promotion of Kweli programming, including two acclaimed conferences. This is an opportunity to get hands-on experience in all areas of communications and the literary community for a candidate with strong organizational skills, social media and content marketing experience/knowledge, and a desire to flex creative ideas to uplift writers of color. Previous Kweli staff in this position have continued on to pursue positions within the publishing industry as well as careers as published authors.
Responsibilities:
Social Media & Content Management
Create content for Kweli social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), including community management (DMs, replies)
Draft weekly e-newsletter, and other content as requested
Brainstorm and propose creative social media campaigns to promote journal issues, conferences, and other programming
Track monthly results of campaigns and engagement efforts
Maintain social media calendar in sync with programming calendar
Stay abreast of literary social media trends and conversations for aligned opportunities
Help maintain website & work with marketing consultant to optimize web content
Cover and live-post during in-person events and programs when it is safe to do so
Public Relations & Brand Management
Help find and develop press contacts to place stories with literary media outlets
Help draft press releases, talking points, and other materials for media use
Assist in building Kweli brand identity, including staying abreast of similar or aligned programming in the literary community to identify opportunities
Monitor and identify literary community trends for aligned opportunities
Help shape and build unique brand positioning
Assist with fundraising content drafting, including year-end appeals & donor follow-up
Eligibility:
1-3 years of experience with, or strong interest/knowledge of literary magazine publishing and programming, particularly the writers of color community
Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an undergraduate or graduate program in either communications, marketing, literature, or publishing, or can provide a work sample demonstrating experience equivalent to a degree program
Visa status eligible to work or receive payment in the US
Demonstrable knowledge of and/or experience with communications with an emphasis on content creation for social media and newsletters.
Qualifications:
Passionate about uplifting writers of color through Kweli programming
Self-driven, meticulous, detail-oriented, and highly organized with excellent follow-through
Excellent written and oral communications skills, and interpersonal skills
Some experience with designing basic graphics for social media using Canva, or similar tools. Video editing experience a bonus.
A hunger to learn and use the ever-changing landscape of social media to drive engagement and publicity
Proficiency with Microsoft and Google Suites and video conferencing tech (Zoom, etc.)
Application Requirements:
Professional Resume (2 pages max)
Work sample that must include social media posts, marketing copy, press releases, or some other written promotional content. Any original social media graphics is a plus.
Kweli Journal is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered, without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.
Interested candidates should email their resume, recommendation, and sample work to events@kwelijournal.org. Please include the following subject line: FULL NAME – Communications & Public Relations Coordinator. Selection will be based on application and interview.
*Kweli Journal is a small and growing nonprofit. We recently celebrated 12 years of mentoring underrepresented voices and were recognized with the prestigious Whiting Literary Magazine Prize. Along with publishing an acclaimed literary journal, we provide year-long writer fellowships and multisession workshops, and host readings and conversations with award winning authors such as Kali Fajardo-Anstine, Naima Coster, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Nikky Finney, Kaitlyn Greenidge, Brandon Hobson, Valeria Luiselli, Kirstin Valdez Quade, Jake Skeets, and Crystal Wilkinson. We uplift new and emerging writers during our annual Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference, Kweli International Literary Festival, Kweli Fellowship Program and Kweli Sing the Truth! Mentorship Program.
