Communications and Outreach Associate

Location: Greater Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania, USA

Department: Communications

Reports to: Director of Strategic Communication

Salary: Competitive salary and benefits package based on qualifications and experience

Employee Type: Hybrid (3 days per week in office)

Status: Full-time

Organization and Position

The John Templeton Foundation funds research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder. We are working to create a world where people are curious about the wonders of the universe, free to pursue lives of meaning and purpose, and motivated by great and selfless love. To do this, we support research within disciplines ranging from astrophysics, evolutionary biology, and genetics, to philosophy, theology, psychology, and economics. We also fund podcasts, documentary films, and other forms of content creation.

The purpose of the Communications team is to expand awareness of the John Templeton Foundation and generate conversations on the projects and topics we support.

We are investing in our brand and outreach, and we are looking for the right person to support an ambitious ecosystem of JTF content on the big ideas in our world.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Communication, the Communications and Outreach Associate supports content development and outreach for the John Templeton Foundation. They are responsible for managing a robust pipeline of stories that feed into multiple channels through which the Foundation reaches its audiences. They will also support the development and execution of events that raise brand awareness, build networks and create stories to be shared across our channels.

The role calls for a skilled, energetic digital and event-based storyteller who can write headlines, cut images, and distill complex ideas.

The Communications and Outreach Associate will participate in expanding awareness of the brand and mission through all forms of storytelling. They will help to produce content for blogs, podcasting, and the website. They will contribute to the strategic deployment of that content by supporting social posting, email building, and paid campaigns. They will support production of all videos.

The Communications and Outreach Associate will offer support to strategic events and outreach activities planned by the Communications department to build awareness of the Foundation with high-value target audiences, including the Templeton Prize event.

Areas of Responsibility

• • Manage Templeton.org and TempletonPrize.org, including:
  • Manage and maintain editorial calendars
  • Develop and update content
  • Source brand-consistent imagery
  • Manage maintenance and troubleshooting
  • Manage SEO, taxonomy, and user experience
  • Write and edit content, such as blog posts, headlines, social copy
  • Audit website regularly and recommend improvements
  • Upload videos to Foundation and Templeton Prize YouTube channel and embed on websites
  • Support for Templeton Ideas Podcast, including:
  • Managing podcast vendors
  • Reviewing transcripts and pulling usable content
  • Creating digital assets for social media and the website
  • Assist podcast host before and during interviews with guests
  • Tech support
  • Support the development of events planned by the Communications Department, including biographic research, contact management, drafting of emails, and creating other branded content for a program of strategic outreach.
  • Support Senior Communications Specialist with ideation, editing, and production of email campaigns, and development of assets and posting for social media, as needed
  • Support administrative needs of the Communications Department
  • Track contracts through the review process; review contract summaries with contract managers and take action, as needed, to support contract renewal or close; track work orders and invoices related to open contracts
  • Submit departmental expense reports
  • Manage the communications and general info email inboxes and field inquiries to appropriate staff members
  • Support the procurement and maintenance of digital assets necessary for digital communications work

The Foundation requires employees to be physically present in our offices for a minimum of three days per week. This in-office requirement is essential to our organization for a number of key reasons, including that it allows for spontaneous interactions and face-to-face communication, facilitates effective and efficient teamwork and collaboration, and ensures regular access to our office’s various resources. It also helps maintain and strengthen our organization’s culture by allowing employees to regularly engage in a more active way in meetings and interactions, and fosters a sense of belonging and community. In addition, regular in-office work is required for this position because of the high level of interaction and teamwork required to carry out many of the position’s responsibilities, including supporting communications plans and strategies, supporting the Templeton Ideas podcast which includes assisting the podcast host in the office podcast studio before and during interviews with guests and providing technical support, and attending key meetings in person.

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• At least three years of relevant professional experience in some form of multimedia production at a media publication, agency, large nonprofit, university or corporation. Experience with a knowledge brand is a plus.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Excellent writing skills, organizational skills, and ability to think creatively and take initiative.
• Experience managing websites (WordPress preferred) both on the operations side and in thinking strategically about SEO, taxonomy, and user experience.
• Graphic design skills (e.g. Canva or Adobe suite). Interest in basic video editing a plus.
• Experience with podcasts or interest and aptitude to develop basic podcast production skills
• Interest in audience engagement and managing editorial pipeline for the JTF community.
• Ability to do efficient, targeted, relevant research on people and organizations related to Foundation’s strategic outreach. Ability to update and manage contacts in Excel and/or Salesforce.
• Enthusiasm for translating scientific, philosophical, or otherwise complex ideas into more digestible language and formats.

Benefits

We are committed to caring for our employees and their families through exceptional benefits. We pay for 100% of employee medical, dental and vision premiums, and generously contribute to family premiums. We provide life insurance, short-term disability coverage and long-term disability coverage at no cost to employees. We offer a 401(k) retirement savings plan with an employer match and additional discretionary contributions. Paid time off includes generous vacation, sick, and personal days. The Foundation offers a unique donation program, enabling employees the ability to direct a $5,000 donation to a mission aligned organization of their choice, with no employee donation required.

Location

The position will be based in the Foundation’s offices, located in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania and is subject to the Foundation’s hybrid work policy. In accordance with the policy, the Communications and Outreach Associate may request a hybrid work arrangement of up to two days of remote work per week.

West Conshohocken, PA is a short drive (~15 miles) from Philadelphia and there is a nearby commuter train station with service into downtown Philadelphia. The offices are close to residential and commercial districts with multiple restaurants.