Posted on January 31, 2013

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Communications Officer

Provide (formerly the Abortion Access Project) seeks an enthusiastic, independent and creative professional to expand the organization's communications efforts. As Communications Officer, this individual will share information about Provide's on-the-ground efforts with the public and lead the organization's exploration of targeted campaigns. This is a full-time position, with the flexibility to work as part of the organization's robust telecommuting staff or out of our administrative office in Cambridge, MA.

Founded in 1992, Provide is a national organization working to increase access to abortion in some of the most challenging environments — especially rural communities and Southern and Midwestern states. We believe that anyone who cares for women has a role in ensuring accessible abortion care for all women. To support health and social service providers as they take on that role, we work in three distinct and complementary ways: 1) training physicians and nurses in uterine evacuation skills; 2) advocating for abortion education in nursing schools and professional nursing associations; and 3) training and supporting health and social service providers to offer abortion referrals to patients and clients.

This full-time (40 hr/week) position reports to the Deputy Director and works closely with the Executive Director and Individual Giving Officer in a collaborative remote work culture. Telecommuting for non-Boston area residents will be negotiated at the discretion of the Deputy Director and requires regular time at Provide's administrative office (approx. 10 days/year plus an additional orientation period).

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Sharing information with the public about Provide's on-the-ground efforts– 60%
  • Develops deep knowledge of programs via ongoing participation in program meetings, field visits, coalition meetings, and active information seeking.
  • Composes, edits, and manages electronic and hard-copy materials that capture the stories behind programming work (bimonthly website postings, monthly electronic newsletters, quarterly hardcopy mailings, organizational reports) for two target audiences (supporters/potential supporters and health/social service providers in key communities).
  • Manage the organization's social media tools (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), including engaging with the public, monitoring, posting, tracking metrics, and evaluating new tools.
  • Facilitates weekly calls with all staff to discuss internal and external information to be used in organizational communications.
  • Serves as a resource to senior management in the development of editorials and speeches.
  • Responds to requests for information from members of the media, stakeholders, and the general public.
• Leads efforts to pursue newly identified long-term goals – 25%
  • Cultivates organizational readiness to communicate to external audiences confidently and strategically.
  • Plans targeted campaigns within the broader goal to change the perception of where and how abortion care is delivered, emphasizing destigmatization of this care and broader engagement around its provision.
    • Leads planning of campaigns (using existing planning tools, such as Just Enough Planning Guide) and subsequent monitoring/evaluation.
    • Collaborate with organizational leadership to ensure campaigns are sufficiently resourced.
  • Builds organizational capacity in communications (leveraging 2010 participation in Spitfire Strategies Executive Training Program, 2012 internal committee planning, and 2013 participation in Measuring the Networked Nonprofit Peer Learning Group supported by the Packard Foundation's Organizational Effectiveness Program).
• Support organizational fundraising efforts – 10%
• Drafts or edits fundraising documents as needed (fundraising proposals to individuals and foundations; cultivation, solicitation and acknowledgment letters), in close collaboration with the Individual Giving Officer, Deputy Director, and Executive Director.
• Leverages electronic mediums to engage with donors, keep them informed of our work, and share opportunities to support programming.
• Perform additional team responsibilities – 5%
  • Attends team meetings regularly and with enthusiasm.
  • Represents Provide at conferences and coalition meetings as requested.
  • Participate in fundraising, visibility events, board meetings, and other program activities as requested.

Skills and qualifications

• A bachelor's degree.
• 3-5 years of experience in nonprofit communications.
• Demonstrated skill in compelling written storytelling.
  • Skill in gathering and synthesizing information from many sources.
  • Ability to translate technical language and ideas into language easily comprehensible to non-specialists.
• Established command over social media tools.
• Experience with writing/editing in a variety of tones/styles.
• Basic experience with and/or enthusiasm for desktop publishing for in-house graphics design and production.
• Strong editing and proofreading skills (APA style preferred).
• Proven ability to work with efficiency, flexibility, and good humor.
• Confidence to defend/debate ideas without ego interference.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter, self-disciplined.
• Enthusiasm for organizational development, specifically enhancing an organization's effectiveness and impact through individual and collective contribution.
• Passionate about Provide's mission.

Application Instructions

To apply, send a cover letter, CV or resume, and writing sample to admin@provideaccess.org. In an effort to reduce the use of paper, mailed applications will not be accepted. No phone calls, please.

Deadline for applications: February 28, 2013 (applications will be reviewed and pursued on a rolling basis prior to deadline)