Career & Internship Opportunities

Communications Coordinator

The Franciscan Action Network (FAN) seeks a dynamic individual to serve as Communications Coordinator. This is a full-time staff position, located in Washington DC, and is open immediately. FAN is a nondiscriminatory, nonpartisan 501(c)3 organization and is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community among staff, board, and our broader network.

Organization Information

Inspired by the gospel of Jesus and the example of Saints Francis and Clare, the Franciscan Action Network is a collective Franciscan voice seeking to transform United States public policy related to justice, peace, creation, and human dignity. Founded in 2008, the organization serves a large network of Franciscan religious communities as well as thousands of laypersons who identify with the Franciscan charism. By informing, inspiring, and mobilizing its large and growing network for advocacy, FAN is building an intergenerational Franciscan movement at the grassroots and national levels. As a small staff, we operate in an inclusive, mutually supportive manner and develop decisions by consensus. 

Job Description

The Communications Coordinator is responsible for developing and executing an overall communications and outreach strategy, keeping our network informed through newsletters and direct emails, organizing and running technology for online webinars, managing the FAN website and social media pages, and developing working relationships with media outlets. The Coordinator also works closely with the executive director on various aspects of FAN’s work, serving as a member of the development team and as staff liaison to the FAN Board of Directors.

This is a fast-paced position with significant room for creativity that offers an outstanding opportunity to play a pivotal role within a faith-based advocacy organization. This position reports to the executive director.

Overall Communications strategy:

• Produce messaging for the organization consistent with Franciscan values and spirituality
• Collaborate with the executive director and senior staff to develop internal and external communications
• Track communications data and design data-based strategies for effective outreach and constituent engagement
• Make contact with journalists and media outlets to cover FAN activities
• Maintain overall communications and editorial calendar

Weekly Newsletter and other publications:

• Draft widely-read weekly newsletter including inputs from staff, solicit and edit input from outside authors
• Proofread the newsletter, schedule sending, post on websites
• Work with staff to complete and send other publications such as The Current

Web Events:

• Help to plan FAN’s educational webinars, send out invitations, set up registration forms, communicate with participants
• Run technical end of webinars

Email outreach, content development, action alerts, and website update:

• Work closely with staff, and draft graphics and copy for dedicated email blasts to our network on specific advocacy opportunities, events, fundraising, etc.
• Work with advocacy staff to edit and post action alerts
• Update website with current campaigns, events, and advocacy actions

Social media:

• Publish timely posts on social media channels, developing original content or editing outside content
• Develop graphics to accompany posts when needed

Development:

• Work with executive director and development coordinator on messaging and communication for annual development campaigns and events
• Work with development coordinator to oversee systems for tracking individual and institutional donations via CRM (Salesforce) 

Board Liaison:

• Serve as a point of contact for the Board of Directors along with the Executive Director to answer questions, coordinate and inform of meeting dates/times, coordinate travel to meetings, etc.
• Make arrangements for biannual board meetings and committee meetings including coordination of times, reserving meeting space, scheduling Zoom calls, etc.
• Take accurate minutes for all meetings and distribute once edited

Job Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• 1-5 years work experience, preferably in communications
• Familiarity with 1 or more of the following technologies (Salsa Engage, Mailchimp, Canva, Zoom webinars, WordPress) 
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an emphasis on collaboration
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines
• Flexibility and strong multitasking abilities
• Facility with online technology and social media
• Resourcefulness and ability to solve technical problems
• Demonstrated interest in issues related to justice, peace, integrity of creation, and human dignity
• Willingness to work in a faith based organization and to learn about Franciscan spirituality
• Ability to work and participate in in-person advocacy activities in Washington DC (some remote work is permitted)

Desirable:

• Knowledge of CRM database tools such as Salesforce, Hubspot, etc.
• Understanding of the internal mechanisms of the Zoom video conferencing platform
• Knowledge of website design tool WordPress
• Basic graphic design experience
• Knowledge of social media platforms and posting softwares
• Knowledge of Christian and Catholic spirituality as well as Catholic social teaching

FAN will accept rolling applications until the position is filled.

To Apply:

Applicants should send a cover letter and résumé by email to jobs@franciscanaction.org.

(Summer 2024 Intern, far right: Violet Apodaca)