Communication Arts Director - SAF Job at Student Action with Farmworkers in Durh

Job Description

Title: Communication Arts Director

Location: Durham, North Carolina

Terms: Full‑time, hybrid position. Flexibility required; evening and weekend events. Must have legal authorization to work in the United States.

Organization Information: Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring students and farmworkers together to learn about each other's lives, share resources and skills, improve conditions for farmworkers, and build diverse coalitions. SAF Programs: Into the Fields (ITF) – 10‑week paid summer internship; Solidaridad (SOL) – paid academic‑year internship for college students in the Raleigh‑Durham‑Chapel Hill area; Levante Leadership Institute (LLI) – academic‑year paid leadership development program for high‑school students in Johnston County; Cosecha – 10‑month leadership support program for SAF alumni working in the social justice movement.

Position Summary: The Communication Arts Director leads SAF’s communications strategy, manages branding and design, supports fundraising initiatives, and coordinates documentary projects and alumni engagement. The role ensures consistent, compelling storytelling across platforms to advance SAF’s mission and engage key audiences. It also involves general administrative responsibilities, community outreach, and participation in advocacy campaigns and coalition work.

Ideal Candidate: Bilingual (English/Spanish), highly organized, committed to building relationships and advancing social justice. SAF alumni or those with experience in community organizing, donor relations, or grassroots fundraising are strongly encouraged.

Duties & Responsibilities

General Administrative Duties (5–10%)

• Develop annual workplan, goals, objectives, and program budget.
• Prepare monthly progress reports and web updates.
• Attend board and staff meetings; prepare and distribute reports as needed.
• Pursue professional development opportunities (training, conferences, etc.).
• Conduct outreach to farmworkers as time permits.

Communications & Fundraising (65–75%)

• Lead development and implementation of SAF’s communications strategy, ensuring consistent branding across all materials.
• Manage SAF’s website, listserv, media relations, and social media presence.
• Produce monthly e‑newsletters and maintain subscriber lists.
• Write press releases and coordinate media outreach.
• Develop, design, print, and archive SAF materials (brochures, invitations, flyers, annual reports, etc.).
• Oversee SAF’s visual identity, letterhead, envelopes, and other branded materials.
• Create compelling fundraising materials, including emails, letters, donor reports, invitations, and thank‑you pieces.
• Design and manage digital campaigns (including Neon), graphics, and marketing for donor events and fundraising initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Development team to maintain branding consistency and update the Grassroots Fundraising Toolkit.
• Support annual fundraising events (e.g., Pottery Sale) and manage materials budget with the Alumni & Donor Engagement Organizer.
• Design graphics for print and digital media; schedule and post content to social channels.
• Produce promotional materials for National Farmworker Awareness Week and other campaigns (posters, stickers, t‑shirts, online assets).
• Support planning and promotion of board retreats, partner meetings, donor socials, and the End of Summer Celebration.
• Design event themes, printed materials, and t‑shirts in collaboration with staff and consultants.
• Package and mail partner materials and swag.
• Supervise interns as needed.

Program Communications & Documentary Work (20–30%)

• Coordinate SAF’s documentary program, including training students, convening advisory groups, and overseeing publication and exhibit production.
• Identify farmworker camps for visits and lead one geographic group’s camp visits.
• Supervise the Program Assistant supporting documentary work.
• Train interns on social media and blogging; review and edit blog content across programs.
• Collaborate with staff to align program communications with organizational strategy.
• Collect and share program stories, photos, and media for impact reporting and outreach.
• Support alumni engagement efforts through targeted communications.

Preferred Experience and Education

• Bachelor’s degree in communications or social sciences preferred.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience in communications, marketing, or related field, preferably in a nonprofit or advocacy setting.
• Experience supporting fundraising campaigns, donor communications, and event promotion.
• Storytelling preferred.
• SAF alumni preferred.

Qualifications

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English required.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency with digital communications tools (social media platforms, email marketing software, website CMS, and analytics).
• Strong graphic design skills and familiarity with design software (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite).
• Knowledge of branding best practices and ability to maintain consistent visual identity.
• Strong project management skills, with ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities.
• Familiarity with CRMs (such as Neon) and list management a plus.
• Commitment to SAF’s mission and values, including farmworker justice and youth leadership development.
• Collaborative, team‑oriented, and able to work effectively with diverse communities.
• Creative problem solver with attention to detail and a proactive approach.
• Willingness to occasionally travel, attend evening/weekend events, and conduct farmworker outreach.
• Familiarity with or commitment to social justice, farmworker issues, and SAF’s mission.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a small team setting, with flexibility to attend occasional evening and weekend events.

Benefits

• Health insurance: 100 % premium coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.
• Dental insurance: Delta Dental, 100 % premium coverage.
• Vacation leave: 0‑2 years – 15 days per year; 2‑4 years – 17 days per year; 4+ years – 20 days per year. Employees may carry over up to 20 days.
• Holiday pay: 13 days per year, prorated based on full‑time status.
• Personal days: 12 per year, renewable on anniversary date; un‑used days may carry over up to 30 days.
• Parental and disability leave: 20 days paid parental leave; up to 40 days of personal or vacation time for additional parental leave, totaling 12 weeks paid.
• Retirement contribution: 3 % of salary deposited automatically into a Guideline retirement account after 1 year.

Salary

Base salary for bilingual positions begins at $51,500 per year. Final offer will be determined by experience, education, and union contract. Position is eligible to join SAF’s union.

Compensation Package

3 % of salary is deposited into a Guideline retirement account. Employees may choose to contribute additional amounts starting at the 1‑year anniversary.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted online. Send a writing sample (fundraising letter or newsletter), resume, cover letter, and three professional references to: Sylvia Zapata, Executive Director, hiring@saf-unite.org.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of Monday, October 6, 2025. Early submission is strongly encouraged.

SAF is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued. SAF is an equal‑opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. SAF does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.