PR & Digital Marketing Specialist

Position Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Marketing Manager, the Public Relations (PR) & Digital Marketing Specialist serves as a strategic communications and digital marketing professional responsible for strengthening Native Forward Scholars Fund’s visibility, reputation, thought leadership, and engagement with key audiences. The Specialist develops, executes, and evaluates public relations, executive communications, digital marketing, social media, and storytelling strategies in alignment with Native Forward’s Comprehensive Marketing Plan, Strategic Plan, Development Plan, and organizational priorities. The position serves as the primary communications resource supporting the external presence and thought leadership of Native Forward’s CEO and exercises professional judgment in identifying communications opportunities, developing messaging, managing media relations, recommending strategies, and determining effective approaches for diverse audiences and platforms.

The Specialist leads assigned communications initiatives across earned, owned, social, and digital channels; develops executive and organizational messaging; cultivates media relationships; creates compelling public-facing content; and conducts research and analysis to inform communications strategies and recommendations. Working collaboratively with the Marketing Manager, Creative Marketing Specialist, organizational leadership, internal departments, external agencies, and partners, the Specialist ensures communications are strategic, accurate, timely, and consistent with Native Forward’s voice and brand while advancing fundraising, scholarship programs, partnerships, organizational visibility, and Native Forward’s position as a leading voice in Native higher education.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Within the guidelines and priorities defined in the Comprehensive Marketing Plan (that aligns with Native Forward's Strategic Pan and Development Plan), engage with the CEO and team to achieve organizational goals, build long-term relationships with constituents, and strengthen brand authority.
• Develop, execute, and evaluate integrated public relations, digital marketing, communications, and content strategies that support Native Forward’s Comprehensive Marketing Plan, Strategic Plan, Development Plan, fundraising initiatives, scholarship programs, events, campaigns, partnerships, and organizational priorities. Exercise professional judgment in identifying communications opportunities, recommending approaches, developing messaging, and independently managing assigned initiatives within established organizational strategies and brand standards.
• Serve as the primary marketing resource for the CEO’s external communications, public presence, and thought leadership, developing strategies to strengthen executive visibility and engagement across media, social media, speaking engagements, events, partnerships, and other public-facing opportunities. Develop executive communications materials including speeches, talking points, briefing materials, interview preparation, social media content, quotes, statements, presentations, and event messaging.
• Develop and execute proactive media and public relations strategies, including cultivating relationships with journalists and media outlets; identifying earned media opportunities; developing targeted pitches; writing and distributing press releases, media advisories, statements, and press materials; coordinating interviews, press events, and photo opportunities; and managing incoming media inquiries.
• Lead the development of organizational messaging and written content across external communications, including messaging frameworks, campaign narratives, impact statements, talking points, website content, digital advertising copy, social media content, annual report narratives, executive communications, event messaging, donor-facing content, and other organizational publications. Translate complex programmatic, scholarship, fundraising, financial, and impact information into clear and compelling communications appropriate for diverse audiences.
• Develop and manage social media content strategy and editorial planning in alignment with organizational priorities, campaigns, events, fundraising initiatives, scholarship cycles, and CEO communications. Create platform-specific content; monitor brand mentions, audience engagement, emerging conversations, and digital trends; identify opportunities for timely engagement; and recommend strategies to increase visibility, strengthen relationships, and grow engagement with Native Forward’s audiences.
• Monitor news, media coverage, industry developments, organizational mentions, and emerging issues to identify communications opportunities, reputational considerations, and potential risks. Support crisis and issues communications by researching and verifying information, developing messaging and response recommendations, and coordinating approved communications across appropriate channels.
• Conduct communications, media, market, audience, competitor, and industry research and analyze public relations, social media, digital communications, and campaign performance to evaluate effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement. Prepare reports, briefings, analyses, and strategic recommendations for the Marketing Manager and organizational leadership and contribute communications expertise to annual and campaign-specific planning.
• Identify and develop compelling scholar, alumni, donor, partner, program, and organizational stories for use across public relations, social media, fundraising, digital communications, media outreach, and organizational publications. Conduct stakeholder interviews and lead assigned written-content responsibilities for Native Forward’s Annual Report, including story development, narratives, editing, proofreading, and cross-channel promotion.
• Collaborate with the Marketing Manager, Creative Marketing Specialist, organizational leadership, internal departments, external agencies, contractors, and partners to plan and execute integrated communications across public relations, social media, website, digital marketing, email, events, and other channels. Provide communications direction, messaging, organizational information, feedback, and recommendations to ensure deliverables align with Native Forward’s strategies, priorities, voice, and brand standards.
• Manage multiple concurrent communications projects and priorities, establish timelines, coordinate stakeholders, anticipate communications needs, resolve routine project challenges, and ensure assigned deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule. Represent Native Forward professionally with media, partners, agencies, scholars, alumni, donors, and other external stakeholders.
• Maintain current professional knowledge of public relations, digital marketing, social media, executive communications, media relations, nonprofit communications, emerging technologies and platforms, and industry best practices. Develop and propose professional development opportunities and recommend new communications approaches, tools, and strategies that strengthen Native Forward’s marketing and communications efforts.
• Assignments and duties are performed consistently with the measurable goals, strategies, tactics, and resources defined by the CEO and Marketing Manager to facilitate evaluation and impact.
• Maintains strict student confidentiality and compliance with the Family Education Right to Privacy Act.
• Embodies Native Forward Core Values and promotes the Native Forward organization, staff, and programs, in a positive and professional manner.
• Contributes to a team effort and accomplishes related results.
• Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in public relations, journalism, marketing or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Familiarity with Raiser's Edge database is a plus.

Valid Driver’s License is required. Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment drug/alcohol screen and background investigation.

Knowledge, Abilities, Skills, and Certifications:

• Knowledge of American Indian History, culture, and tribes.
• Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment
• Knowledge of public relations best practices, brand management and media strategies.
• Excellent knowledge of web and related technologies, including relevant analytic tools.
• Skill in preparing, reviewing, and analyzing operational reports.
• Knowledge of business English, proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and basic arithmetic.
• Ability to communicate effectively in the English language, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to multitask, organize and prioritize while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality under deadline pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet prescribed deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with individuals of varying social and cultural backgrounds and with co-workers at all levels.
• Expertise with a generally recognized design/publishing software (In Design, Adobe Publisher).
• Experience using various social media platforms and web integration tools, familiarity with LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and WordPress.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work independently and meet strict timelines.
• Ability to make solid decisions and exercise independent judgment.
• Ability to manage several priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to analyze situations and adopt appropriate courses of action.
• Ability to demonstrate excellence in everything and continually seek improvement in results.
• Skills in operating business computers and office machines, including Word, Excel, Access, and presentation software (such as PowerPoint).
• Skills in analyzing problems, projecting consequences, identifying solutions, and implementing recommendations.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee occasionally is required to stand; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Work Environment:

Work is generally performed in an office setting with a moderate noise level.  Extended hours and irregular shifts may be required. Tight time constraints and multiple demands are common. Travel will be required for events, meetings, conferences, presentations, and training.