Hiring Organization Information
Position Information
KEXP's mission is to enrich your life by championing music and discovery. Our vision is a connected and compassionate world embracing curiosity and a shared love of music.
KEXP is an international community of music lovers and music makers, and a nonprofit organization fostering relationship and community building through broadcast, online, and in-person music experiences.
Since our founding at the University of Washington in 1972, we’ve remained focused on championing music from all around the globe - spanning eras, styles and traditions. KEXP operates one of the most influential listener-supported music radio stations in the world, broadcasting at 90.3 KEXP-FM, Seattle and through our website and mobile apps. On KEXP's YouTube channel, our world-renowned Live on KEXP sessions feature exclusive in-studio performances and interviews from emerging and established artists. From a public facility at Seattle Center, KEXP produces hundreds of live performances and music events each year, many of which are open to public audiences at no charge.
Our community is powered by the support of individual donors, volunteers, business supporters, corporate and foundation gifts, and funding from the local, state and federal government. Over 30,000 music lovers support KEXP through financial contributions, and hundreds of volunteers donate their time and expertise to serve our mission. Listen in and join our community at KEXP.ORG.
KEXP-FM Seattle, is operated by Friends of KEXP, a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization. KEXP is an affiliate of the University of Washington.
Position Summary: The Advancement Communications Specialist works closely with the Marketing & Communications team, Advancement department, and other colleagues as a writing and communications partner on a variety of campaigns and strategic initiatives, particularly annual giving, impact communications, and programming promotion. The role is responsible for articulating details about the organization's mission and programming in order to grow enrichment and engagement among audience and donors over time, executing communications across multiple platforms (including but not limited to print, web, earned media, on-air programming, video, and social media).
Essential duties include:
- Consistently produces a high volume of clear, engaging, and high-quality written content, meeting deadlines while maintaining attention to detail and organizational standards.
- Produces fundraising campaign and impact communications, including email, website, direct mail, audio and video scripts, reports to contributors, stewardship messages and recognition pieces, event speaking points, and message guidance to be applied by colleagues across platforms; works with appropriate staff to solicit input, conduct interviews, and schedule recording or audiovisual production as needed.
- Collaborates with Annual Giving, Leadership Giving, Marketing & Communications, and other Advancement team members to create and track campaign communications calendars and plans.
- Acts as an editor for Advancement content, applying knowledge of best practices for branding, promotion, fundraising, and channel-appropriate formats, including fundraising email and direct mail formats.
- Collaborates with Advancement Operations using enterprise email marketing platform and/or multichannel marketing software to publish email and other electronic communications.
- Collaborates with Editorial, Community Engagement, and Programming teams to publish electronic communications for promotion and content distribution while ensuring message alignment with broader organizational and Advancement priorities.
- Collaborates with senior KEXP leadership and Advancement team members to write and edit executive communications for internal and external use.
- Works closely with Advancement’s Leadership Team to create, implement, and evaluate fundraising messages and themes that support and enhance KEXP’s fundraising efforts and educate donors and listeners about our funding model and their role in it.
- Writes and collaborates on writing promotion and marketing copy as needed, including on-air, email, social media, and website.
- Drafts and publishes copy for press materials, announcements, staff bios, informational materials, website, and promotional materials, including flyers and brochures.
- Keeps relevant sections of the website up-to-date and refreshed, including About page and Donor Lounge.
- Supports the Advancement team in producing an effective fundraising drive and meeting crucial revenue goals.
- Performs multiple roles during fundraising drives including (but not limited to) producer and/or communications roles; supports morale and mood of fundraising drive staff and volunteers in order to create an effective fundraising atmosphere and successful drive.
- Stays up-to-date on relevant industry best practices relating to communications, public media, and fundraising.
- Provides occasional coverage for day-to-day Marketing & Communications functions.
Organizational & Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Maintains thorough understanding of KEXP organizational policies, including employee handbook, procedures, expense reporting, and payroll submission; follows policies and leads by example.
- Actively participates in our culture of philanthropy, which honors the important role our donors, volunteers, business and community partners play in the life of KEXP. Collaborates across teams and departments to steward donors on behalf of KEXP and actively seeks opportunities to integrate philanthropy into their role within KEXP operations, programs, and projects.
Supervision Received: Position reports to the Director of Marketing & Communications.
Supervision Exercised: Coordinates the work of contract writers as needed.
Education & Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field and three or more years of directly related professional experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.
Position Qualifications:
- Experience executing fundraising communications strategies, including direct experience writing fundraising solicitations.
- Experience creating and executing diverse communications plans using a variety of writing and publishing software.
- Demonstrated knowledge of broader fundraising principles and practices.
- Superior writing skills and ability to capture and convey multiple author voices, as well as the institutional voice of KEXP.
- Proven proficiency with computers and standard business software, including Windows Office Suite products, Google Workspace, and ability to effectively use collaboration tools such as Slack, Smartsheet, and/or other cloud-based collaboration software.
- Experience and proficiency publishing broad-based email using an email marketing platform - experience with Marketo specifically is a plus.
- Demonstrated skills in organization, data analysis, problem-solving, planning, and project coordination.
- Ability to work in a deadline-driven environment, managing several projects simultaneously while maintaining a high level of output.
- Excellent interpersonal, presentation, relationship-building, and communication skills - both written and verbal - for a wide variety of audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities.
- Experience applying social and racial equity concepts in past work.
- Must be able to work an irregular schedule on occasion, including evenings or weekends as needed and additional hours during peak times, or as required.
- Outstanding attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy.
- Commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
- Ability to take initiative and use independent judgment within established policy and procedural guidelines.
- Strong self-motivation in carrying out responsibilities, organizing and prioritizing multiple tasks, and meeting deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in teams, as well as provide consistent, high-quality service to a wide variety of internal and external constituents and adapt communication style to multiple cultural environments.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain grace under pressure, especially while working in a demanding work environment with regular interruptions and competing priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and promote a positive working environment, spirit of cooperation, and react positively to change and conflict resolution.
- Deep knowledge, appreciation for, and understanding of KEXP programming and mission.
- Ability to embody the community-oriented spirit of KEXP to both internal and external constituents.
- Ability to flex communication style to multiple cultural environments.
- Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color, in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of published work.
- An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on under-invited communities, either through lived experience and/or training and education.
- Commitment to advancing justice and equity in the arts with a passion for community building.
Physical Requirements: Long periods of being in a stationary position; operating a computer and other office equipment; frequently moving to/from various work areas; frequently communicating by phone, video call, instant message, and email; frequently remaining in a stationary position during meetings, discerning meeting content, expressing oneself, and exchanging accurate information; frequently moving to/from off-site meeting and/or event locations; occasionally moves supplies and/or equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.
Working Conditions: Primary location in typical business office environment, with occasional meetings and event attendance at a variety of on-site and off-site locations. This position is eligible for up to 50% remote work, with an expectation of in-person availability for key business needs including drives, events and other essential work duties.
Compensation & Benefits: This full-time, non-exempt position includes an annual salary of $72,000 - $76,000, depending on experience. KEXP also offers a generous benefits package which includes medical/dental/vision coverage (premiums 90-100% employer paid), retirement plan with matching, vacation starting at three weeks per year plus holidays and sick leave, parental leave, and much more.
KEXP is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and empowering workplace. We believe that having staff, interns, and volunteers with diverse backgrounds enables KEXP to better meet our mission and serve music-loving communities around the world. We recognize that opportunities in radio and other creative industries have historically excluded and continue to disproportionately exclude Black and Indigenous people, people of color, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply.
To apply, please submit your resume, a cover letter, and answer the screener questions. If you experience technical difficulties with your application, please email jobs@kexp.org for assistance.
Position closes December 1, 2024.