Marketing & Communications Manager

Marketing and Communications Manager

Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) is looking for a self-motivated, creative, and experienced marketing and communications individual to join our team!  This position reports to the Director of Development & Communications and is responsible for developing and implementing marketing and communications strategies that assist BISM in achieving its mission; raising awareness of the organization, its programs, and initiatives; executing online fundraising campaigns; building the BISM brand; and raising awareness about blindness. 

As the Marketing and Communications Manager, we are looking for a skilled individual to implement and oversee all aspects of our marketing and communications needs. The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator and collaborator and will be excited to build our marketing and communications infrastructure and grow with us. This is both a strategic and tactical position responsible for managing BISM’s website, electronic communications, social media platforms, collateral material, and media relations. As a Communications Associate, you will be responsible for development, implementing, and coordinating all BISM’s communications activities and campaigns.  The Marketing & Communications Manager will work closely with staff members as well as outside partners, vendors, and media contacts. Photography skills a plus. 

Essential Skills

•  A confident communicator and presenter
•  Strong writing, editing, proofreading, including ability to present concepts verbally.
• Project management and planning skills
• Strong knowledge and understanding of current trends in digital media/social media.
• Self-motivated with a positive and professional approach

Roles & Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for all marketing and promotional activities across the organization.
• Manage social media presence. Plan and schedule monthly posts and maintain annual social media calendar.
• Manage all online communications and assets, including newsletters, blogs, targeted email blasts, and website.
• Uphold the PHR brand by assuring correct usage of brand guidelines in all external communications and marketing materials, signage, and displays.
• Oversee the production and distribution of all digital and print materials, brochures, promotional materials such as posters, flyers, event invitations, swag, and the annual report.
• Initiate and deepen relationships with community partners for cross-promotion and brand awareness efforts and represent BISM at community outreach events.
• Develop and cultivate media contacts and relationships and manage incoming media inquiries and requests.
• Assist with non-project event planning regarding event promotion, securing necessary branded materials and collateral, and arranging for photo/video capture.
• Write press releases, coordinate media interviews and features, pitch story ideas to regional media outlets and maintain media sources.
• Meet and conduct interviews with students, graduates, and associates to use for communication purposes.
• Represent the organization at events.
• Willing to travel to other BISM locations as well as work some nights and weekends when necessary.

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated experience in marketing and communications, ideally with a nonprofit organization and or the blind community.
• Confident communicator and presenter
• Strong marketing, management, and relationship-building skills and a good working knowledge of traditional and digital marketing
• Passion and excellence in writing and editing copy for a broad array of promotional materials including, but not limited to, electronic newsletters, press releases, annual reports, flyers, ads, and marketing collateral.
• Ability to craft compelling messages across different platforms and for a variety of target audiences.
• Understanding of visual identity and adherence to brand standards.
• Hands-on experience using website content management systems, electronic communication systems, and e-marketing platforms such as Word Press, MailChimp, Constant Contact, and social media management tools.
• Knowledge of the use of social media in today’s media landscape, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, etc.,
• Experience building community through social media.
• Familiarity with community engagement and fundraising campaigns.
• Great multitasker and capable of simultaneously managing multiple projects with different deadlines.
• Capable of working well as part of a team as well as independently

About Us: Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) is a 501©(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing career and training resources to blind and visually impaired people across multiple locations in the United States. BISM is recognized for our adult, youth, and senior training programs. Our belief in the capabilities of blind people is the foundation for residential skills training, innovative work readiness, home management and college-prep classes. As one of the largest employers of blind people, BISM’s manufacturing operations offer competitive employment opportunities for blind people while exceeding the expectations of our customers. Blind Associates play a crucial role by breaking down employment barriers in all divisions of our organization, including Human Resources, IT, and accounting. The Federal Government is BISM’s largest customer, and we support all branches of the US Military by manufacturing a variety of uniforms. BISM manufactures a large variety of products for the state of Maryland and the commercial market. Our largest contributions are a full line of janitorial products, a variety of office supply paper products, lock sets, and custom labeled bottled water. We further support the US Military by operating 9 Base Supply Centers (BSCs). Throughout all our BISM locations, we work to positively change people’s attitudes about blindness.

Blind Industries and Services of Maryland