Communications Contractor

About Mississippi First

Mississippi First was founded in 2008 by Rachel Canter and her childhood friend, Sanford Johnson. Driven to change the fact that Mississippi has historically been last, our founders set a bold vision: a Mississippi first in education nationally. Mississippi First is a non-partisan, nonprofit, education policy organization. We champion transformative policy solutions, ensuring educational excellence for every Mississippi child.

Communications Contractor

Mississippi First seeks a skilled communications professional to assist the Director of Communications in executing a comprehensive communications strategy, particularly through digital channels. Responsibilities will include content creation, graphic design, digital marketing strategy implementation, social media management, website updates, and email newsletter production. This is a work-for-hire, contract position; the contractor will not be eligible for employee benefits. Estimated hours for this contract are between 5-10 hours per week.

Key Responsibilities

  • Social Media Management
    • Develop and implement a social media strategy that aligns with Mississippi First’s goals.
    • Create and schedule engaging content across all social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
    • Monitor social media channels for user engagement and respond appropriately.
    • Track and report on social media analytics to inform future strategies.
  • Website Updates
    • Update the Mississippi First website as directed.
    • Ensure the website remains functional and user-friendly.
    • Optimize content for SEO to increase visibility and traffic.
  • Email Newsletters
    • Design and distribute monthly email newsletters based on Mississippi First content.
    • Manage subscriber lists and segmentation to ensure targeted communication.
    • Analyze campaign performance and adjust strategies as needed.
  • Graphic Design
    • Create compelling visual content for social media, newsletters, and the website.
    • Develop promotional materials for events, campaigns, and other initiatives as needed.
  • Digital Marketing Strategy
    • Assist in the development and execution of digital marketing campaigns to promote Mississippi First’s initiatives.
    • Use data-driven insights to refine and enhance marketing efforts.
  • Reporting
    • Regularly present and report key metrics that display success or need for improvement in each area of responsibility.
  • Additional Communications Tasks
    • Support the Director of Communications with other communications-related tasks as needed.

Qualifications

Required

  • Proven experience in content creation, graphic design, and digital marketing.
  • Strong understanding of social media platforms and analytics tools.
  • Proficiency in website management and SEO best practices.
  • Excellent writing, editing, and visual storytelling skills.
  • Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
  • Creative thinker with attention to detail.

Preferred

  • Experience working with Adobe software (Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign specifically)

Application Process

Interested applicants are invited to submit a Response to Qualification (RFQ) detailing their experience, portfolio of relevant work, proposed approach to the scope of work, and pricing structure. Applicants should also provide at least two references and two examples of work.

We are currently hoping to hire independent contractors before looking into agencies; however, we welcome everyone to apply, as we will be reviewing all applications individually.

To apply, please submit your RFQ below.

Submit Application

RFQ Submission Deadline

We will be accepting applications on a rolling basis, with priority given to applicants who submit by April 12, 2024.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Mississippi First is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

For questions or further information, please contact the Director of Communications, Brooke Williams, at comms@mississippifirst.org.