Marketing and Communications Specialist - Job Description

About the Dallas Innovation Alliance

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a 501c3 public-private consortium of key stakeholders across sectors including public, private, civic and academic. Founded in 2015 to support the City of Dallas’ smart cities strategy and execution, today the DIA works with three dozen member organizations, more than 20 departments at the City of Dallas and has worked with hundreds of community organizations and neighborhoods. The DIA defines a smart city as one that lives at the intersection of community, data and technology to improve quality of life, inclusive economic growth and resource efficiency. In 2017, the DIA launched the Smart Cities Living Lab, comprising 10 integrated projects in downtown Dallas, and is the fastest-to-market smart cities initiative in the country. Since 2018, the DIA has focused on challenges of equity in mobility, digital inclusion and public safety.

About the Connected Dallas Program

The Connected Dallas is an initiative led by the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) that will oversee digital ambassadors as they provide support for up to 10,000 residents over the next two years. Connected Dallas intends to ensure that community members are well-informed, trained, and connected to all services that require connectivity. The foundation of this program was built by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s Digital Navigator model.

Job Overview

The purpose of the Marketing Communications Specialist is to manage our online and offline communication within the communities we serve broadly and individually, and increase brand awareness of Dallas Innovation Alliance’s Connected Dallas initiative.

The Marketing Communications Specialist’s responsibilities include content creation, social media management, press release drafting and media outreach, community-focused print and online communications, distributing promotional material, light event coordination and networking during marketing events. Ultimately, the Marketing and Communications Specialist will act as our brand’s voice to increase positive sentiment and relationship development amongst key stakeholders.

Required Educational Level: Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a field related to the job, plus three years experience related to the job. Experience may be substituted for education up to a maximum of four (4) years.

Responsibilities and Duties

Develop engaging and informative content for various marketing channels, including websites, newsletters, social media platforms, and infographics.
Design and distribute promotional material through grassroots, print, and digital channels
Foster close collaboration with a diverse array of cross-functional teams, such as the DIA and Connected Dallas teams, corporate sponsors, vendors, partners, and other stakeholders, to effectively synchronize marketing endeavors with overarching organizational objectives.
Manage and grow our social media presence, creating engaging content, responding to inquiries, and monitoring discussions to foster a positive brand image.
Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and marketing best practices. Share knowledge with the team and continually apply innovative ideas to improve marketing efforts.
Cultivate relationships with media outlets to secure press coverage and media partnerships.
Draft press releases and media pitches to communicate essential organization news and updates effectively.
Assist in planning and executing marketing events, workshops, and webinars. Coordinate logistics, invitations, and follow-ups to ensure successful outcomes.
Plan, execute, and analyze email marketing campaigns to nurture leads, drive stakeholder engagement, and promote upcoming events or initiatives

Critical Skills and Aptitudes

Excellent verbal and written communication skills enable you to be our organization’s authentic voice.
Hands-on experience in crafting and executing impactful marketing campaigns on social media platforms.
Experience in both broad and hyper-local communication strategies focused on grassroots outreach in the communities we serve.
Impressive presentation skills, enabling you to engage audiences and leave a lasting impression.
Proficiency in web content management tools, mainly WordPress and Content Management Systems, to maintain and update our online presence.
Ideal candidates will have experience with Squarespace, Mailchimp, Meltwater, and other content marketing/management tools.
Strong knowledge of SEO principles and the ability to interpret data using Google Analytics to optimize marketing strategies.

As the Marketing and Communications Specialist, you will be pivotal in driving the Connected Dallas initiative's success and helping shape our organization's future. Suppose you are passionate about innovative technologies and possess a flair for creative storytelling. In that case, we invite you to join our team and make a lasting impact in the vibrant Dallas community.

Work Environment & Benefits

Employees may work remotely on a basis per DIA’s remote work policy. Remote work employees should indicate their primary working address in a remote working agreement. This document will also outline their responsibilities as remote employees.

This role is full-time salaried with benefits. Dallas Innovation Alliance offers a flexible paid-time off plan which includes vacation, personal, and sick leave. Ten paid Federal holidays are observed, as well as a floating birthday holiday. Our vacation policy is flexible, we just ask for advanced notice to plan for team coverage.

The Dallas Innovation Alliance is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We offer competitive salaries and a pleasant working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience.