Join Connected Dallas as our new Marketing & Communications Specialist!

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. 

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.





Connected Dallas Program Announces Partnership with Bachman Lake Together

The new Community Anchor Site will open in September, 2023. 


Today, the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) announces its partnership with Bachman Lake Together for the second Community Anchor Site as part of the Connected Dallas Digital Ambassador program. The site will formally open in late Summer 2023. 

The Connected Dallas program is designed to provide a central hub for information and connection to internet-based services through multiple channels, including in-person, online, and phone. It intends to  simplify access to online resources that improve quality of life and provide access to opportunities that digital connectivity provides. 

As a Connected Dallas Community Anchor Site, Bachman Lake Together will provide hyper-local and on-the-ground support to the community. Through partnerships with community organizations like Bachman Lake Together Family Center and the program’s first CAS, Innercity Community Development Corporation (or ICDC), sites are outfitted with technology and  trained Digital Ambassadors to provide walk-in services to access computers and internet services , one-on-one support, and digital skills programs. 

Founded in 2009 through a five-year commitment from the Zero to Five Funders Collective, and formally established as an organization in 2014, Bachman Lake Together is a nonprofit, collective-impact initiative that connects families, community partners and supporters in a shared purpose: giving every child the opportunity to thrive by giving them a solid foundation in the earliest, most critical developmental years of ages 0-5. Bachman Lake Together believes this goal will be most effectively achieved by working together and ensuring everyone has a voice in the process.

The Connected Dallas program is supported by leading philanthropic investments from  AT&T, the Santander Consumer USA Foundation, and the Dallas Foundation. In addition, the  DIA was selected by the City of Dallas to manage the Digital Navigators program provided through ARPA funding.

“We are thrilled to partner with Bachman Lake Together as one of Connected Dallas’ first Community Anchor Sites,” commented Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director, Dallas Innovation Alliance. “Community Anchor Sites are a critical piece of Connected Dallas’s mission to provide a full spectrum of digital touchpoints that meet the community where they are, whether by phone, text, chat, online or in-person. Bachman Lake Together’s deep work serving families and building collective impact make them a natural fit for the work in getting to Connection for All.”

“The challenge of broadband infrastructure has more recently pronounced the inequities that exist in communities like Bachman Lake. We are honored to be chosen as an anchor site to increase technology access for Bachman Lake families through a dual-generation approach,” says Dr. Olga Martinez Hickman, Executive Director, Bachman Lake Together. “Success for our children in the 21st century is more than just knowing your letters and numbers, but the whole family and community must be familiar with the latest technology and understand the role it plays in our education, economic mobility and everyday lives.”

The next round of Community Anchor Site applications are open, and DIA expects to open an additional four sites before the end of the year. Please visit here for additional information on the application process and updates.

The ConnectedDallas.org website is designed to be an online resource hub that provides comprehensive support for residents, as well as service providers, through centralized resources, training materials and curriculum to available programs and services. The website features 13 different digital resource topics, tips and curriculum, including the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and internet plan access, devices, skills, security, telehealth, finance, job seeking, seniors, veterans, transportation and more. Other offerings include a central events calendar, ways to request ambassadors, training sessions at community organizations upon request, and more are now available. The Connected Dallas framework is provided by National Digital Inclusion Alliance.

About the Dallas Innovation Alliance

Founded in 2015, the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a 501(c)(3) cross-sector partnership dedicated to supporting Dallas’ smart cities strategy. The DIA defines a smart city as one that lives at the intersection of community, data and technology to enable resource efficiencies, inclusive economic development, and improve quality of life. Since 2015, the DIA has built a network of over three dozen members across sectors, works with more than 100 community organizations, and over 20 departments at the City of Dallas. DIA’s Smart Cities Living Lab is the fastest-to-market smart cities initiative in the country. For more information, please visit. www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com

About Connected Dallas

The Connected Dallas program is designed to provide a full spectrum of digital touchpoints for community members to  meet them where they are, whether by phone, text, chat, online or in-person. This ensures community members are educated, trained, and connected to all services that require connectivity to improve quality of life. The Connected Dallas framework is provided by National Digital Inclusion Alliance. For more information, please visit www.ConnectedDallas.org

About Bachman Lake Together:

Bachman Lake Together (BLT) serves as the backbone organization for their neighborhood. BLT's mission is to unite the Bachman Lake community to fully prepare children for kindergarten – academically, socially and emotionally – so they can thrive in school and in life. Bachman Lake Together coordinates, communicates and measures the collective impact of Bachman Lake families, 50+ partner organizations, committees and working groups. For more information, please visit .