About the Leeway Foundation

The Leeway Foundation supports women and trans* artists and cultural producers working in communities at the intersection of art, culture, and social change. Through the Foundation’s grantmaking and other programs we promote artistic expression that amplifies the voices of those on the margins, promotes sustainable and healthy communities, and works in the service of movements for economic and social justice.

For more information about the Foundation visit: leeway.org

Job Description

The Communications Assistant supports the Leeway Foundation’s communications, engagement and visibility strategies, including writing and editing electronic and print communication. The Communications & Outreach Assistant reports to the Communications Director with input from the Program Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop content for print and electronic media, including:
  • Draft and edit press releases, blog posts, social media content (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and other communication materials.
  • Compose monthly email newsletter – write copy, gather images, integrate with website.
  • Manage blog and social media platforms.
  • Manage online image and time-based media content and platforms.
• Maintain and develop website content
• Produce and distribute targeted outreach materials and e-mails. 
  • Assist with graphic design projects as needed, including:
    • Participation in annual identity/design process.
    • Design of outreach materials and community partner advertisements.
• Support the implementation of activities related to community partnerships, including researching and identifying communities where Leeway would like to increase the Foundation’s visibility.
• Support meeting and event planning including staffing events and managing registration. 
• Help identify technical needs for events and programs.

Required skills and experience

The successful candidate has excellent writing and editing skills and is comfortable working on deadline. The position requires an organized, dependable self-starter who can successfully juggle a number of tasks and projects.

• Strong communication skills, including an ability to communicate well across cultures and to relate effectively to a diverse group of people e.g., applicants, consultants, and vendors 
• Proven time management and problem-solving skills; an ability to thrive working under deadlines and handling multiple tasks without sacrificing attention to detail.
• Enthusiastic and collaborative approach to work, a sense of humor, a willingness to learn, and be open to new ideas.
• Demonstrated commitment to personal integrity, striving for excellence, and collaborating with others to achieve new levels of effectiveness and impact.
• Solid technology skills including proficiency with MS Office Suite; and experience with:
  • the Internet, and back-end website content systems;
  • web-based tools e.g., Expression Engine, Formstack, Eventbrite, Dropbox;
  • social networking sites e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram; and
  • Adobe Creative Suite e.g., Photoshop and InDesign.
• Strong knowledge of Philadelphia’s cultural and social justice communities desirable.
• Knowledge of video production and editing, a plus, but not required.
• Experience with database software (e.g., FileMaker Pro or MS Access) a plus.
• English proficiency required. Proficiency in a second language related to grantmaking constituencies desirable (e.g., Spanish

Compensation: Comprehensive benefits package. Starting salary is commensurate with experience.

Hours: 40 hours per week (On average; may work more hours around events, application deadlines and panel meetings. Some evenings and weekends.)

Position based in Philadelphia, but candidate must be willing to travel throughout the six-county Philadelphia region.

Interested candidates should send:

• A 1-page letter indicating why they are interested and qualified for the position;
• A resume;
• A 1- to 2-page writing sample (maximum 1500 words) that tells more about their experience with and/or interest in art and social change; and
• Names of 3 professional references with contact information

Please submit your materials on or before September 30, 2016 at 6PM EST via mail or email to:

Leeway Foundation

Attn: Communications & Outreach Assistant Search

The Philadelphia Building

1315 Walnut Street, Suite 832

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Email: [email protected] 

No phone calls, please. All letters will be acknowledged.

The Leeway Foundation is committed to the principles of equal opportunity employment at every level without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity characteristics or expression, age, non-job related disability, or political affiliation. 

*Leeway has a commitment to trans inclusion and gender self determination and we use the term “trans” in its most inclusive sense, as an umbrella term encompassing: transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, Two-Spirit people, and more generally, anyone whose gender identity or gender expression is non-conforming and/or different from their gender assigned at birth.