The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of design and art to increase meaningful civic engagement in partnership with marginalized communities.

CUP’s work addresses the needs of communities organizing for social change around complex public policies and decision-making processes that impact their lives, from affordable housing to labor rights. By collaborating directly with communities to create accessible and visual explanations on issues important to them, CUP provides individuals with the tools to claim their rights, advocate for their needs, and fight for social justice.

In 2021, our work reached over 60,000 people in New York City and beyond. Building on 20 years of deep collaboration with NYC based organizations, our work has expanded to the national scale, as in our collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Center for Court Innovation on graphic novels for child victims and witnesses of crime. We have recently expanded and deepened our training programs on community-engaged design practices with a racial justice and equity lens, focusing on designers with the support of the Ford Foundation, and launching a training academy for local government workers across the country, with support from the Luce Foundation. Our work has been nationally recognized with a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Institutional Achievement and the Curry Stone Design Prize, and has been featured in publications and exhibits around the world, most recently at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver’s exhibit Citizenship: A Practice of Society.

CUP is also a great place to work and grow! We have an amazing staff and board, made up of fun, creative, and hardworking people committed to racial justice and equity and to the power of design in effecting change. Find out more about our work and our values at: http://welcometoCUP.org

CUP is a 12-person organization with an annual budget of $1.5 million, and poised to continue growing. Our office is based in Gowanus, Brooklyn, but we work with community partners all over New York City and travel throughout the five boroughs regularly. This position may also entail occasional travel outside of New York City in the future. Work hours are flexible, but generally around 10 am to 6 pm. Our work requires occasional evening and weekend events, such as launch events, workshops, presentations, and fundraisers. Staff members work in the office a minimum of 3 days per week, with flexible hours, and can work remotely the rest of the time.

ABOUT THE POSITION

CUP is seeking applicants for a Communications and Business Development Coordinator. This is an exciting new role intended to help CUP more intentionally and proactively engage with our growing area of fee-for-service technical assistance work and to support our ongoing communications efforts and engagement with audiences including potential partners, funders, and other collaborators.

We are seeking a creative individual with skills and experience in communications, marketing, fundraising, and/or business development who wants to be part of a team using design and art to contribute to meaningful social change.

The Communications and Business Development Coordinator will be a core part of CUP’s team, helping develop and maintain our pipeline of fee-for-service opportunities and proposal responses, as well as coordinate the organization’s public outreach and social media. The person in this full-time role will report to the Director of Operations and Development and collaborate closely with both development and program staff.

The ideal candidate would be someone with skills and experience in business development and communications activities such as creating proposals and pitch decks, putting together mass emails, and shaping social media posts; an understanding of and interest in urban policy and planning issues; a desire to work in a collaborative setting with a broad range of partners; a deep commitment to and demonstrated understanding of racial justice and equity.

We ask that you specifically address these areas, as well as other relevant qualifications, in your cover letter.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time, salaried position. The salary range for the position will be in the range of $52,000 to $60,000, commensurate with skills and experience.

HOW TO APPLY

Click here for more information or to apply. Applications will be accepted until noon Eastern time on Monday, September 12th.

CUP staff will review all complete applications and schedule interviews in late September.

Applicants will be notified in early October, with an expected start date in October or November.

To apply, you will need to create an account on Submittable, fill in your contact information, and upload the following materials:

 - A cover letter, in which you address why you are interested in this position, how your experience qualifies you for it, and why you would like to work at CUP

 - A current resume

 - A short writing sample (3 pages maximum), preferably that demonstrates your ability to communicate in a business development context

 - A list of 3 references, including name, how you know them, and their contact information. (No need to provide letters!)

Please note that we will NOT review applications that do not provide all requested materials.

No phone calls, please.