Communications Coordinator

About the Panel:

The Panel is dedicated to achieving social and economic justice by organizing citizen groups across Arkansas, supporting them to be more powerful and linking them with one another in coalitions and networks. We engage communities often overlooked by the political process to create structures and strategies that meet community needs. The Panel supports The Arkansas Citizens First Congress (CFC), a statewide, multi-issue and non-partisan coalition of over 50 community organizations that work together to win progressive changes in state policy.  

The opportunity: 

You will support and expand the communications efforts of leaders and organizers building a social justice movement in Arkansas. You will lead our communications for campaigns on issues chosen by our leaders. You will learn a lot of new skills and work with a great team of staff and volunteer leaders. The position is based in Little Rock, reports to the Policy Director, and is responsible for the following:  

Media:

  • Develop media strategies to promote our work and goals through alerts, releases, webinars, and media events.

  • Increase engagement with our social media channels, and develop and post regular content.

Publications and website:

  • Develop content for Panel and community newsletters, fliers, annual reports, and other publications.

  • Help collect and tell the stories of our leaders, communities and the critical social justice issues they work on.

  • Maintain and expand our websites (ARPanel.org and CitizensFirst.org) and update content on a monthly basis. 

Campaign support:

  • Help develop and support our members advocacy campaigns at the legislature and through ballot measures

Planning:

  • Develop and implement an annual communications plan 

  • Develop and implement a personal plan for learning about the organization by attending events, reading documents, and building relationships with staff, leaders, and partners.   

Training:

  • Help our staff, leaders, and members develop better communication skills to support their advocacy.

Other duties as requested.

Required Experience and Skills: 

  • Experience with media, project coordination, and social media 

  • Excellent oral and written communications

  • Proficient with technology platforms and website management

  • Ability to relate well to people from different background and cultural competency across boundaries of race, class, and issue 

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently

  • Team oriented 

  • Basic graphics design skills

  • Ability to work well with local groups and constituencies in various governmental, civic, and community organizations a plus 

Personal Qualifications: 

  • Strong commitment to social change through community empowerment

  • Commitment to developing leaders and community group strength 

  • Commitment to increasing participation of diverse grassroots groups in policy campaigns 

  • Passion for learning and new ideas

  • Access to an automobile and willingness to travel statewide

  • Excellent judgment and decision making skills

Compensation and benefits:

  • Salary range $40 to $50k DOE with excellent benefits including health insurance, vacation and retirement.

Send resumes and a cover letter to: 

The Panel: 1308 West Second Street; Little Rock, AR 72201; Panel@ARPanel.org.

About the Arkansas Public Policy Panel:

  • Our Values: Social and economic justice is our highest value. This value is advanced through respect for human dignity; embracing diversity and inclusiveness; empowerment; and a political process that is inclusive, fair and transparent.

  • Our Mission: Arkansas Public Policy Panel is a statewide organization organizing citizen groups around the state, educating and supporting them to be more effective and powerful, and linking them with one another in coalitions and networks.  The Panel seeks to bring balance to the public policy process in Arkansas.

  • Our Operating Principles: High performance; Collaboration and teamwork; Recognition and reward; Mutual respect; Confronting oppression through alternative models; Supportive of professional and personal development; Personal responsibility and mutual accountability; Creating a learning organization; Fostering personal and organizational health; and Creativity.

Organized people have power.