Communications Specialist

Reports to: Development Director

Employment Status: Part-Time /Exempt (approximately 25 hours per week)
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Impact of this Role 

The Communications Specialist serves at the intersection of programs, development, and community engagement, helping tell the Cooking with Kids story through authentic, mission-driven communications. This role shares the impact of our work, celebrates the children, families, schools, volunteers, donors, and partners who make it possible, and connects more people to our mission.

Working closely with the Executive Director, Development Director, and program staff, the Communications Specialist develops compelling content across digital and print platforms, supports fundraising and donor stewardship through strategic communications, promotes community engagement, and helps ensure organizational communications are timely, authentic, and consistent.

Through storytelling, media relations, and cross-team collaboration, this role strengthens relationships, expands awareness of Cooking with Kids throughout New Mexico and beyond, and inspires more people to help children cook, learn, and thrive.

What you will Lead and Support

Content Development, Storytelling & Brand Management (40%)

• Create and publish content for newsletters, email campaigns, social media, press releases, website updates, donor communications, and other organizational communications.
• Manage day-to-day social media scheduling and engagement across platforms.
• Collaborate with staff, volunteers, and partners to capture and share stories from classrooms, cafeterias, events, and the broader community.
• Partner with staff across Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and other program communities to identify, capture, and share stories, photos, and program highlights.
• Maintain a consistent brand voice and visual identity across communications.
• Support program and development staff with the design of newsletters, reports, presentations, educational materials, and other print and digital communications.

Digital Marketing & Outreach (25%)

• Support email marketing campaigns, including content development, scheduling, deployment, and basic performance tracking.
• Assist with website updates and digital communications.
• Support outreach to donors, volunteers, partners, and community members.
• Monitor engagement metrics and share insights to strengthen communications efforts.

Event & Communications Support (25%)

• Maintain the communications calendar and help coordinate communications projects and deadlines.
• Coordinate regularly with the Development Director and Executive Director to proactively plan communications, campaigns, content needs, and organizational priorities.
• Support promotion and outreach for fundraising events, donor stewardship activities, volunteer engagement, recruitment efforts, and community events.
• Assist with event communications and occasional event support, including some evening and weekend activities.
• Collaborate across departments to support organizational communications needs.

Administrative & Cross-Team Support (10%)

• Maintain organized communications files, digital assets, and marketing resources.
• Develop and maintain systems for collecting and managing photo, video, and content release forms.
• Provide communications, design, and project support across departments as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of organizational priorities.

Work Rhythm & Compensation

Compensation & Benefits

The starting salary range for this position is $21 to $25 hourly, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Cooking with Kids offers flexible scheduling, paid sick leave, and a generous holiday calendar in support of staff well-being and sustainable work practices.

The Strengths You Bring

Required Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities with capacity to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with social media management, digital communications, and content creation.
• Familiarity with email marketing platforms, website content management systems, and communications analytics.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments while working independently.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and standard marketing technology platforms.

Preferred Skills

• Spanish-English bilingual skills are strongly preferred.
• Experience working in nonprofit communications or fundraising.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g. Bloomerang, Constant Contact) and editing software or platforms (e.g.WordPress, Canva, or similar tools).
• Experience supporting events, donor engagement, or community outreach initiatives.
• Photography, graphic design, or storytelling experience is a plus.

Education & Experience

• We recognize that valuable knowledge comes from many paths. Candidates may qualify through a combination of education, professional experience, continuing education and training, community leadership, and lived experience.
• A bachelor's degree in a related field is welcomed but not required.
• Minimum of two years of relevant experience in marketing, communications, digital media, or nonprofit outreach, required.
• Experience supporting mission-driven organizations or educational nonprofits is preferred.

Successful completion of a background check prior to employment and ongoing compliance with all CWK and district requirements.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly sit, stand, and walk, and may occasionally lift materials weighing up to 25 pounds.

The information contained in this job description is intended to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of duties performed. Additional responsibilities may be assigned in coordination with the Director of Development.

Cooking with Kids is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Cooking with Kids does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.