SMART Reading

SMART Reading, the state’s largest volunteer-based nonprofit literacy organization, seeks an energetic, detail-oriented professional with communications and/or office management experience to join our Portland team. 

When you join SMART Reading, you join a team that is committed to the important work of helping children develop a lifelong love of reading. This full-time position is split between providing office management and general administrative support for SMART Reading’s Leadership Team and supporting the Communications Department with social media, newsletters, public relations, and other communications activities.

The ideal candidate will be able to work independently, possess excellent communication and office management skills, successfully work with diverse people in divergent contexts, be highly organized, pay attention to detail, and simultaneously manage several projects. 

If that’s you, here’s what we can offer:

• An important mission and purpose that affects the lives of kids throughout Oregon. SMART Reading engages volunteers to strengthen literacy skills and encourage a love of reading with preschool through eighth grade students by reading one-on-one with students and providing new and gently used books to keep
• A team of equally committed, passionate, and dedicated individuals.
• An opportunity to put your creativity and ideas to good use (We’ve got great systems but we’re always interested in improvement)
• An organizational culture that values team, plays to the strengths of its members, works to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is tirelessly devoted to serving “our kids” well
• A salary starting at $46,000 a year and  a great benefits package!

Position Summary: This person will be responsible for supporting the Communications Director with a variety of communications and marketing tasks as well as the general operations and management of the Portland office. Responsibilities include: 

• Develop communications for key audiences in line with organizational messaging, including newsletters, marketing emails, blog posts, and social media  
• Manage social media presence including content creation, calendaring, community management, and reporting
• Manage website content to keep content fresh and up-to-date
• Create flyers, one-pagers and other collateral needed to advance the mission of SMART Reading
• Support media relations work by creating and sending press releases and helping with interview prep
• Support execution of annual marketing plan including events, appeals, and book drives
• Support SMART Reading regional offices with communications and marketing needs 
• Assist with other external and internal communications and administrative duties as needed
• Staff front desk, answer incoming phone calls, manage voicemail for the Portland office, and manage the general SMART email account
• Open, sort, and distribute mail
• Maintain and update staff lists, maps, Board rosters, and other company-wide lists
• Support Human Resources recruitment and onboarding. Post positions on requested websites, create orientation binders, send necessary materials to new hires. 
• Serve as the primary contact for day-to-day office management vendors: building maintenance, copier services, etc. Order supplies for all offices as requested and ensure proper documentation is gathered for requests
• Provide general administrative support to the Leadership Team, including assisting with travel arrangements, scheduling meetings, updating organizational database, etc.
• Work with the Director of People and Culture to support logistics related to All Staff meetings

Here are the “must have” requirements of our ideal candidate:

• One to three years of experience working in communications, office management, development, or a related field
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Personal character which guides the ethical practice of all the work 
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organization and administrative skills
• Demonstrated ability to take responsibility for multiple projects and complete them on time with limited supervision 
• Demonstrated experience developing content for a variety of digital and print channels  such as social media, video, direct mail, email campaigns, and web
• Demonstrated personal commitment to racial equity and ability to bring an equity lens to all internal and external communications
• Knowledge of Wordpress or similar web platforms, and graphic design (Adobe Suite and/or Canva) preferred 
• Excellent computer skills, and knowledge or willingness to learn office software including Google Suite, Raiser’s Edge 
• Desire and ability to communicate clearly and connect easily and enthusiastically with others  
• Comfortable working with people from all walks of life

Bonus skills (preferred but not required):

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing/public relations or relevant experience 
• Understanding of children's literacy work
• Bilingual

APPLICATION PROCESS:

1. Please submit a resume and cover letter that tells us the following:

        a) Specifically state how you meet our description of an ideal candidate based on the requirements outlined above;
        b) Your experience with, and commitment to, equity; 
        c) The relevant experience you offer that’s in line with the qualifications listed above 

2.  This position will remain open until filled. We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled but will place priority on applications received by the end of the day, September 27, 2024.

3) Selected applicants will be invited to move forward to both virtual and in-person interviews. For our finalists, we will ask for 3 professional references, preferably from previous employers. We will want to verify employment history. 

4) Selected candidate will be required to complete a background check after notifying the applicant of our intent to make a job offer. 

This position requires the selected candidate to work in-person in SMART Reading’s statewide headquarters Monday - Friday. Office Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. 

SMART’s Commitment to Equity: As an early literacy program focused on helping children succeed with reading and learning, SMART can’t ignore that deep racial, cultural, social, and economic inequities in our country and state make it harder for some children to succeed compared to others. SMART’s vision is an Oregon in which every child can read and is empowered to succeed, and we are making equity a top priority. As part of this,  we particularly seek staff members, volunteers, and board members whose personal or professional background gives them a unique perspective to further SMART’s work in serving children of color and children from other marginalized groups.

Important Note: People of color, people living with disabilities, veterans, and individuals from marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Compensation and Benefits: 

• Salary: $46,000 
• Café Benefit: $100 monthly (additional $1,200 annually)
• Cell Phone Reimbursement: $50 monthly (additional $600 annually)
• 401k Retirement: Employer match of up to 3% of your salary
• Paid Time Off/Vacation: Four weeks of paid-time off every year. PTO is accumulated biweekly totaling four weeks annually
• Office Closures: Two paid weeks off - one in July and the second in December/January for employee rest and rejuvenation time (in addition to regular PTO) 
• Employer-paid Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D and LTD premiums are 100% paid by SMART for the employee
• Paid Holidays: Nine paid holidays that can be used on scheduled holidays or as floating days used according to personal beliefs and obligations
• Paid Supplemental Medical Leave: Cumulated biweekly totaling two weeks annually and carried over to earn up to eight weeks of medical leave

A full benefit package outline will be provided if selected to interview.  

To learn more about SMART Reading, please visit www.smartreading.org