Communications and Digital Strategy Coordinator

Communications and Digital Strategy Coordinator Music Moves & School Partnerships

Overview:
The Old Town School of Folk Music is seeking a reliable and detailed Communications and Digital Strategy Coordinator for its Community Ventures program supporting the Schools Music Moves initiative and School Partnerships program. This position blends creativity storytelling digital strategy and administrative support to grow community engagement expand program visibility and ensure brand cohesion across initiatives. While Music Moves responsibilities are primarily external-facing including digital campaigns social media and community outreach School Partnerships responsibilities are web content internal-facing developing program materials branding and partner communications. This role is flexible and may evolve to include additional cross-departmental projects.

Essential Functions:

Music Moves Marketing & Communications

• Design and execute digital campaigns across Instagram Facebook TikTok and YouTube to increase visibility grow audiences and drive participation.

• Develop original content (photo video copy) highlighting events classes and community impact.

• Capture and edit live video at performances and classes for timely social media use.

• Lead the street team and implement outreach strategies to promote events and programming.

• Build trust with program participants to ensure authentic storytelling and media capture.

• Collect reviews and testimonials from attendees to strengthen impact storytelling.

• Write or co-write press releases and coordinate with media outlets.

• Collaborate with the main campus marketing team to coordinate campaigns and cross-promotional opportunities.
  
  

School Partnerships Program Support & Internal Marketing

• Help to develop internal marketing and communications assets including catalogs brochures presentations and program collateral.

• Align School Partnerships branding with Old Town Schools overarching brand guidelines for all materials shared with schools vendors and partners.

• Support cross-departmental collaboration by providing materials and digital assets for internal initiatives and partner outreach.

• Assist in planning and coordinating School Partnerships programs by contributing to strategic and operational materials.

• Explore and implement new ways to document promote and share School Partnerships offerings internally and with prospective partners.

• Responsibilities may evolve as the program grows and new needs arise.
  
  

Cross-Department Responsibilities

• Maintain organized systems for digital files media assets and communications materials to support smooth operations across programs.

• Partner with program managers and leadership to align communications with organizational priorities and values.

• Contribute to creative projects and campaigns that may span multiple programs.
  
  

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Proficiency with Google Suite and Canva (or comparable software).

• Strong writing skills with ability to craft press releases newsletters and marketing copy.

• Photography and video skills including capturing live performances vertical video and partner events.

• Excellent organizational skills including file management and cross-team coordination.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and engage program participants and partners.

Required Experience:

• Experience managing social media platforms (Instagram Facebook TikTok YouTube) and using scheduling/analytics tools.

• Demonstrated interest in serving communities through the arts with evidence of working with or advocating for marginalized communities.

Preferred Skills/Competencies:

• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite.

• Familiarity with content management systems (e.g. WordPress Squarespace).

• Background in or strong interest in the performing arts with an eye for capturing performance.

• Familiarity with project and file management tools (e.g. Dropbox).

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with email marketing platforms (e.g. Mailchimp Constant Contact).

• Experience in grassroots or street team marketing.

• Experience collaborating with creative contractors (photographers videographers designers).

• Experience managing marketing and communications for school or community partnerships.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Availability for evening and weekend classes performances and events.

• Access to reliable transportation for outreach and street team activities.

• Interest in exploring new platforms for community engagement or new audience acquisition.

Impact:
Through digital communications and strategy creative direction grassroots marketing and authentic storytelling the Communications and Digital Strategy Coordinator ensures Old Town Schools Community Ventures Department continues to grow audiences elevate impact and strengthen connections with communities and partner organizations.

To be considered for this role please apply through ourCareer Center.

About Old Town School of Folk Music

Chicagos Old Town School of Folk Music (OTSFM) is the largest community school of the arts in the U.S. and a non-profit organization committed to celebrating American music and global cultures. Founded in 1957 Old Town School provides various music dance and arts courses to people of all ages abilities and backgrounds. Whatever ones interest Old Town School provides broad access to more than 700 weekly class offerings a broad array of private lessons and over 400 concerts and community events per year.

Old Town School of Folk Music opened its Lincoln Square facility in 1998 and expanded in 2012. The Old Town School operates two campuses in Chicagos Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park neighborhoods including world-class concert halls classrooms an award-winning music store and a music resource center. Online classes were introduced in 2020 and students from nearly every state and a dozen countries participated throughout the pandemic. Childrens classes are also held at several suburban satellite locations. More information is available at

Equal Employment Opportunity

OTSFM is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. OTS strives to be an inclusive and equitable organization that reflects the diversity of the city of Chicago. We seek to recruit develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. This is critical to our success as a community-focused organization.