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 School's 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 School's 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 School's 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 our Career Center.

About Old Town School of Folk Music

Chicago's 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 one's 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 Chicago's 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. Children's 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.