Growing Forward Together

Contractor Opportunity: COMMUNICATIONS AND SYSTEMS MANAGER

Contact Grace Nadler, grace.nadler@growingforwardtogether.org

Background

Growing Forward Together is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2021 located in west Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Our mission:

“We create and advance trauma-specific education programs for emerging adults, childbearing and parenting families, and their providers.”

Our vision:

Growing forward together--Creating and Advancing Trauma-Specific Education Programs

Our values:

The following 6 values were developed by our Board of Directors. As an organization, all workers in GFT…

1. Join together in embodying Nurturance Culture (defined as a deep capacity to create safety and trust) and the 6 principles of a trauma-informed approach:

a. Safety

b. Trustworthiness & Transparency

c. Peer Support

d. Collaboration & Mutuality

e. Empowerment & Choice

f. Cultural, Historical & Gender Issues

2. Believe that healing and growth is possible

3. Are certain that knowledge, skills and hope can make a difference

4. Honor diverse expertise

5. Promote positive birth and safe, nurturing, and reflective parenting

6. Celebrate “families of choice” and families of all forms

There are 2 product lines within GFT:

1. Survivor Moms’ Companion (perinatal psychoeducation, flagship program)

2. Trauma & Society (emerging adult education, under development)

We currently are a fledgling organization, all work contributed by contractors, interns, and volunteers working part time. We are in a rapid state of growth.

Contractor opportunity

We seek a Communications and Systems Manager [CSM] for our organization and its programs.

We intend for this role to grow into a long-term position, starting with a 3-month probationary period under contractor status, eventually growing to an employee of the organization. The ideal start date is mid-March, 2024.

· Alignment with mission, values, and Board philosophy

· Desire to work for an organization focused on programs responsive to the education needs of people with childhood maltreatment, sexual, and other trauma exposures in their past.

· Experience in web development, maintenance, and CRM management (i.e., HubSpot).

· Professional level and consistently positive tone in written and spoken communication

· Autonomy in use of time to oversee implementation of web development and marketing plans

· Availability for weekly team meetings

· Ability to learn new systems, software, and tools

· Willingness to document use of time and submit invoice by the last day of the month, with payroll processed by the 15th of the month. Able to self-report income for tax purposes (via 1099 process)

· Enthusiasm for engaging with an organization that offers and requires flexibility and values a nurturing culture as well as one that aspires to advance social justice and to close gaps in diversity, equity, and inclusion on our team

· A minimum of a Bachelor’s level degree

This person will be the “inaugural” Communications and Systems Manager—an opportunity for an experienced communications professional with web developer skills and interest in customer service. This team member will have considerable responsibility for publicity and marketing communications, social media, and website utilization to advance our mission. They also will take leadership of our customer resource management (CRM) system and some data management.

This job requires internal relations (i.e., coordinating with GFT personnel to align public facing materials and messages with the organization’s brand and policies), and external relations (i.e., communicating with clients via customer service platforms), and logistics management (i.e., build out and maintain GFT technical systems). The Communications work involves creating ongoing publicity materials consistent with our visual and editorial style sheets. The new Communications and Systems Manager will have supported responsibility to, as autonomously as possible, oversee the development and maintenance of all GFT based websites and integrated systems including the Store, the “Find a Doula” platform, training registration software, program back-end user access, and program home page/site. The job will also include development and management of HubSpot, keeping all program-related materials up to date on public facing systems and filed appropriately in GFT’s cloud storage [i.e. Box], and managing all social media platforms. Other duties as assigned may include keeping GFT’s organizational calendar updated in ClickUp. This position will likely grow to include other duties we cannot yet predict. Additional projects and tasks will always be discussed with and agreed to by the Communications and Systems Manager prior to adding them to official job responsibilities.

The Communications and Systems Manager will report to directly to Grace Nadler, Administrative Director. This relationship may focus on operational issues to be accountable for expenditures, timely completion of duties as assigned, and excellent internal (GFT) and external (customer) service actions.

The Communications and Systems Manager will also report to Julia Seng, co-founder, president, and CEO of GFT and co-developer of the SMC. This relationship may focus on organizational needs and QI related to the processes and any problems that arise.

We provide a desktop computer and full-size monitor, Wi-Fi, software, cloud file storage, a company email address, and a telephone number for business calls.

As a contractor, we do not dictate the time or place of your work. GFT’s offices are in the home of Julia Seng at 1916 Sunrise Street in west Ann Arbor. We do expect attendance at team meetings, sometimes in person, but sometimes by Zoom, in case of adverse weather or illness. As an organization, we all work part-time and thus attempt to work within the Tue, Wed, Thurs mid-week days. However, the CSM role may require work outside those times (i.e. time-limited projects).

Contractor invoices are paid monthly. Invoice to include reasonable information about time worked and duties accomplished for in-person and remote hours.

Remuneration rate will reflect extent of needs for time to learn tools, and prior experience. We estimate $25/hour to start. We expect the work will take 10-15 hours per week.

*NOTE: Tax brackets for IRS are 10% at <10,000 and 12% at <40,000, and the contractor is responsible for self-reporting and paying taxes consistent with our 1099 reporting.

The initial contract period will be for up to 3 months. If we mutually agree to continue working together, we will re-visit the hourly rate in relation to the demonstrated expertise and quality. We will also determine the appropriateness of continuing to contract versus changing to an employed status.

Generally, GFT contractors schedule work around single-day or long-weekend holidays because GFT staff observe these as paid days off. Summer vacation time off can be scheduled as a hiatus (i.e., unpaid).

Please reference the GFT Employee Handbook for further information.

To be documented throughout the negotiation and hiring process.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 – 15 per week

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ann Arbor, MI 48103