Communications Specialist

Job Description

Position: Communications Specialist

Classification: Non-Exempt, 35 hours per week 

Operating team: Fundraising and Communications

Reports to: Director of Fundraising and Communications

Wage: $29.00/hr 

Application Period: January 15, 2026 – February 6, 2026

Position Description:

The Communications Specialist leads the creation of content for Sisters of the Road’s communication channels, including print and e-newsletters, social media posts and graphics, and our organization’s website. They create content to support both organizing and advocacy campaigns as well as fundraising initiatives. The person in this position has a passion for social justice that centers around fighting the violence of poverty. They are creative, a self-starter, and excited to work as part of a highly collaborative team striving to end homelessness and poverty through systemic change that addresses the root causes. 

Key Responsibilities:

Content Creation

• Author and edit written communications, including serving as the primary editor and designer for Sisters’ e-newsletter and biannual print newsletter

• Work in partnership with Development and Systemic Change teams to create, edit, and adapt content to support campaigns. This may include writing and designing blog posts, social media posts, campaign landing pages, website/facebook/eventbrite event posts, etc.

• Champion ethical storytelling practices while collecting, writing, and editing stories from our community

Communications Coordination

• Manage Sisters’ communication calendar ensuring outbound communication channels (social, email, blog) function smoothly.

• Monitor Sisters’ social channels, engaging with community by interacting with content and responding to comments and direct messages as appropriate

• Manage updates to the Sisters’ website, including adapting print materials and content for presentation digitally

• Track performance and report communications metrics monthly during the Communications team meeting

Graphic Design

• Create artwork and any other graphic elements needed for email, web, social media, organizing and advocacy campaigns, and/or powerpoint presentations

• Manage the outward expression of Sisters identity, following brand guidelines, creating templates for others to use, and assisting/advising others in maintaining a consistent identity

Desired Skills and Experience

• Proficiency of Adobe Suite, Canva, and other design software

• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows/Office, Google Suite/Drive, internet applications, and standard office software

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy of donor information

• Strong problem solving and analytical skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple, simultaneous projects involving cross-functional teams

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to build relationships with a diverse community

• Not a prerequisite, but greatly appreciated is a basic familiarity with or enthusiasm to learn Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) software and fundraising principles, like community centric fundraising

Additional Information

Art has an important and powerful role to play in organizing, advocacy, and activism spaces! We welcome candidates with skills in photography, zine making, drawing, street art, crafts and textiles, comic drawing, mixed media, painting, murals, wheat paste - and so much more!

Sisters of the Road expects all employees to 

• Learn and practice the philosophies of nonviolence, gentle personalism, systemic change, dignity, and anti-oppression. 

• Demonstrate commitment to racial justice and anti-oppression through fostering understanding and refusing to perpetuate oppression Sisters’ spaces and the broader community. 

• Commit to a community-organizing model and a systemic change approach.

• Build and maintain relationships with community members, staff, volunteers, service partners, neighbors, and donors. 

• Interrupt violence and provide incident support, as needed. 

• Collaborate and share power, including listening and supporting others to create and implement solutions, as well as prioritizing confidentiality. 

• Adhere to the personnel policies as defined in the personnel handbook.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by this position. All staff may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. 

Work Environment: 

This position works in occasionally noisy and busy environments and directly with staff, volunteers, contractors, donors, vendors, and community members. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.. This position is based in an historic building that may experience fluctuations in hot and cold, dust, and other irritants and works in a loft area without an elevator and including stairs. Sisters of the Road is committed to provide reasonable accommodations. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? 

At this point, we hope you’re feeling excited about the job description you’re reading. Even if you don’t feel that you meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Research has shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Sisters of the Road is committed to building and nurturing a workplace that is authentic, reflective of our community, and is a place where people can bring their full selves. We especially welcome candidates who have lived experience with homelessness and poverty. Your unique experiences, expertise, and approach are valued and would have a meaningful impact on our work. If you’re excited about this role and working at Sisters of the Road, we encourage you to apply!

Summary of Benefits

• Fully paid health and vision insurance (PacificSource) with alternative medicine including chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy

• Fully paid dental insurance (Ameritas)

• Vacation: 3 wks (1st - 3rd year) ; 4 wks (4th year and onward) 

• Sick leave: 15 days/year

• 31 days paid sabbatical after every three years of consecutive employment

• 10 paid holidays plus your birthday off 

• 3 personal paid holidays 

• Civil disobedience/activism leave up to 5 days per year 

• Bereavement leave up to 5 days 

• Paid jury duty leave 

• Oregon Family Medical Leave after 6 months 

• No payroll deduction for Paid Leave Oregon 

• Non-profit Parking Permit when available

About Sisters of the Road

Sisters of the Road builds authentic relationships with our unhoused neighbors to alleviate the hunger of isolation, while fostering an atmosphere of nonviolence and gentle personalism that nurtures the whole person. From the beginning, Sisters of the Road has been committed to systemic change and working to address the root causes of homelessness and poverty and advocate for long-term solutions. Today, Sisters of the Road is a social justice hub rooted in the lived experiences of those affected by poverty and homelessness. We are grounded in our organization’s philosophies of anti-oppression, non-violence, dignity, systemic change, and gentle personalism, and we strive to embody them in our programs, relationships, and day to day work. 

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How to Apply

Please send a resumé and cover letter answering the following prompt to employment@sistersoftheroad.org with the subject line “Communications Specialist Application - [Candidate First and Last Name].” Cover Letter Prompt: We ask that applicants include the answer to these questions:

• How this position meets me where I am today;

• how this position meets me where I am going in my career;

• and, why I am the right person to be considered.

Regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In commitment to our philosophy of Gentle Personalism, where we believe in the intrinsic value of every individual, we ask that you refrain from using AI in helping you produce content for this application. This position is responsible for expressing the voice of our movement and requires authenticity that we believe cannot be achieved with prolific use of generative artificial intelligence to produce written and visual content. Furthermore, we commit in-turn to not using artificial intelligence to review applications or make a hiring determination.