Communications Specialist

Sitar Arts Center•Washington, DC

16d•Hybrid

About The Position

Sitar Arts Center engages DC youth, from early childhood to young adulthood, in building a creative community of learning and belonging that removes financial and cultural barriers to arts education and career training. We envision a city in which all young people experience transformative moments through quality, accessible arts education and career training, and are supported on their path to discover their creativity and achieve their full potential. At Sitar Arts Center, students engage in affordable, high-quality education and workforce development in the visual, digital, and performing arts. Each semester, 80% of students are from Washington DC households at 60% or less of the area median income. Programs take place year-round during out-of-school time at Sitar's state-of-the-art facilities, which feature an 85-seat theater, visual and digital art studios, a darkroom, dance studios, and private and ensemble instrumental music studios. Located in the vibrant Adams Morgan neighborhood, Sitar's community includes youth from every ward in DC. Across the year, up to 900 students engage in high-quality classes including instrumental music, ballet and hip-hop dance, acting and musical theater, digital photography and filmmaking, and more. Each summer, children from K- 8th grade enjoy our full-day, 6-week Camp Sitar, and teens enroll in summer workforce development programs. As the Communications Specialist, you will support the development, execution, and management of Sitar Arts Center’s communications and marketing initiatives. Your work will help elevate Sitar’s digital presence, strengthen storytelling, and ensure consistent, accessible, and engaging communications across channels. You will collaborate with the Director of Communications and internal teams to execute strategies that engage Sitar’s community and showcase our mission, programs, and impact.

Requirements

2+ years of professional experience in communications, marketing, or digital content creation, preferably in a youth development, arts, or nonprofit setting.
Strong proficiency in graphic design with experience using Canva or Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop).
Experience with email marketing platforms (e.g., ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects on deadline.
Passion for the arts and belief in Sitar’s mission of equity and access through arts education.
Background check and TB test
Ability to work in person, plus some evenings and Saturdays for community events.

Responsibilities

Support the development of compelling written and visual content that reflects the voices of our community.
Conduct interviews with students, families, faculty, and alumni for story collection.
Write and edit blog posts, spotlights, and feature stories.
Translate long-form stories into social media and campaign-ready content, especially for LinkedIn.
Draft captions, content themes, and campaign ideas.
Proofread communications for clarity, accuracy, and brand consistency.
Serve as the primary creator of print and digital materials that promote Sitar’s programs and initiatives.
Design flyers, postcards, signage, brochures, multi-page documents, and infographics.
Prepare visuals and layouts for reports, presentations, and event materials.
Ensure all designs align with Sitar’s visual brand and accessibility standards.
Execute digital outreach strategies to grow engagement and awareness.
Manage, design, and distribute email campaigns that promote programs and build community.
Maintain contact lists and monitor email performance metrics.
Schedule, publish, and monitor content on social media platforms.
Publish approved updates to Sitar’s website and third-party platforms.
Support SEO efforts through optimized content updates.
Help implement and assess strategic marketing plans.
Maintain brand consistency across all communication channels.
Organize and update the organization’s asset library and branded templates.
Assist with campaign planning and strategy execution
Support reporting and dashboards to track communications performance
Assist with Center events, including student performances, community programs, tours, and the annual gala.
Participate in staff meetings, training sessions, and planning retreats.
Foster a positive and inclusive staff culture aligned with Sitar’s mission and values.
Perform other duties as assigned.