Communications Associate - Cata | Community Access to the Arts (CATA)

Our Culture: Why work with us?CATA is about creating the community we believe in: one that recognizes the value of all of its members. We are a cohesive team, with an organizational culture rooted in curiosity, generosity, gratitude, and accountability. We are bold, creative, and innovative, inspired by our shared mission and strategic goals, and deeply dedicated to creating opportunities for CATA artists and fostering the growth and development of our team.

Who We Are :

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) is an innovative nonprofit that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities. For over 30 years CATA has been a trailblazer in artistic inclusion. Poised to continue our exciting growth, CATA boasts a beautiful new building, robust community partnerships, dynamic programs, strong equity initiatives, exceptional financial planning, and loyal donor retention. In CATA's powerful arts programs, children, teens, and adults with disabilities explore new interests and express themselves creatively, developing personally and artistically through dance, theater, singing, drumming, juggling, painting, yoga, creative writing, and more. Their vibrant work is showcased in CATA's public events- performances, readings, and art exhibits, presented in collaboration with premier cultural institutions in the Berkshires including The Clark Art Institute, Shakespeare & Company, and The Mount. Located in Great Barrington MA, CATA has an annual budget of $2.8M. CATA has been recognized for its groundbreaking work through the Massachusetts Cultural Council Commonwealth Award, NEPR Arts & Humanities Award, Mass Nonprofit Network Excellence Award, 1Berkshire Trendsetter Award, and the Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative. ​​In 2024, CATA received a highly competitive grant from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Open Call. CATA is led by a dedicated team of 19 full-time staff with 20 part-time teaching faculty and a 22-member board of directors.www.cataarts.org

Who You Are:

Vibrant community-based arts organization seeks a team player who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and is ready to develop their career in nonprofit marketing and communications.

A day in the life of this role:

This is a great opportunity to apply your talents to a trailblazing arts organization that is making a difference for our community. You'll be joining a nonprofit with deep-rooted community ties, creative programs, a new state-of-the-art facility, strong financial support, and a core commitment to equity and inclusion. You'll use your excellent writing, strong project management skills, and keen attention to detail to support CATA's communications strategy, including e-blasts, social media, website updates, digital media, and direct mail.

This position reports to the Communications Director and works closely with outside graphic designers and web developers.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Working under the direction of the Communications Director, support communications by coordinating and developing a wide range of materials and media that promote CATA's life-changing arts programs to people with disabilities and that share our mission-driven work with donors and the broader community.
• Social Media: Coordinate CATA's social media activity to increase awareness and audience engagement, draft posts, compile content, manage photo permissions, and create content schedule.
• E-Blasts: Working closely with the Communications Director, draft e-blast communications, write compelling copy, format photos and graphics, and coordinate segmented mailing lists to reach a broad audience of stakeholders.
• Photography & Video: Document workshops & programs through photos and video to support CATA's digital media, manage photo permissions, maintain CATA's photo archive; create short video and image campaigns for events, fundraising appeals, awareness campaigns, and more.
• Website Updates: Coordinate regular website updates and work with outside web development team to update blog articles, press releases, news stories, events, and digital media.
• Help design smaller, in-house marketing materials, including flyers, letters, fundraising materials, postcards, advertisements, and small mailings, and coordinate with outside graphic designer on larger projects.
• Events & Public Programs: Maintain event listings on website and in community and cultural calendars, support photography and video at CATA events, help identify and fulfill signage and communication needs for public programs; help produce and source accessible materials and translations.
• Press: Support CATA's press outreach, draft press releases, compile press kits and materials.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience;
• 2+ years of relevant work experience;
• High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite software, including Photoshop and InDesign; Experience with Adobe Premiere Pro and Illustrator a plus; Basic photography and video editing skills
• High proficiency in Google Suite, MS Office, and Zoom
• Proficiency with Social Media platforms; experience with Constant Contact (or similar platform) a plus
• Superb written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent time management, organizational planning, and administrative skills
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Proven ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks and projects concurrently in a fast-paced setting
• Ability to relate to a diverse range of people, exercise cultural competence and inclusion, and commit to deeper learning and professional development on racial and social justice;
• Must have reliable transportation to Great Barrington, MA. This is an in-person role with flexibility for some remote work. Local travel is required to attend CATA events, with mileage reimbursement available.
• COVID vaccination required of all CATA employees.

Benefits & Compensation:

The Communications Associate is a full-time, non-exempt position. Starting salary is commensurate with relevant experience, within the framework of the organization's operating budget, and in the range of $45,500 - $50,000 annually. An excellent benefits package includes:

• CATA pays 100% of employees' health & dental insurance premiums with no waiting period
• Family health and dental packages
• Retirement savings program of 401k plan with 4% employer match
• Generous paid vacation (prorated two weeks; increasing to three weeks after second year, plus separate sick time)
• Paid holidays including all federal holidays plus days before and after Thanksgiving; three extra December days, two floating religious holidays, birthday holiday, and extra "restorative week"
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage; Life insurance; Paid family leave; Mileage reimbursement for qualifying travel; CATA is a qualified employer under the PSLF federal student loan forgiveness plan
• Active participation in a mission-driven organization with a strong impact on the community and a positive, inclusive team culture rooted in curiosity, generosity, and accountability

How To Apply: Candidates should send a resume and a cover letter that describes how their qualifications and experience match the need. All inquiries and materials will be confidential.

CATA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates. CATA welcomes people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, gender identities, religions, ages, and sexual orientations to apply.

Apply by: Position posted until filled.