Position Summary

The Marketing and Communications Coordinator oversees and implements Brooklyn Zen Center’s communications, marketing, and social media strategy.

The strategic emphasis for the next several years will be on raising awareness of and engagement with BZC’s mission and programming for our members, community, as well as local and national Buddhist practitioners.

Candidates must be committed to fostering inclusivity and participation across race, class, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, religious commitments, and to find alignment with BZC’s mission, vision, and values. To this end, the Coordinator will be expected to attend in-person programming at Boundless Mind Temple, BZC’s city temple.

The Marketing and Communications Coordinator reports to the Administrative Director (AD). This is a part-time 20 hours/week position based in Brooklyn, NY, with hybrid meetings.

Communications Tasks

Manage editing and review process for all BZC marketing and communication materials
Create and distribute consistent and engaging mission-aligned content for announcements at BZC programs
Coordinate and solicit writing from BZC Teachers, Staff, Board, and Sangha Members
Coordinate photography and videography as needed; maintain content in Filecamp photo archive
Ensure BZC events and content are up-to-date on all platforms (on and offline)
In coordination with AD and Practice Leadership, help meet attendance goals for programs
Work with the Development and Membership Manager to create campaigns and written materials for members and donors, e.g. sponsorship recruitment materials, appeal letters, brochures

Email Contact Management:
Create and manage email contact lists to strategically engage BZC communities
Increase and manage the collection of new contact leads from visitor sign-in, info@ inquiries, voice mails, etc. and send targeted communications to grow engagement
Create monthly newsletter and weekly program reminders in digital software (Mailchimp)
Coordinate proofreading and checking

Website:
Edit and upload content including text/photos/videos/media on BZC website
Ensure BZC website content is mission-aligned and user-friendly
Ensure event postings are accurate and up to date

Outreach and Community Engagement Tasks

Attend the Saturday Morning Program at Boundless Mind Temple at least twice a month in order to form community and understand the sangha’s needs
Attend occasional BZC retreats and classes (complementary)
In conversation with Practice Council, coordinate with mission-aligned sanghas and community groups to share, co-sponsor, and cross-post events
Coordinate volunteer efforts around:
Growing BZC’s presence across BZC’s social media to increase followers & online engagement, particularly Instagram
Editing and distributing BZC’s audio dharma podcast

Marketing and Public Relations Tasks

Design and generate MarCom collateral, such as newsletters, flyers, and other printed material
Write and distribute press releases for major BZC announcements
Strategically expand BZC’s national reach
Oversee advertising and placements in appropriate Buddhist and socially-engaged publications
Work with programming staff and practice leaders to identify audiences for BZC’s programs, then reach out to those audiences
Develop relationships with other Buddhist, spiritual, and activist centers to cross-promote programs
Identify potential media outlets and coordinate pitches for coverage and editorials/articles by BZC practice leaders

Education / Knowledge

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Marketing and/or Communications or related field
At least 3 years experience, preferably with a media, non-profit, Buddhist, or start-up

Skills and Requirements

Ability to track complex offerings across multiple platforms and locations
Strong computer skills, particularly Word and graphic design software
Familiarity with Instagram and Mailchimp
Familiarity with Salesforce or other CRM a plus
Flexibility, maturity and the ability to work calmly under deadline in a small team
Ability to work well with highly diverse constituencies
Commitment to BZC’s mission and vision

Please complete this Communications Assessment with your job application:

Draft an engaging, abbreviated copy of two sentences adjusted from the longer copy below, to use in newsletters and social media posts
Create a sample timeline for how you would promote this event across our email lists, website, and Instagram starting 6 weeks in advance, with notes on how to use copy and graphics to reach different audiences

Sample:

In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.

—Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Join us for a four-week class for newcomers to Zen practice. Boundless Mind Temple’s guiding teachers, Sarah and Charlie Senseis, will offer students a basic understanding of and orientation towards Zen practice and history. We invite you to join whether you are totally new to meditation, have practiced in other Buddhist traditions, or want an overview of the different forms and practices at our temples.

Each class will take place Saturday morning, 9:30–11am EST, at Boundless Mind Temple, and students are encouraged to stay for the regular dharma talk, temple cleaning, and tea time afterwards.

Class 1, Zazen (Meditation): Guidance, forms and home-practice

Class 2, Embodiment: The three treasures, bowing, chanting and ritual

Class 3, Lineage: An overview of Buddhist traditions and the development of Zen

Class 4, Community: Precepts, the Sangha treasure, meeting with teachers

Brooklyn Zen Center

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Marketing and Communications Coordinator