June 2015
Communications Associate
Employment Status: Full-time, Nonexempt
Reports to: Director of Communications
About the Heising-Simons Foundation
Established in 2007 by husband and wife Board Members Mark Heising and Liz Simons, the
Heising-Simons Foundation is dedicated to sustainable solutions in environment, supporting
groundbreaking research in science, and enhancing the education of the nation’s youngest learners.
The Foundation makes grants at the local, state, and national levels.
The Foundation’s grantmaking is guided by the following values:
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We believe education is the route to opportunity.
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We are committed to promoting sustainability.
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We believe in research-driven solutions.
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We are committed to engaging and uniting stakeholders.
The Foundation currently has an asset base of about $312,000,000. In 2014, the Foundation
awarded $37,566,643 in grants.
Position Summary
The Communications Associate supports the Director of Communications and the
Communications team to advance Foundation and programmatic goals through the use of strategic
communications. This includes work related to institutional communications, programmatic
communications, and work with grantees. The Communications Associate is responsible for
assisting in the coordination of projects, consultants, and partners; in performing research; in the
development of materials; and in organizing new systems and databases, among other duties. This is
an exciting opportunity for a talented and intellectually curious person to serve as an integral
member of a new and developing team, and help define opportunities for the department and
Foundation.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
1. In support of the Director of Communications, ensure the effective operations of a new
Communications department by providing overall support in the development, implementation,
and execution of the Foundation’s communications plans, strategies, systems, and tactics.
2. Coordinate and support projects, consultants, and partners as arise.
3. Support development and management of the Foundation’s website, including research, content
creation, and site management. Work with the Communications team and outside vendors to
ensure functionality, engagement, relevancy, and accessibility of site.
June 2015
4. Support research, development, and management of Foundation communications tools,
including email distribution systems, contact databases, and exploration of social media channels
and other digital communications approaches.
5. Develop and monitor analytics to evaluate campaigns and institutional communications, and
stay informed of new tools and best practices related to outreach and analytics.
6. Draft written materials, provide editing support, and coordinate development and dissemination
of materials.
7. Develop electronic materials and PowerPoint presentations.
8. Provide support on internal communications.
9. Monitor news and information related to the Foundation and its program areas.
10. Plan events, meetings, and gatherings as needed.
11. Provide logistical support to Director and to Communications team.
12. Serve as supportive, creative, and flexible team member on projects and initiatives.
Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities
 A bachelor’s degree is required, with preferably at least two years of demonstrated work
experience
 Excellent written and oral communication skills, with proven ability to translate complex
concepts into digestible language for multiple audiences
 Excellent project management skills
 Excellent research skills
 Strong online communications and social media experience
 Ability to plan and prioritize work and meet deadlines
 An understanding of graphic design
 Excellent attention to detail
 Excellent analytic abilities and critical thinking skills
 Intellectual curiosity, passion, and hunger to develop, learn, and try new things
 Track record of working with a high functioning team
 Technologically savvy with, at a minimum, proficiency in Microsoft Office applications,
including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook, and social media platforms.
 Excellent interpersonal skills including being articulate, collegial, energetic, and the ability to
develop strong relationships with colleagues, partners, and consultants
 Highly organized, creative, and flexible
 Sense of teamwork, community, humor, and integrity
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, welcomes a diverse pool of applicants, and makes
employment decisions on the basis of merit. Foundation policy prohibits unlawful discrimination
based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry,
June 2015
citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, military service, legally protected
medical condition, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.
Applicants with Disabilities
Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified applicants with disabilities may participate
in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.
Benefits and Compensation
The Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a salary that is commensurate with
education and experience. This nonexempt, full-time position is located in Los Altos, California.
Application Instructions
To apply for this position, please send cover letter, resume, and salary history to
hr@heisingsimons.org with “Communications Associate” in the subject line. Review of applications
will continue until July 13, 2015. No phone inquiries please.