Join the Scalawag team!

Scalawag is currently hiring for the following two positions:

Development Director (Full time)

Visual Editor (Contract, 16 hours/week)

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Position: Development Director 

Compensation: $93,600 annually, plus a competitive benefits package
Start Date: September 2023
Location: Remote within the U.S. South (preference given to Atlanta, New Orleans, and Durham)
Reports to: Executive Director-Publisher

Scalawag's Mission: Scalawag is a Southern, Black-led and -centering, digital-first journalism and storytelling organization that works in solidarity with oppressed communities in the South to disrupt and shift the narratives that keep power and wealth in the hands of the few. Collectively, we pursue a more liberated South. Online, in person, and through meaningful engagement with our readers and supporters, Scalawag reimagines the roots and futures of the place we call home.

About this role: Scalawag's first-ever Development Director will work in tandem with the Development Officer and the Executive Director-Publisher to build, direct, and implement a consistent and dynamic revenue strategy to match the organization's values and ensure our long-term sustainability. 

They will be expected to work closely with an array of stakeholders, including Scalawag's board of directors, donors, foundation partners, and contractors. 

Scope of work:

Growth:

• Establish and manage individual and institutional giving goals, strategies, and processes with Executive Director-Publisher
• Develop and implement a comprehensive, strategic, donor-centered fundraising plan that aligns with Scalawag's revenue goals for foundation grants, major gifts, individual donors, sponsorships, and events
• Be responsible for major gift solicitation and stewardship. This includes supporting the Executive Director-Publisher, other internal influencers, and volunteer staff as needed for donor acknowledgments 
• Identify new prospects for the major gifts portfolio and opportunities for increased giving by current donors
• Develop and maintain a calendar of grant opportunities, manage the grant application process, and ensure timely and accurate grant reporting, with assistance from the development specialist
• Identify capability and capacity gaps in our development and growth processes and work with the strategy and operations team to fill those gaps through prioritization or hiring
• Plan and implement grassroots fundraising campaigns and standalone outreach to drive revenue from small-dollar donors

Communications & Stakeholder Management:

• Manages external partnerships and board relationships with the Executive Director-Publisher and the Director of Operations
• Works with the Executive Director-Publisher to publish monthly stakeholder reports and communications
• Develop and maintain a donor cultivation and stewardship processes for current donors/funders
• Draft donor correspondence and maintain primary responsibility for developing campaign messages, project plans, talking points and donor materials
• Plan and manage fundraising and special events and supervise contractors hired to assist with events, if needed
• Recommend and manage donor software to include data entry, gift processing and acknowledgment, data extraction for reports and remain proficient in the software
• Monitor all revenue received and provide statistics, analysis, and reports to leadership monthly, quarterly or annually
• Participates in external and internal visibility opportunities to strengthen Scalawag's brand and build awareness around the organization's work and progress
• Work with the Development Officer to develop and maintain fundraising roles of our advisory board to increase Scalawag's ability to raise funds and loyal supporters

Organizational:

• Serve as a member of Scalawag's executive and senior leadership teams
• Attend organizational team meetings and meaningfully contribute to discussions where it intersects with their work or is otherwise required or appropriate
• Attend annual in-person and quarterly virtual team retreats and meaningfully contribute to discussions where it intersects with your work or is otherwise required or appropriate
• Recognize yourself as a team member in a growth organization and be willing to take an iterative, solutions-oriented approach to the work
• Commit to taking 100% responsibility for the practice of Scalawag's values, guiding principles, and norms

Must-have skills:

• Commitment to racial justice and dismantling white supremacy
• An ever-present awareness of the "big picture" and how all the parts are working together to drive us toward our goals
• A keen and curious listener and asker of great questions
• A belief in the power of storytelling and journalism
• An excellent self-starter and manager with a collaborative approach to creation and an independent work ethic
• Kindness, curiosity, and a direct but thoughtful approach to giving feedback
• Currently lives in or is from the South and can articulate an understanding of our region's politics and political struggle 
• An ability to thrive in a startup environment where you have the agency to co-develop best practices and fundraising strategies 
• Experience writing compelling, concise and polished fundraising content, including grant applications, financial reports, solicitations and donor/funder correspondence 
• Experience developing, growing and maintaining a range of nonprofit revenue streams
• A working knowledge of donor software and other relevant fundraising technology 
• Experience setting and meeting annual revenue goals
• Experience organizing and managing multiple projects as well as contractors
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

What makes Scalawag a unique place to work:

• We center oppressed people, not just in our work but also in our organizational culture and structure, particularly Black and queer folks. We are not here for homophobia, white supremacy, classism, racial-capitalism or misogyny. 
• We resist toxic hallmarks of the non-profit industrial complex; we respect boundaries, hours, and priorities outside of Scalawag. 
• We like to work with folks who have their hands in several pots. We want you to bring all the things you do outside of Scalawag to bear on our mission to help us create radical, reciprocal Southern communities around solidarity and storytelling.
• Black, queer, trans, and other candidates with marginalized backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.   

Compensation & benefits:

The salary for this position is $93,600, annually. All Scalawag employees are eligible to receive a 100% employer-provided health benefits package that includes health coverage, vision, dental, and life & disability insurance. We also provide paid sick leave, vacation and holidays, an annual technology stipend, professional development support, and more. 

To apply:

Please send your resume and cover letter explaining your background, relevant work experiences, and why you are a good fit for Scalawag. For candidates who are invited to interview we will request work samples to review. 

Submit all materials by emailing team@scalawagmagazine.org, with the subject line "Development Director" by July 13th, 2023. 

Scalawag is committed to workplace equity. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

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Position: Visual Editor 

Compensation: $47.39 an hour, contract role paid monthly with the expectation of an average of 16 hours per week.
Start Date: September 2023
Location: Remote within the U.S. South (preference given to Atlanta, Birmingham, and Durham)
Reports to: Creative Director

Scalawag's Mission: Scalawag is a journalism and storytelling organization that works in solidarity with oppressed communities in the South to disrupt and shift the narratives that keep power and wealth in the hands of the few. Collectively, as a Black-led, Black-centering, multiracial coalition, we pursue a more liberated South. Online, in person, and through meaningful engagement with our readers and supporters, Scalawag reimagines the roots and futures of the place we call home.

About this role: Scalawag is seeking a part-time visual editor to work with our editorial, creative, and content production teams. In keeping with Scalawag's editorial brand, voice, and mission, the visual editor will take assets from ideation to execution to publish-ready, as well as work with audience and product team leaders to turn stellar stories into irresistible multimedia content. Qualified candidates will be self-starters, possess an ability to work with quick turnarounds, and primed to create visual assets, while also creating brand assets, products, and ads to grow awareness, engagement, loyalty, and conversions at every stage of the funnel. 

Qualified candidates will be self-starters, possess an ability to work with quick turnarounds, and primed to focus on the creation of original assets.

This position will be paid monthly at $47.39 /hour, with the assumption of hours not to exceed an average of 16 hours per week. Hours may fluctuate with story production, with the potential to increase hours as Scalawag increases capacity for publishing.

Scope of work:

Editorial Content (40%)

• Create original illustrations, visuals, and/or infographics to accompany content across platforms.
• Manage and edit original visual content for the website, optimizing for mobile
• Choose and curate appropriate stock images in keeping with established visual standards for Scalawag's content.

Web Management (20%)

• Under the direction of the Creative Director, design logos, icons, and branded promo for products, stories, emails, events, ad campaigns, and special products for all platforms.
• Work within brand guidelines to create layouts and header images as needed for new projects to reinforce style or voice throughout new visual touch points as they arise.
• Assist Digital Editor in revamping older/archive content for new layouts on the updated website, including changes to featured images and captions.

Audience content (30%)

• Create assets to post related to stories and generate visual content specifically for Instagram as a bespoke visual storytelling platform.
• Provide or commission photography for in-person events when necessary.
• Manage, and edit original visual content for all online platforms (Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram) and Scalawag products (podcast, newsletters) including takeovers and collaborations.
• Develop bold and consistent visual brand aesthetic appeal to BlPOC audiences, based on our content.

• Produce cohesive and effective event promotion and follow-up assets.
• Design other user-centered layouts and materials for donors and stakeholders.

Organizational (10%)

• Attend organizational team meetings and meaningfully contribute to discussions where it intersects with their work or is otherwise required or appropriate.
• Attend annual in-person and quarterly virtual team retreats and meaningfully contribute to discussions where it intersects with their work or is otherwise required or appropriate.
• Stay abreast of current events pertaining to Scalawag's mission and vertical coverage.
• Follow news from other regional, state, and local media outlets across the South.
• Follow social media accounts of Southern movement organizers, justice-oriented organizations, public officials, and others with insider knowledge of the South's political landscape.
• Recognizes themselves as a team member in a growth organization and is willing to take an iterative, solutions-oriented approach to the work. 
• Is committed to taking 100% responsibility for the practice of Scalawag's values, guiding principles, and norms.

Skills to have:

• Commitment to racial justice and dismantling white supremacy
• An ever-present awareness of the "big picture" and how all the parts are working together to drive us toward our goals
• Ability to juggle multiple projects while effectively managing timelines and expectations. 
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• The ability to effectively take direction and work both collaboratively and
• autonomously.
• A grounding in Southern history and understanding of justice struggles in the South.
• A keen and curious listener and asker of great questions
• A belief in the power of storytelling and journalism
• Impeccable editorial judgment
• Kindness, curiosity, and a direct but thoughtful approach to giving feedback
• Currently lives or has lived in the South and can articulate an understanding of our region's politics and political struggle

To apply:

To apply for this role, please submit your resume, a cover letter, and a portfolio of two to three work samples (website, film, pdfs or image, branding packages) or projects that you have led from ideation to execution via email to team@scalawagmagazine.org. The deadline to apply is July 13th, 2023 at 5 p.m. EST. 

Scalawag is committed to workplace equity. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.