Communications and Social Media Specialist, Independent Contractor

Oberlin, OH

Teaching Artists Training Institute (TATI)

Date Posted: 9/17/2026

Scope of Work

Title: TATI Communications and Social Media Specialist

Organization: Miami Music Project

Primary Contact: TATI Managing Director

Classification: Independent Contractor

Anticipated Scope: Ongoing marketing and communications services throughout the contract period. The scope is anticipated to require an average level of effort comparable to approximately 10–12 hours per week, with fluctuations surrounding major events, campaigns, and program launches.

Location: Services may be performed remotely. Travel to select TATI events are to be included in the scope of work as mutually agreed upon.

Contract Start Date: October 2026

Compensation

$24,000 annually

Miami Music Project Overview

Miami Music Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses music as an instrument for social transformation, empowering children to acquire values and achieve their full potential, positively affecting their society through the study and performance of music. Miami Music Project's vision is to create opportunity and access through music for those most in need, improve the quality of life for children today and ultimately transform their lives, the lives of their families and their communities. Emerging as a model for music education programs nationally, Miami Music Project offers free of charge, after-school and summer programming to all students with no barriers to entry, regardless of race or economic status. As of today, Miami Music Project has reached thousands of children and youth across Miami-Dade County, becoming one of the largest socially transformative music initiatives in US. Miami Music Project is the Managing Organization of the Teaching Artists Training Institute. More at: miamimusicproject.org

Teaching Artists Training Institute Overview

Founded by a generous grant from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, the Teaching Artists Training Institute (TATI) was launched in 2020 and is guided by the belief that transformational music education starts with transformational training for teachers. Since founding, TATI has engaged more than 1,000 Teaching Artists across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Providing more than 6,000 hours annually of professional development, TATI equips Teaching Artists with the tools and skills necessary to strengthen their teaching practice and be better prepared to support the more than 30,000 underrepresented students and communities they work with across the country. TATI is powered by Miami Music Project, which provides legal and fiduciary oversight, financial management, and administrative support. For more information, visit tatraininginstitute.org.

TATI's Core Values

• Social Justice and Anti-Racism: We prioritize the continuous exploration of identities, power dynamics, privilege, and oppression. We seek individuals passionate about social change through music and who are committed to social justice and anti-racist practices.

• Communication and Curiosity: Effective communication and a willingness to ask questions and seek help are vital. We value exceptional interpersonal skills and a demonstrated eagerness to learn, reflect, and grow.

• Collaboration: We thrive as a team, benefiting our teachers, programs, and national community through mutual support and the collective creation of new ideas. We seek individuals who excel in working collaboratively with both peers and supervisors.

• Respect and Integrity: We honor the ideas of others, recognizing the impact of our actions and words. We value honesty, giving credit where it's due, and maintaining professionalism in all interactions.

• Reflection and Feedback: We believe mistakes are proof of learning. We value reflection and feedback, encouraging team members to embrace vulnerability and see challenges as a learning opportunity.

• Engagement and Presence: We encourage full ownership, accountability, and presence. We value listening as much as speaking and believe in meeting personal needs while respecting the organizations' overall goals.

Scope of Services

The Teaching Artists Training Institute (TATI) seeks an independent Communications and Social Media Specialist to provide ongoing strategic and creative marketing, social media, and communications services that strengthen TATI's national visibility, support program recruitment and engagement, and communicate the organization's impact.

Working closely with the Managing Director, the Specialist will develop and execute communications strategies that increase awareness of TATI's programs; strengthen engagement with Teaching Artists, nonprofit and arts education partners, alumni, funders, and supporters; and tell the story of TATI's impact through compelling digital and print communications.

The Specialist will serve as a steward of TATI's public voice and visual identity, helping ensure consistent, mission-driven messaging across communication channels. The scope combines strategic communications planning with hands-on content creation, digital storytelling, and social media management, with an emphasis on strengthening TATI's position as a national leader in Teaching Artist professional development.

TATI will establish organizational priorities, key deadlines, brand guidelines, and desired outcomes. As an independent contractor, the Consultant will determine the methods, workflow, and scheduling necessary to complete agreed-upon services and deliverables.

What Success Looks Like

Success means that TATI's communications consistently reflect the quality, professionalism, and impact of its work while helping the organization reach and engage a growing national audience.

A successful Communications & Social Media Specialist:

• Strengthens TATI's visibility and recognition, helping more Teaching Artists, arts education organizations, partners, and supporters understand who TATI is and the value of its work;

• Builds meaningful audience engagement, creating communications that encourage people to connect with TATI, participate in programs, and remain engaged with the organization over time;

• Brings TATI's impact to life through authentic storytelling, elevating the experiences and voices of participants, alumni, faculty, and partners;

• Ensures TATI presents a cohesive and professional public identity, with communications that feel consistent, intentional, and aligned with the organization's mission and values; and

• Serves as a proactive and reliable communications partner, bringing creative ideas, strategic insight, and recommendations that help TATI strengthen its communications as the organization continues to grow.

Services & Deliverables

Marketing & Communications

• Implement TATI's marketing and communications strategy in collaboration with the Managing Director, with a focus on national visibility, program recruitment, community engagement, and communicating organizational impact;

• Create compelling written and visual content for newsletters, email campaigns, social media, routine website updates, organizational announcements, and print or digital collateral;

• Maintain a communications calendar aligned with TATI's annual program cycle, recruitment periods, events, organizational milestones, and communications priorities;

• Ensure consistency in TATI's public messaging, brand voice, and visual identity across communications channels and materials.

Social Media & Digital Communications

• Manage content development, scheduling, and publishing across TATI's primary social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn;

• Actively engage and grow TATI's online community through thoughtful interaction with followers, alumni, partners, peer organizations, and relevant accounts, including comments, likes, shares, follows, and other platform-appropriate engagement strategies;

• Maintain regular email communications, including newsletters and targeted campaigns, and complete routine content updates to the TATI website;

• Plan and manage paid social media campaigns and boosted content, as appropriate and within TATI-approved advertising budgets, to support program recruitment, events, and organizational visibility;

• Monitor social media, website, and email performance and use analytics to evaluate audience growth, reach, and engagement and inform ongoing communications strategy.

Event Marketing & Storytelling

• Develop promotional and storytelling content for TATI programs and events that highlights the experiences and impact of participants, alumni, faculty, and organizational partners;

• Attend select TATI events throughout the year or coordinate marketing interns, alumni volunteers, and contracted photographers/videographers to capture photography, video, interviews, and other storytelling assets;

• Organize and maintain TATI's digital media library and communications assets to support ongoing and future content development.

General Responsibilities

• Participate in regular planning meetings with the Managing Director and collaborate with TATI staff to identify communications priorities, upcoming needs, and content opportunities;

• Provide additional communications services and deliverables as mutually agreed upon based on organizational priorities and available scope.

Qualifications and Desired Skills for the Ideal Contractor

• Strong alignment with TATI's mission and core values, with an interest in communicating the impact of Teaching Artists, arts education, and professional learning;

• At least 3 years of professional experience in communications, marketing, social media, public relations, or a related field, with demonstrated experience independently managing communications projects and priorities;

• Demonstrated experience managing professional social media accounts, including content development, publishing, community engagement, audience growth, and performance analytics across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn;

• Excellent writing, editing, storytelling, and communication skills, with the ability to translate organizational programs, impact, and priorities into clear and engaging content for different audiences and platforms;

• Experience with digital communications and content creation tools, including Canva, WordPress, Constant Contact or similar email marketing platforms, and social media management tools;

• Strong creative and visual judgment, with an eye for branding, design, photography, and digital storytelling;

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to independently manage a communications calendar, multiple priorities, and deadlines within a limited weekly scope;

• Experience working with nonprofit organizations is strongly preferred; experience in education, arts education, professional learning, or other mission-driven settings is particularly valuable for understanding TATI's content and audiences;

• Experience with photography, videography, or coordinating photographers, videographers, interns, or other contributors to collect storytelling assets is preferred;

• Proficiency with Google Workspace and digital collaboration platforms, with the ability to quickly learn and adapt to TATI's existing technologies and systems;

• Fluency in English required; Spanish proficiency is beneficial.

Additional Requirement: Must be willing and able to travel to select TATI events throughout the program year.

To Apply

Complete the application form HERE.

In lieu of a cover letter, you will be asked to answer the following questions:

• What interests you about providing communications and social media services to TATI, and what about our work or audiences particularly resonates with you?

• Tell us about a communications or social media project or campaign you're particularly proud of. What was the goal, what was your approach, and how did you determine whether it was successful?

• This contract requires independently managing an ongoing communications calendar, multiple priorities, and changing organizational needs within a limited scope. How do you typically organize your work with clients, manage competing deadlines, and communicate when priorities or capacity need to be adjusted?

• Is there anything about your experience, creative approach, or the work samples you've shared that you would particularly like us to know as we consider your fit for this contract?

Applicants will also be asked to submit 3–5 relevant work samples that demonstrate their communications, social media, writing, storytelling, and/or visual content experience. Samples may be provided through a portfolio link, individual links, or uploaded files.

Applications submitted through any other systems including but not limited to LinkedIn, Indeed, E-mail, etc, will not be considered. Priority will be given to applications received by September 18, 2026. Applications will be considered until position is filled.

Miami Music Project is firmly committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. We hire qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, marital or veteran / military status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status.