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FT Job Opportunity | Lead Data Analyst + Designer | New Sun Rising + TrailBlaze Creative

Mar 17, 2022

Job Description | Apply here

TrailBlaze Creative, (TBC) an independent marketing and communications firm, seeks a talented individual to assist in developing new and unique marketing journeys for our clients. As a firm dedicated to lifting the communities in which we serve, our team members have a passion for solving community challenges, using marketing, communications, and technology to find success. Our team is collaborative, agile, and dynamic with an entrepreneurial spirit that serves to benefit our clients. We’re right in that sweet spot of industry experience and youthful curiosity that keeps us researching and learning about new trends. We’re fun people who create fun stuff. We are not a typical agency. We are more of a think tank that uses marketing and communications to solve challenges that organizations face.

In the last year, we’ve tackled some major problems for our clients including bridging the digital divide in Pittsburgh, driving economic recovery efforts in communities across North America, attracting underserved populations to new workforce opportunities, assisting small businesses to pivot from brick and mortar to online sales, and much, much more. If this kind of work excites you, then we should talk. Most of our work includes teaming with nonprofit clients on complex issues. This position is no exception. While TrailBlaze Creative will be the employer for this position, a portion of their time will support the data and graphic design needs of our nonprofit partner and client, New Sun Rising who will also be participating in the hiring process.

New Sun Rising (NSR) is an innovative nonprofit intermediary that helps communities both lead and benefit from the changes they wish to see. They provide capacity-building services to over 150 nonprofit, social enterprise, and collaborative leaders each year while providing accessible funding programs that reduce barriers to financial capital. New Sun Rising recognizes that not all people and places enjoy the same level of access to the information, technology, and networks necessary to increase their impact. In response, they have grown their commitment to data utilization and creative advocacy over the past several years. Their goal is to help disinvested communities organize around their vision and better absorb all forms of capital to power regenerative development initiatives.

New Sun Rising is a small team of passionate people committed to the core values of an equitable + inclusive society, adaptive processes, and asset-based strategies. We work to help local people build Vibrant Communities by strengthening their culture, promoting sustainability, and creating opportunity, as measured and coordinated through the Sustainable Development Goals.
Applications for this position are being accepted by TrailBlaze Creative through Idealist.

Lead Data Analyst + Designer

This position exists at the intersection of data and design, with the ideal candidate being able to assess data, understand trends, explore data gaps, challenge data bias, and tell compelling stories using graphic design functions. This position is ideal for data techies with a passion and skillset for graphic design and storytelling. Since it is a bit unique, we are looking for the “right fit”. We recognize this is a unique combination of skillsets, but when we find the right fit, we will accomplish some amazing work together! We anticipate this position will be focused on data 40% of the time and design 60% of the time. Since this position is a bit unique, please humor us as we explain in some detail…here’s what we’re seeking:

Data Analysis

TrailBlaze regularly engages clients in providing qualitative and quantitative analysis of their issues, so naturally, we engage with a good bit of data. This position will help us ensure we are telling the right stories and messages as it relates to communications and messaging. This could include research, data analysis, impact reviews, web analytics reporting, and more. However much of the “data” portion of this position will be managed by New Sun Rising.

This position leads data collection, analysis, and reporting to increase the effectiveness of New Sun Rising and its nonprofit, social enterprise, and collaborative partners. The position applies equitable and inclusive methods to translate quantitative and qualitative data into strategies that increase competitiveness for all forms of capital: financial, social, knowledge, and creative.

The Lead Data Analyst + Designer manages and implements the data + creative advocacy initiatives of New Sun Rising, collectively known as Power in Numbers. The position involves regular interaction and utilization of their Vibrancy Portal technology platform, including geolocated community data, enterprise data management (EDM), customer relations management (CRM), and third-party impact measurement software. The Lead Data Analyst + Designer also works closely with a diverse group of staff, community partners, and institutions to coordinate and support their data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Graphic Design

As a marketing and communications firm, TrailBlaze, naturally, has a large graphic design demand. Many of our professionals are well-versed in graphic design, but someone who can provide more professional design expertise is desired in this role, including in the areas of visual storytelling and brand development. In addition to strong graphic design skills across the Adobe Suite, this person will need a keen eye for the theory behind the design. That means this position won’t strictly be designing but will help to influence design and strategy by offering guidance across all of our work. This position won’t just take direction from our team and clients but will also be expected to offer strategic guidance on execution. If a headline isn’t on point, if there is a gap in the execution strategy, we expect this position to help us deliver.

The Lead Data Analyst + Designer will also use their skillset to support data storytelling for New Sun Rising. The position serves a critical role in making data more accessible, through visualizations that produce clear insights and inspire action. The position will at times work with quantitative and qualitative data in the production of creative design assets to accomplish this goal.

Requirements

Responsibilities

Managing and performing the ongoing process of data collection, data entry, and analysis
Lead data collection using the Enterprise Data Management System (EDM) (Vibrancy Portal), Impact Measurement Platform (Sopact Impact Cloud), and other third-party data sources
Producing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for the organization, and ad hoc reports for clients
Designing compelling communications, charts, and infographics for the purposes of performance improvement, thought leadership, case making, and fundraising
Recognizing human patterns and trends and translating them into powerful data-driven stories and creative advocacy campaigns
Contributing to the conceptual technical design and development of the Vibrancy Portal technology platform
Helping to develop income opportunities that increase financial sustainability
Work with internal team to facilitate graphic design projects across digital and print platforms
Project manage all graphic design efforts across projects
Significant attention to details in design and content
Serve as point-of-contact for clients on certain projects
Manage external vendors and the bidding process for collateral and other ordered items
Develop website mockup designs following technological and marketing trends
Create internal processes around graphic design to include trafficking, approvals, etc.
Support the brand mapping process, influencing our internal intellectual property and client processes to result in better design
Collaborate with and critique others on the team who provide graphic design support. We all pitch in!
Manage the TrailBlaze brand, ensuring the firm remains graphically advanced and cutting edge
Provide internal professional development around graphic design to team members
Help us be better at what we do. We want to be better with each position for which we hire.

Skillset Must-haves

Strong sense of marketing theory, strategy, and practice to provide guidance beyond the basic design (proactive…not reactive)
Strong proficiency in Adobe Suite. Most of our work is in Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
Graphic design acumen, including visual storytelling, infographics, reports, and more
Strong project management skills, time management, and work ethic
2-3 years professional, full-time experience
A willingness to learn and collaborate
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google tools
Community-oriented data practices centered in equity and “do no harm” approaches
Detailed analysis ability including qualitative and quantitative insights
Crafting human-centered stories and content that are relevant to a wide-range of audiences
Producing technical documentation for development
(Last but perhaps most important) Our team has a passion for learning, collaboration, and our work. Our clients do AMAZING things. You must have a passion for communities, people, and making systems better for communities and people. We love people with a similar passion for this work.

Skillset Nice to haves

Experience with Figma, MailChimp, social media, and other digital tools and channels where graphic design is important
Experience in user interface and user experience design (UI/UX)
Producing technical documentation and user stories for web development

Graphic design expectations will span all types of media and channels. Branding, brochures, web design, event collateral are all deliverables that this position will manage. We do some fun and important work for mission-based clients that are working to impact their communities.

This position will primarily telecommute (especially in the current environment), however, occasional in-person client and team meetings will be required throughout the Pittsburgh region. Our preference is to work with a candidate that is able to travel to these meetings in person. If you are not currently located in Pittsburgh, please address your intentions in your cover letter (e.g Are you willing/able to relocate? Do you feel you can accomplish the role remotely? etc.). It is important that candidates have access to internet access and phone access. Since regular meetings with TrailBlaze leadership and clients are also expected, access to periodic transportation is required.

If you’ve made it this far, then we’d like to hear from you.

Please submit your resume, work product samples, and a cover letter if you meet the needs of our description listed above to Idealist.
Please note that we will only consider candidates that have a cover letter, portfolio/work product (online portfolio website is OK), and resume. Insider tip: this is how we determine who is able to understand the position and follow directions and pay attention to detail. We need all of these items in order to fully evaluate candidates. Candidates who do not include these items will not be considered.

TrailBlaze Creative, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.