Communications Assistant - Part Time

About Us

At Metropolitan Family Services (MFS), we describe our culture in one word: COMMUNITY! Reflected in both our internal culture and the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do. Since 1857, MFS has empowered families to learn, to earn, to heal, and to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, we are the engine of change that helps families reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities.

About the Role

We are seeking a Communications Assistant to join our Southeast office in Chicago on a part-time basis. This role is ideal for someone looking to make an impact beyond a company’s bottom line.

Responsibilities

• Arrange regular constituent meetings, coordinate supervisor and staff meetings, and meetings with outside organizations independently.
• Manage external electronic communications, coordinate attendance, and handle other meeting-related tasks as needed.
• Handle highly sensitive and confidential material with discretion.
• Maintain frequent, tactful contact with Community Board members, management staff, business leaders, donors, government officials, and community leaders.
• Coordinate arrangements and materials for Community Board meetings, staff meetings, and other executive meetings; interact with related staff and Board members.
• Draft letters and develop or update materials; compose routine correspondence for the Executive.
• Use judgment to identify and escalate matters requiring the Executive’s timely attention, including problems affecting agency operations and program service delivery.
• Type, format, and draft manuscripts, reports, and other key documents, often confidential, ensuring accuracy and consistency with organizational procedures.
• Attend meetings, greet attendees, provide assistance, take minutes, and publicize them within requested timeframes.
• Coordinate documentation of all center staff and client events.
• Develop regular content for newsletters and social media platforms, highlighting success stories and programmatic information.
• Maintain a log of center accomplishments, including new programs, client counts, and center-based initiatives.
• Maintain memberships and subscriptions for the Executive or the center.
• Process and ensure payment of invoices for expenses generated by the Executive or designate.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field and 2+ years of recent office experience with increasing and multiple levels of responsibility, OR a High School Diploma (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5+ years of secretarial experience.
• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screenings and criminal background checks.
• Driving for work preferred, with a personally owned vehicle; travel between sites required.

Skills

• Excellent proficiency in a wide array of computer software, including Office Suite, SharePoint, OneDrive, Lucid Chart, and Canva.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including grammar, spelling, and the ability to compose and proofread documents.
• Excellent project management and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and anticipate the needs of the Executive.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a highly complex and fast-paced environment.
• Excellent tact, consideration, and good judgment in dealing with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Demonstrated success in increasing levels of management roles, including supervision of staff and oversight of domestic violence services.

Physical Demands

• Sitting and standing for sustained periods of time.
• Frequent talking, hearing, and use of hands/fingers to handle or operate objects/controls.
• Occasional standing, bending, stretching, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.
• Close visual acuity required for preparing and analyzing data, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Pay

The average starting hourly pay for this position ranges from $24.00 to $27.00 per hour, based on skill and experience level.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual and $4,000 to family HSA accounts (prorated based on benefits start date).
• Free General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services for all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.
• Additional benefits available; some benefits may vary for part-time and temporary workers.