Marketing and Communications Coordinator

YSS is on the hunt for a creative powerhouse—someone with passion, energy, and a knack for making ideas look amazing. As our Marketing and Communications Coordinator. you’ll be the visual storyteller behind the content and graphics that shape how YSS shows up in the world. From designing eye-catching materials to managing our websites, emails, and social platforms, you’ll help keep our brand sharp, consistent, and impactful.
If juggling multiple projects, collaborating with great people, and bringing big ideas to life sounds like your kind of fun, here’s what you’ll dive into:
BASIC FUNCTIONS
Design, create, and oversee production of marketing materials.
Coordinate and execute email campaigns.
Maintain and update websites.
Ensure all print and digital materials adhere to YSS brand guidelines.
Manage Ember Recovery social media platforms.
ESSENTIAL TASKS
Support event planning, promotion, and on-site execution as part of the Community Engagement team.
Produce high-impact videos for campaigns, events, and social media—always aligned with brand voice and audience engagement goals.
Design newsletters, fliers, programs, posters, invitations, business cards, presentations, social media graphics, and swag using YSS’s brand standards.
Collaborate with staff to understand project needs, create drafts, gather feedback, and shepherd each project from concept to completion.
Coordinate production for print and digital communications; partner with vendors to ensure smooth delivery.
Serve as guardian of the YSS brand—maintaining consistency and guiding others on best practices.
Maintain and optimize website content, including SEO updates.
Create and distribute marketing emails; manage and update the email database.
Capture and edit photos of people, events, and programs for use across web and print.
Please know this is not a complete list of the position’s responsibilities. Duties can change.
What We Provide...
We believe in your potential, we meet you where you are, and we invest in your future. Beyond the meaningful work, YSS provides the following benefits:
Supportive leadership team and mission-driven culture.
Flexibility and autonomy in a collaborative environment.
Competitive salary
Comprehensive benefits.
Health insurance
Voluntary dental insurance
Voluntary vision insurance
Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
Supplemental accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance
Professional liability insurance coverage
Flexible spending account/health savings account
Supplemental compensation award
Generous Paid Time off and Leave
Four weeks of paid time off (PTO)
Volunteer time off
Paid holiday leave
Birthday holiday
Wellness Program Opportunities
Paid membership to the Athletic Club of Ames
Employee Assistance Program for all employees
Flu shots
Mental health support
YSS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer.
403(b) retirement offerings
To build a world where young people feel valued, seen, and empowered, we ask our team to live out YSS's core values: Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a ’Can Do’ Spirit. That keeps us moving forward.
Here’s what we’re looking for from you:
MUST HAVES - Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in graphic arts, design, marketing, or a related field.
Proven experience designing for print and web using tools like Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Canva.
Experience planning and managing events of all shapes and sizes.
Strong communication skills—listening, writing, speaking, and initiating.
Comfort juggling multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities without breaking a sweat (or at least hiding the sweat well).
SHOULD HAVES - Preferred Qualifications
Experience with email platforms such as Mailchimp.
Video production and editing skills using specialized software.
Working knowledge of social media strategy and content management systems.
A collaborative mindset and a positive, team-focused approach.
Creativity, resourcefulness, and solid problem-solving instincts.
The IDEAL Candidate Will:
Translate ideas and needs into clean, compelling designs.
Be organized, self-directed, and detail-obsessed in all the best ways.
Be mission-driven and committed to equity, inclusion, and meaningful social impact.
Bring humility, respect, and cultural awareness to every interaction.
Bonus points if you speak a second language—especially one widely used in our communities.
Who You Are...
You’re a creative problem-solver who loves turning ideas into eye-catching designs and compelling stories. You juggle projects with ease, communicate clearly, and thrive in collaborative, mission-driven environments. Detail-oriented, resourceful, and grounded in YSS’s core values, you bring a “let’s make it happen” energy to every project—whether it’s a video, a website update, a social post, or a last-minute event need.
We celebrate the strength in your story.
Have you navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability? Your lived experience offers a unique, compassionate perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and serving as a role model or mentor, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families.
Your journey matters. If you’re ready to use it to uplift and empower others, we warmly encourage you to apply.
Who We Are...
We’re YSS - one of Iowa’s oldest & largest nonprofits dedicated to putting kids first. Our mission? To spark hope, create opportunities, and help young people thrive. With life-changing programs, an enthusiastic leadership team, and our brand-new 50-acre recovery campus, we’re growing fast and thinking big. Check us out at yss.org!
At YSS, we celebrate the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences that each team member brings. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we’re dedicated to creating a respectful, inclusive, and empowering environment where everyone can grow and succeed. And we’re always working to do better together.
YSS is a nicotine-free workplace.
Heads Up! Don’t Miss Our Messages! - We communicate with applicants via email - straight from our Paycom system. So be sure to keep an eye on your inbox (and your spam/junk folder too). Got questions? Email yss@yss.org - we’re happy to help!
The YSS Hiring Process
Apply - Fill out the online app at yss.org/ysscareers.
Assessment - We’ll check out your skills and experience.
Interview - Phone, video, or in-person - we’ll chat and get to know you.
References - Send us three+ people who can sing your praises.
Screening - Background and driving checks (plus license verification if needed).
Offer - If it’s a match, you’ll get a formal offer through Paycom.
Applicable Degrees: Advertising, Communications, Digital Media / Digital Communications, Fine Arts (with a design or digital media emphasis), Graphic Design, Journalism, Marketing, Media Studies Multimedia Design / Multimedia Production, Public Relations, Visual Communication, Web Design / Web Development (especially if paired with marketing or content experience)
Keywords: Brand Management, Branding, Canva, CMS, Communications, Community, Content, Coordinator, Creation, Creative, Digital, Editing, Email, Engagement, Event, Graphic Design, Mailchimp, Mission-Driven, Multimedia, Nonprofit, Photo Editing, Photography, Promotion, SEO / Web Optimization, Services, Social Impact, Social Media, Video Production, Website, WordPress, Youth