Application Guide
How to Apply for Manager, Strategic Communications (Content)
at DigDeep
🏢 About DigDeep
DigDeep is a unique WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) nonprofit addressing the water access gap in the U.S., where over 2 million people lack a tap or toilet at home. They run nationally recognized programs that empower communities to build their own water and sanitation systems, making a tangible impact on rural and Indigenous communities. This role offers the chance to combine strategic communications with on-the-ground storytelling in a mission-driven organization.
About This Role
As Manager of Strategic Communications (Content), you will lead content strategy across all channels, own media and press relations, and manage field content production. Your work will directly amplify the stories of communities gaining water access, making this role both creatively fulfilling and impactful. You'll shape the narrative for a growing organization that values ethical storytelling and community empowerment.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with checking media mentions and responding to press inquiries, then shift to a virtual meeting with the field team to plan an upcoming site visit. Afternoon could involve editing a donor impact report in InDesign, reviewing a pitch list for a new campaign, and wrapping up by coordinating logistics for a film crew traveling to a project site next week.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who DigDeep Is Looking For
- Experienced in media relations with a track record of pitching and placing stories in national or local outlets, especially around social justice or infrastructure.
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and Canva, and comfortable using project management tools like Asana and Slack to coordinate complex content production.
- Willing to travel up to 50% to remote project sites (e.g., Navajo Nation, Appalachia) to oversee field production and capture authentic stories.
- Passionate about ethical storytelling, with experience adhering to trauma-informed or community-centered communication practices.
📝 Tips for Applying to DigDeep
In your resume, highlight specific media placements you've secured and the impact they had (e.g., increased donations, policy changes).
Showcase your proficiency with Adobe and Figma by including links to a portfolio or examples of content you've designed.
Demonstrate your understanding of ethical storytelling by mentioning any training or experience with trauma-informed communication or working with marginalized communities.
Tailor your cover letter to mention DigDeep's specific programs (e.g., Navajo Water Project, DigDeep Right to Water) and how your skills can advance their mission.
If you have experience traveling for field production, describe a specific project where you managed logistics and coordinated with local communities.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your passion for water justice and closing the water access gap in the U.S., connecting it to your own background or values.', "Specific examples of successful media pitches and content campaigns you've led, with measurable outcomes.", 'Your experience with field production, including managing film crews and ensuring ethical storytelling standards.', "Your proficiency with the required tools (Adobe, Figma, Canva, Asana) and how you've used them to streamline content workflows."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read DigDeep's impact reports and case studies from their Navajo Water Project and other programs to understand their storytelling style.
- → Review recent press coverage of DigDeep, including any articles in national outlets like The New York Times or NPR, to see how they've been portrayed.
- → Familiarize yourself with the water access crisis in the U.S., particularly in Indigenous and rural communities, to speak knowledgeably about the issue.
- → Look at DigDeep's social media channels (Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn) to see their current content strategy and tone.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference DigDeep's specific mission or programs.
- Overemphasizing international WASH experience without connecting it to the U.S. context.
- Downplaying the travel requirement or expressing reluctance to visit remote project sites.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!