Join our team

Communications Specialist and Administrative Assistant

Position open 9/1/2026

Description
Title: Communications Specialist and Administrative Assistant
Location: Ithaca and Trumansburg, NY, in-person or hybrid 
Terms: Full time, hourly, 40 hours per week, non-exempt
Pay Rate: $22-25/hour
Reports to: Marketing and Development Manager

Only interested in a part-time position? This role combines the responsibilities of our Communications Specialist and Administrative Assistant position. 

About Hammerstone

Hammerstone School, founded in 2013 and incorporated as a non-profit in 2024, empowers women and gender minorities through craft trades education.  Our curriculum comprises short form workshops teaching carpentry and woodworking fundamentals as well as a workshop series and longer term apprenticeships teaching whole house construction. 

Position Overview

The Communications Specialist and Administrative Assistant tells Hammerstone's story through social media, video, and our e-newsletter, with the goal of expanding our online reach and filling classes and events to budgeted capacity. Additionally, this position supports Hammerstone’s core mission by handling day-to-day operational tasks that keep our team and classes running smoothly.

Success in this role means helping more people discover Hammerstone and increasing engagement and enrollment through thoughtful storytelling, effective communications, and operational support.

Responsibilities

• Help Hammerstone reach enrollment goals by working with the team to execute marketing strategies.

• Create engaging and relevant social media content using articulate descriptions, thoughtfully edited video, and beautiful photographs.

• Manage Hammerstone’s digital assets, by organizing, storing, indexing, and distributing the organization’s digital files.

• Use organic social media engagement as well as boosting to ensure our content is seen by a wide audience.

• Maintain a boosting budget.

• Visit job- and class-sites to take compelling videos and photographs.

• Interact with students, staff, and instructors to capture the story of Hammerstone participants.

• Conduct interviews for newsletters and social media.

• Compile, edit, and refine newsletter content provided by staff to tell Hammerstone’s story.

• Track engagement, reach, and enrollment-related metrics across platforms and report on performance to the Marketing and Development Manager.

• Research social media trends, algorithms, and best practices to ensure our content reaches our customers.

• Work with existing technology solutions and continue to research new technology solutions, such as scheduling software or editing tools, to improve and streamline our social media marketing efforts.

• Troubleshoot issues with our social media accounts to ensure our content remains accessible.

• Review and manage comments across social media platforms to engage supporters and maintain a safe environment for followers.

• Complete other social media and marketing tasks as directed by the management team.

• Support the Hammerstone team by assisting with administrative tasks including, but not limited to:

  • Communicating with current and prospective students

  • Printing class materials and preparing student packets for every class

  • Providing administrative support to instructors during class

  • Supporting the office staff with note taking, bookkeeping, reservation making, appointment scheduling and tracking

  • Basic trouble shooting for office technology (printers, internet connectivity, etc)

  • Updating and managing online course listings on our website (Squarespace), registration platform (Active.com Class and Camp Manager), and internal database (proprietary system)

  • Other operational support as directed by the management team

Minimum Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication

• Excellent photography and videography skills

• Excellent photo and video editing skills

• Proficiency with video/photo editing tools (e.g., Adobe Premiere, CapCut, Canva)

• Proficiency with social media scheduling/management tools (e.g., Later, Hootsuite, Meta Business Suite, Repurpose.io)

• Proficiency with MailChimp platform for e-newsletter

• Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies

• Excellent organizational and administrative skills

• Ability to efficiently post and boost across platforms

• Understanding of current algorithms and the ability to stay on top of algorithm changes

• Ability to engage with team members and students from diverse backgrounds to tell a compelling story about Hammerstone

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Reliable transportation between our Ithaca and Trumansburg campuses

• No degree required

Preferred Qualifications

• Personal initiative

• Eagerness to learn 

• Familiarity with carpentry and woodworking

What We Offer 

• In addition to required coverage such as disability, unemployment, paid family leave, workers’ compensation, and sick time, Hammerstone School provides paid holidays, PTO, and additional PTO for continuing education.

Expectations

• Represent Hammerstone professionally in interactions with students, instructors, and the public

• Collaborate with a diverse team

If you are not yet proficient in all of the key responsibilities but demonstrate a willingness to, and a history of, acquiring new skills, you will be a strong candidate for the job.

Application guidelines:

Please email your resume, a letter of intent including your motivation for applying to this job, and samples of your writing and visual content to: info@hammerstoneschool.com 

Application deadline:

• Application will be open until the position is filled.

• Follow up and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Hammerstone School, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please email info@hammerstoneschool.com. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned.