Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Position Description
Job Title: Communications Specialist
Department: Communications
Reports To: Communications Director
FLSA Status: Exempt - Administrative
EEO Code: Professionals
Workers’ Compensation Code: 8810
Date: August 2024
Position Overview
The Communications Specialist will support the overall marketing and communications of SMIF’s programs, grants and events, directly managing communications activities that promote, enhance and protect The Foundation’s brand reputation. Additionally, the Communications Specialist will take the lead with managing and writing several of The Foundation’s e-newsletters and monthly op-eds.
Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities
• Collaborate with program teams to plan, create and implement marketing and communications strategies that support their marketing goals for events and programs. This may include fact sheets, press releases, website updates, social media posts, direct emails and/or e-newsletter mentions.
• Collaborate with program teams to support marketing and communications goals for the five grants that are offered annually and any additional grants that may be offered due to additional funding sources. This typically includes press releases for RFPs and awards, website updates, social media posts and e-newsletter mentions.
• Design, write and produce e-newsletters and one paper newsletter. Work directly with printer to manage the mailing of the print newsletter. Use Constant Contact to send out e-newsletters.
• Assist with updating SMIF’s power point templates and presentations, fact sheets and brochures.
• Provide support organizing and executing SMIF’s annual Sprout event.
• Manage the inventory of SMIF office items (letterhead, envelopes, folders, etc.) and reorder when necessary.
• Ghostwrite monthly opinion articles on behalf of the President/CEO.
• Maintain consistency, professionalism and inclusivity by following AP Style, internal House Style Guide, SMIF’s brand guidelines and SMIF’s Inclusive Language Guide.
• Evaluate communications effectiveness through media monitoring, surveys and reports and make recommendations for adjustments as appropriate.
• Adhere to deadlines and workflow needs while working with staff and outside vendors.
Non-Essential Functions
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education/Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations or related field with a minimum of three years of broad communications experience.
Competencies
• Ability to consistently demonstrate SMIF’s Guiding Values & Code of Ethical Conduct while performing the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, including strong facilitation skills.
• Competent computer skills including Microsoft: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Wordpress, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Constant Contact, Canva, Google Analytics.
• Experience working with social media platforms.
• Strong relationship building skills.
• Ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple projects.
• Ability to take organizational information and articulate to broad audience.
• Self-motivated with ability to generate effective solutions and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with a broad range of people and styles.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast paced, creative, changing environment.
• Demonstrate high standards of work ethics and integrity.
• A passion for learning about southern Minnesota’s communities.
Working Conditions/Physical Demands
• The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that are necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Normal office environment with the pressure of time deadlines.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to: concentrate, sit for long periods of time, stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and/or talk and hear. The employee must have the capacity to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasional travel within The Foundation’s 20-county service area.
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation will make reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals who may need assistance in performing the essential functions of this position.
Acknowledgment
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (The Foundation) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment with regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability, genetic information, creed, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, local human rights commission activity, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
Statements included in this job description do not necessarily represent an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as circumstances change.
Job Description Acknowledgment
I have read and understand the job requirements, responsibilities and expectations set forth in the job description provided for my position. I attest that I am able to perform the essential job functions as outlined with or without any reasonable accommodations.
Position Title
Communications Specialist
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ABOUT
Our Chamber has approximately 530 members that invest their resources, employee volunteerism and confidence in the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and the business community.
CONTACT US
Address
Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
120 South Oak AVE
Owatonna, MN 55060
Email
[email protected]
Phone
507-451-7970
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