Cloverland Electric Cooperative: Seeks Communications Specialist

With Who:  Cloverland Electric Cooperative

Location:  Sault Ste Marie, MI

Type of Employment:  Full-Time

Position Description:  This position carries out internal and external communications for the cooperative with effective reputation management as the highest priority. In this role, the Communications Specialist represents the cooperative in the community; manages traditional media relations and social media; writes and coordinates production of the member magazine and employee newsletter as well as all other print, digital production and advertising; keeps the website current in content and functionality; and supports the board and senior management in their requirements to effectively present information both internally to employees and externally to members and community organizations. The Communications Specialist reports to the Director of Business Development and Communications.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:  

Member Communications

  • Content scheduling, planning, writing, photography, design and production coordination for member magazine, Cloverland Connections.
  • Content planning, writing and production for member presentations such as for the annual meeting, district or special meetings.
  • Serve as the 24/7 on-call person for power outage communications affecting 200+ members on a weekly rotation within department.

Internal Communications

  • Content planning, writing, design and distribution of monthly employee newsletter, digital signage and other employee-focused communications.
  • Maintains SharePoint intranet with employee related news, job postings, benefits information and other internal communications.
  • Monitors local and regional news sources and weather forecasts for relevant news items to share internally.

Media Relations

  • Researches, writes and distributes press releases.
  • Builds and strengthens relationships with media and serves as the liaison for all inquiries.
  • Secures media coverage and prepares co-op spokespeople with key messages for interviews.
  • Maintains distribution list and repository of co-op news releases and imagery.
  • Facilitates updates during major power outages and other events.

Social Media

  • Serves as co-op’s online community liaison by answering questions and offering helpful solutions, mediating conversations and monitoring interactions using effective social listening skills.
  • Creates monthly calendar of content that is branded, thoughtful and engaging for members, including interactive contests.
  • Maintains social media calendar to ensure posts are varied, relevant and timely.
  • Identify future social media needs and enhancements for the cooperative.

Community Outreach

  • Serves as brand ambassador at community outreach events throughout the co-op’s service territory.
  • Assists with administering cooperative’s scholarship program.
  • Builds and maintains effective working relationships with partner organizations. Coordinates and conduct photo shoots for community outreach efforts

Marketing Collateral

  • Prepares content for printed collateral including annual report, membership magazine, newsletters, brochures, bill inserts and more according to schedule and deadlines.
  • Maintains website in content and functionality to ensure best site performance, brand visibility and member/user-friendly experience.
  • Ensures communications are clear, accurate, visually-appealing and tone is consistent with co-op’s principles.
  • Creates and manages marketing collateral and advertising.
  • Conducts field photography as needed for newsletters, publications and social media posts.

Communications Support

  • Prepares monthly report with summary of communications activities and social media data.
  • Prepares speeches, talking points and multi-media presentations consistent with brand.
  • Collaborates frequently with other departments to ensure accuracy and relevancy of communications.
  • Additional communications duties as assigned.

Training

  • Attend National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s New Co-op Communicators Orientation for training within one year of employment and as otherwise requested.
  • Employee shall be trained in all safety-related work practices, procedures, assigned online safety trainings and other requirements in the cooperative’s safety manual that pertains to their respective job assignments.

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or related field of study.

  • Graphic design and marketing experience.

Reporting and Other Relationships:  

  • Reports To: Director of Business Development and Communications
  • Supervisory Authorities: None

Position Specifications:  This position is exempt under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore not subject to the Cooperative’s policies and procedures pertaining to overtime hours and premium pay.  See Cloverland’s Employee Handbook for policies on exempt/salaried employees.

Education and Experience:  

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations or related field.
  • 3-5 years of demonstrated professional communications experience, including 2 or more years managing social media platform(s).
  • Proven written communication skills; familiarity in AP Style preferred.
  • Experience with design and production of collateral in print and digital platforms (familiarity with Sprout Social, WordPress and SharePoint preferred).
  • Design and photo editing software experience preferred (Adobe InDesign and/or PhotoShop).
  • Skilled in digital photography and use of multi-media equipment.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office product suite.
  • Must have valid driver’s license and be 18 years of age or older.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

  • Creative, energetic, positive, resourceful and self-motivated.
  • Works cooperatively and productively with co-workers and vendors.
  • Flexible with non-traditional work hours as required for outage reporting.
  • Ability to create and keep relationships of mutual accountability and respect.
  • Skilled and comfortable meeting with and speaking to people individually and in group settings.
  • Superior verbal and written communication skills – must be able read and interpret information quickly and present it clearly and without error.
  • Ability to review, organize and deliver information timely and produce effective communications under pressure to meet internal and external deadlines.

Environmental and Working Conditions: 

  • Majority of the duties performed inside with exception of photography for magazine and social media.
  • Daytime hours may fluctuate, and occasional evenings and weekends will be required to support co-op needs.
  • Some overnight travel and/or air travel required for conferences, training and community outreach events.
  • Employee must be available for on-call communication needs evenings and weekends and able respond to emergencies on-site and in person as needed.
  • This position is safety sensitive and employee must be able to comply with co-op’s safety policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
  • Speak clearly and listen carefully; manual dexterity and visual acuity required to perform duties of this job.
  • The employee is required to stand, climb stairs, walk and reach with hands and arms.
  • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
  • Specific vision abilities include close vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.

Apply (or request more information):  Apply today! Cloverland Electric Cooperative Job Application

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