Marketing and Communication Specialist

COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY

Position is responsible for managing marketing and communication projects and brand stewardship in a changing environment. Areas of concentration: Marketing events and promotions, copywriting and media relations, content marketing and project management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Responsible for projects from conception through execution. Includes working with strategic partners (both internal and external) to deliver a product in alignment with Library’s strategic plan, key messages and brand. Manages project tracking, reporting, budget adherence, market analysis and measurement.
2. Executes executive level presentations.
3. Provides administrative support and leadership to the Director of Marketing, including fulfilling information requests, briefing materials and research for projects and strategic organizational and departmental initiatives.
4. Assists in implementing strategic and proactive communications, which is in accordance with Library’s marketing and development plans. Includes: powerful and persuasive copywriting, effectively positioning the organization and creativity.
5. Assists with the planning, delivery and evaluation of special events. Supports these events as necessary including primary ownership as well as tactical support. This includes coordination and implementation of promotional and marketing events, procuring all supplies, handling logistics, requesting and managing volunteers and communicating with staff and outside parties to ensure success of event.
6. Utilizes computer applications and Library equipment, maintains current knowledge of system wide and location specific procedures, processes, policies and operations. Utilizes e-mail, voicemail, and other Library technology to maintain open channels of communication.
7. Performs additional duties as assigned including serving on task forces, committees, etc.

Marketing Events and Promotions:

1. Develops marketable opportunities that create synergy and promotes the library as a destination point for customers by planning and implementing promotions and special events for Main Library and some system-wide programs.
2. Creates and implements keystone promotional and marketing events for Main Library (i.e. author series, holiday events, National Library Week promotions, Summer Reading Club events, exhibits, local celebrity story times, safety fair, etc.) that drives customer visits and circulation while fulfilling the Library’s mission.
3. Develops community-wide programs and events to help broaden CML customer participation. Builds and maintains promotional partnerships with organizations and businesses as a way to extend Main Library’s presence to reach new audience segments.

Copywriter and Media Relations:

1. Writes copy and executes direction in tone, style, story and content delivering brand-right messages to a variety of Library audiences.
2. Creates dynamic editorial content to ensure that story/marketing message reflects current trends and customer needs.
3. Supports the Library’s media plan, including pitching stories, writing press releases, maintaining press contacts, crafting messages and delivering those messages in interviews when appropriate. This includes local, national and international news outlets.

Content Marketing and Project Management:

1. Integrates written brand-right content in various Library communication channels including print, digital (social media, website, staff Intranet, video, networking) and environmental. This includes writing original content, fact checking and editing other source content.
2. Manages comprehensive content marketing calendar ensuring aligned strategic messaging.
3. Writes, coordinates and implements a variety of system-wide marketing plans ensuring that all communications appropriately and accurately express the Library’s vision, community image, position and values.

INTERACTION:

1. Interaction with staff, customers, agencies and vendors.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in journalism, communications or related discipline.
2. Five to seven years’ of progressively more related responsibility; agency experience desired.
3. Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing with personality, style and in alignment with the Library brand voice.
4. Conversant with emerging technologies for proactive communications, i.e. blogging, social networking, etc.
5. Ability and commitment to work with the public.
6. Ability to effectively present in a variety of formal settings – one on one, group, peers, direct reports, etc. Command attention and manage group process. (Presentation Skills)

Highly Preferred Qualifications and Competencies:

1. Able to make a quick decision sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure. (Timely Decision Making)
2. Ability to relate well and build appropriate rapport and relationships with a variety of people in all levels of the organization, as well as people outside the organization. Uses diplomacy and tact and can diffuse even high tension situations comfortably. (Interpersonal Savvy)
3. Knowledgeable about how an organization works and knows how to get results using both formal and informal channels. Recognizes and understands the culture of an organization. Understands the origin and reasoning behind key policies, practices, and procedures of the organization. (Organizational Agility)
4. Comes up with new and unique ideas. Is original and adds value to brainstorming sessions and easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions. (Creativity)
5. Can maneuver through complex political situations effectively and quietly and is sensitive to how people and organizations function. (Political Savvy)
6. Communicates to make the vision sharable by everyone. (Managing Vision and Purpose)

Technology Skills:

1. The following is the common technology used in this position and is not all inclusive.
2. Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and other Library related software applications.

Supervisory / Management Responsibility:
No direct reports.

Travel Requirements:
Frequency of travel: Frequent.

Special Requirements:
Driver’s license; personal vehicle; acceptable driving record.

Physical Demands:
Work requires minimal demand for physical effort.

Work Environment:
The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, and residences or commercial vehicles (e.g., use of safe workplace practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals, and/or working in moderate outdoor weather conditions).

Disclaimer:
The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Job Location:
Columbus, Ohio, United States

Position Type:
Full-Time/Regular

Desired Work Schedule (Required):
Business hours which will include evenings and weekends as needed or for special events. Special Note: A key component of this position will be events planning for the library.

Job Post Link : http://www.columbuslibrary.org/about/careers