POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Communications and Events oversees a dual role including both communications and events for a 2,500 member trade association and its subsidiary.
The communications role is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the association’s communications and marketing strategies and public information activities. This position is responsible for fostering and maintaining relationships with news media editors, reporters, governmental elected officials and their staff, other communications directors, members, community leaders, sponsors and partner organizations involved with the Association. This would include designing marketing campaigns and overall marketing programs. This position plays a lead role in developing and promoting the brand, web content and engaging with the association’s membership base, as well as the social media presence and strategy.
The events role is responsible for overseeing the entire life cycle of planning, implementation, execution, and reconciliation of association hosted events. This includes supervising the individual and/or team who designs the strategy for each event which often includes concepting, briefing/debriefing, project plans, selecting/hiring vendor partners, venue relations, contract negotiations, on-site leadership, client management and project reconciliation.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Communications:
- Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), create and manage the development and implementation of an integrated marketing and communications strategy, supporting the Association’s strategic plan.
- Develop and direct all media programs.
- Develop marketing materials and coordinate compatibility of marketing programs with public relations activities.
- Create and execute digital marketing campaigns.
- Serve as the contact for outsourced marketing and public relations contacts.
- Coordinate with web developer and make content updates to the website.
- Develop social media accounts and create social media content to generate traffic/interest, action, and response.
- Write social posts and generate social media calendar.
- Develop and edit various association brochures and flyers.
- Work with our outsourced publisher to create a digital monthly membership magazine.
- Coordinate and develop a weekly email newsletter to membership of upcoming events and relevant information.
- Oversee the Association website and update
- Collect data from appropriate departments; measure and evaluate the association’s brand and media coverage in alignment with the overall marketing communications plan.
- Develop and manage media relations and public relations including the maintenance of important relationships and development of key messages. Pro-actively place strategic news stories that communicate the association’s messages, in significant media outlets including social media.
- Research, write, edit, and publish releases, alerts, statements, articles, and other materials in support of the Association’s brand/mission. Manage the approval process for all.
- Direct and supervise, when appropriate, the media relations and public relations activities of staff and external consultants or agencies.
Events:
- Continually work to enhance all events and their promotions.
- Collaborate with the various Association committees and task forces on the development and implementation of creative and effective event marketing strategies.
- Continuously add value by providing objective and innovative support services; manage resources responsibly, efficiently and with accountability.
- Provide guidance and supervision to staff and volunteer members during events.
- Serve as a liaison and primary point of contact for facilities representatives, presenters, guests, constituents, etc.
- Serve as primary contact for onsite event needs, including setup, registration, catering and audiovisual. Serve as key staff person on committees, work groups and task forces, as assigned; acts as a key contributor for content development.
- Prepare and review post-conference/event evaluations and provide input on opportunities for improvement.
- Oversee contracts, permits, and people resources for all the events; assist with negotiating and maintaining all contracts relative to the events (i.e., catering, venue, etc.)
- Provide guidance on the coordination and procurement of proper insurance coverages for events.
- Assist with the development of budgets and negotiations for all events; evaluates budget vs. actual at the conclusion of each event.
Administration: Assist in developing the annual budgets for communications and events. Maintain department files and serve as key contact for association communications.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or related field
- Previous experience in communications, marketing, event planning or related field preferred.
- Must have good interpersonal, public relations and communications skills, including the ability to make presentations, handle media inquiries, negotiate and resolve conflicts.
- Leadership and demonstrated experience supervising event personnel, vendors and complex schedules.
- Background working with volunteers, committee structure and a Board of Directors.
- Proficiency in a variety of computer applications with the ability to learn specialized software. Prefer experience with both digital marketing and traditional marketing software
- Positive, collaborative, and effective interpersonal skills; strong customer service orientation.
- Must possess initiative, decision-making skills and the judgment necessary to determine action or approach for events, assignments, and projects.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Ability to walk, stand, and sit for extended periods of time
- Must be able to lift and carry supplies weighing up to 20 pounds
- Ability to move tables & chairs during room setup
- Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate
- Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations
- Ability to view/enter data for extended periods of time
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Wichita, KS 67202: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: One location