OPPORTUNITIES

PURPOSE

The communication manager is responsible for planning, creating, and executing communication projects for Indiana Electric Cooperatives and its members. The communication manager will ensure the quality and consistency of IEC’s communication in the resources and services it provides to member cooperatives. This position also offers communication support for the association’s member cooperatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To be successful in this role, an individual must be able to perform in a satisfactory manner the functions listed below. The company will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

IEC Communication

• Ensure delivery of consistent messages aligned with IEC’s initiatives and style. Work collaboratively with staff to ensure timely and accurate message delivery.
• Write creative and compelling articles, copy, scripts, and other communication for IEC’s website, newsletters, special publications, and videos.
• Coordinate the consistent and on-time production and delivery of IEC’s member communication vehicles to include, but is not limited to, digital newsletters, department updates, other member updates, and internal publications. Responsibilities include establishing production schedules, working with the appropriate IEC staff to determine content, writing, editing, and electronic delivery.
• Update the IEC website as needed; serve as an internal resource for user approval and website maintenance and updates.
• Serve as a point of quality control for IEC’s written and print communication to ensure the association adheres to its branding and style principles. This includes editing print and graphic materials before distribution.
• Guide the communication support specialist with the implementation of the social media strategy and monitoring IEC and Indiana Connection’s social media platforms.
• Assist with IEC annual meeting writing. This includes session descriptions and meeting scripts.
• Support the vice president of communication and member engagement with IEC’s media relations.
• Support the vice president of communication and member engagement with leadership communication for the CEO, board officers, and executive committee members.
• Assess and report on the effectiveness of IEC’s communication tools, provide innovative ideas, and advise on best practices for multiple target audiences.

Member Cooperative Communication Support

• Coordinate the production of communication resources from conceptualization through distribution to support member cooperatives’ communication needs, including but not limited to monthly Plug Into Safety, cooperative career awareness, social media campaigns, and other communication resources. This includes orchestrating content development and design for typical materials that include, but are not limited to, flyers, brochures, bill stuffers, social media graphics, website images, print ads, billboards, videos, etc.
• Regularly evaluate member cooperative communication resource needs and facilitate the production of materials to meet those needs.
• Write engaging and educational articles, news releases, website content, special publications, and video scripts for member cooperatives as needed.
• Provide communication support to member cooperatives as needed.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

• Serve as the staff liaison to coordinate meetings for IEC’s professional group focused on marketing and member services. Plan and coordinate section meetings, provide marketing support, create meeting agendas and notifications, oversee budgeting and financial expenditures, and coordinate with the event experience and facility coordinator on meeting needs.
• Coordinate the monthly Cooperative Communicator Chat. Organize IEC staff to provide updates, coordinate monthly topics and speakers, and provide notifications about upcoming meetings.
• Assist the director of events, engagement, and communication with the coordination of IEC’s annual Community Day service project.
• Support department initiatives and projects as needed.
• Identify and recommend opportunities to create department efficiencies through best practices research, technology enhancements and process review/improvements.
• Assist other IEC departments and staff with programs and projects as requested.
• Participate in department planning activities, including goal setting, strategic planning and budgeting.
• Support the vice president of communication and member engagement with communication projects to promote and sustain Project Indiana.
• Serve as an editor for IEC’s membership database.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• None

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have an equivalent of the following education and/or experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, public relations, marketing, or a related field is required.
• Five years of experience in communication, marketing, or public relations is required.
• Valid driver’s license.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The company will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Proficiency using a computer, including proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), WordPress, databases, the internet, and cloud-based programs such as MailChimp and Survey Monkey, and basic knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite programs.
• Strong proficiency in AP Style, including the ability to edit others’ work and accept edits from peers.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, including the ability to apply critical thinking skills and logical discernment to complex situations where different opinions may be in conflict.
• Strong project management and planning skills, including the ability to coordinate work with other departments or organizations and to make meeting/conference arrangements.
• Strong financial skills, including the ability to develop and monitor a budget, track and control revenues, purchase supplies and materials, and process cash, checks, and/or valuables.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to describe and explain complicated or sensitive information, the ability to negotiate with and motivate others, the ability to maintain confidentiality, and strong listening skills.
• Must be self-motivated with a strong desire to learn, develop, and work independently.
• Ability to move in a fast-paced environment and manage and prioritize multiple tasks while meeting deadlines and maintaining a high degree of quality, and needing little quality control oversight.
• Ability to communicate information to groups.
• Ability to operate office equipment, including printers, copiers, and phones.
• Strong mathematical abilities (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percentages, and ratios), including the ability to process data and to use a calculator.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The environmental and physical demands described here are representative of those an individual must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented office environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to sit for periods of time and to move intermittently throughout the workday within or between departments or facilities.
• Strong sensory skills, such as good hearing, dexterity, and good eyesight, including the use of color perception.
• Ability to interact frequently with others through phone, e-mail, and written correspondence.
• Ability to speak clearly.
• Travel required approximately 15 percent of the time; overnight travel required approximately 10 to 15 days per year.