Communications Specialist
SNO-ISLE LIBRARIES
invites applications for the position of:
Communications Specialist
Location: Service Center (Marysville)
Pay Range: $27.89 - $38.35 Hourly
Hours per week: 40
Job Requisition: 15439
Closing Date: February 3, 2019, 9:59pm
Sno-Isle Libraries is a large, two-county library district in the beautiful north Puget Sound region of Washington State. District boundaries stretch from rugged timberlands to suburban centers, from rolling farmlands to the ocean vistas. Set in the fastest-growing corner of the state, Sno-Isle Libraries is home to a 1.2 million-item collection, serving more than 750,000 residents through 23 community libraries, a bookmobile, outreach services, and our website at www.sno-isle.org.
Job Summary
Plan, develop, create, deliver and communicate consistent and timely content, special events and information to raise awareness, educate and connect library customers and other audiences to the library, its mission and strategic objectives.
Essential Functions
Functions listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
- Develop, organize and implement informational initiatives and communication strategies aligned with content and messaging calendar.
- Collaboratively develop, create, coordinate, deliver and provide input on content for various internal and external communications channels and traditional or e-published materials.
- Support time-sensitive information needs for media and public records requests.
- Support communication needs of senior leadership and managers.
- Coordinate, edit and advise on content assigned to or produced by other Sno-Isle Libraries employees, as well as external contractors and vendors.
- Assure that created content complies with established library district brand voice, style guidelines and standards.
In addition to providing the functions listed above, specialized communications assignments may include:
Channel Content Developer and Creation
- Plan, develop and coordinate an annual content and messaging calendar.
- Research, write articles and identify relevant topics that align with content calendar and library objectives.
- Collaboratively develop, create, help edit and finalize content for online and publications to targeted audiences.
- Lead or support cross-functional teams of content writers, designers and other staff to develop content specific for print, audio, video or online channels, when appropriate.
Targeted Audience Coordination
- Coordinate the development and delivery of effective library customer email/text messaging and campaigns.
- Launch and provide quality assurance for new email campaigns; optimize campaigns with frequent testing; track results and work with appropriate staff to evaluate key performance indicators.
- Develop and maintain key customer and audience contact relational databases to coordinate timely targeted communications efforts to targeted recipients.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities
Duties are considered non-essential and include the following:
- Assist in responding to customer and public inquiries, reporting and analysis.
- Assist with conversion of research findings, metrics and data into infographics collaboratively prepared and published for various audiences.
- Provide receptionist, phone and mailroom support as needed.
- Train new staff as needed.
- Attend meetings, training and workshops as assigned.
- Assist with special projects as required.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Supervision
This position reports to the Communications and Marketing Manager. Supervision of the work of others is not regular part of the job.
Core Library Competencies
Employees are expected to demonstrate the following qualities at all times:
- Adaptability: Adjust nimbly to obstacles or changing conditions to arrive at the desired goal.
- Communication: Express self clearly, effectively, and compellingly in written, verbal, and nonverbal messages.
- Customer Service: Build and maintain responsive, effective relationships with internal and external customers.
- Interpersonal: Accurately perceive others and the impact of one's own behavior to balance relationship and goal needs appropriately and positively in interactions.
- Professionalism: Align behavior with the library's mission, values, and strategic focus in serving a diverse stakeholder community
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The employee is expected to perform or possess the following:
- Thorough knowledge professional and business communications methods or best practices.
- Strong research, writing and presentation skills, with the ability to handle multiple assignments under deadlines.
- Thorough knowledge and experience of event coordination.
- Knowledge of project management principles.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, project management, CRM databases, website/social media/email messaging platforms, content management systems, and similar professional tools.
- Ability to accept work direction and self-direct work as needed.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong critical thinking skills with an ability to assess strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Ability to work cooperatively and maintain effective, collaborative interpersonal relationships with team members and peers.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Public Affairs, Public Relations, Communications, Marketing or closely related liberal arts field is required or equivalent combination of education and training.
- At least three years of communications, public affairs, public relations or similar experience required.
- Experience working in a public library, public service, education or non-profit environment is a plus.
Physical and Environmental Conditions
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.
While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is required to: talk and hear; sit, stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; specific vision requirements include sufficient vision to read and recognize numbers and alphabetical characters on computers, devices, books and other library materials. An incumbent may occasionally lift, push, pull, carry, load and unload objects or materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
Most of the work is carried out within a generally accessible, safe, indoor environment. There are regular interpersonal contacts with staff members and with customers of various ages. These contacts and situations are deemed to be generally safe and free of undue stress, but require incumbents to be cordial, helpful and skilled in interpersonal relations with others both in the public and within the Library District.
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.
This and all Sno-Isle Libraries' positions are subject to transfer.