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Communications & Community Relations Specialist

Summary Description: Our Communications & Community Relations Specialist has a big heart for community programs that are building a brighter future for rural North Carolina. This communications professional will create strong connections with the media, external partners and our members throughout the state, in addition to producing effective and engaging print and digital content, and leading day-to-day program management for cooperative education grants, scholarships, and other community relations initiatives in support of 26 not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

Academic and Trade Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism or related fields is required.

Work Experience: 1-5 of experience in a communications field, whether with a corporation, non-profit, agency or philanthropic group, or commensurate experience from coursework. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort with public speaking and as a media spokesperson, are required, as is a desire to lead philanthropic programs that make a difference for students, teachers and communities in rural North Carolina. Experience in media relations, communication planning, and traditional and digital communication is preferred.

Responsibilities:
-         Lead and manage electric cooperative community programs including Bright Ideas Education Grants, Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships, Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership and other impactful programs and corporate philanthropy initiatives
-         Create press releases, media pitches, newsletter articles, event announcements and invitations, social media graphics and copy, and other public relations content to promote community programs and share their impact statewide
-         Serve as media spokesperson for community programs and respond to media inquiries
-         Develop and execute communication plans, and partner with communicators at member electric cooperatives, to increase awareness of cooperative community programs
-         Distribute press releases and pitches to targeted media, finding interesting news angles to garner media attention and showcase the impact of cooperatives’ community programming
-         Maintain and evolve strategic online presence for community relations programs
-         Build and maintain relationships with communicators at member electric cooperatives, internal collaborators and external partners
-         Develop and execute program plans and year-round schedules for community programs
-         Plan, coordinate and staff special events related to community programs
-         As a member of the corporate communications team, assist with general corporate communications tasks, including advancement of the electric cooperatives’ Brighter Future vision
-         Serve as integral part of crisis communications team during major events, like ice storms and hurricanes
-         Follow evolving communications strategies and think creatively about traditional and digital communications applications
 
Job Knowledge: Knowledge of media relations practices, content creation for traditional and digital platforms, and AP Style. Knowledge of measuring effectiveness of digital and social content a plus.

Abilities and Skills: Ability to communicate clearly and creatively in oral and written forms, including news, feature and digital writing. Ability to provide outstanding customer service to our members. Excellent organizational, planning and relationship-building skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, and social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Familiarity with WordPress, as well as online graphic and multimedia content creation tools, is a plus.

Relationships and Contacts: Reports to Manager of Communications and Media Relations

Working Conditions: Normal working conditions, including some travel and responsibilities outside of normal business hours. Includes working shifts during crisis conditions, such as hurricanes and ice storms.
  
Company Profile: North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives is the brand for the family of organizations formed to support the state’s 26 local electric cooperatives, including: North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, the power supplier to many of the electric cooperatives; North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, the cooperatives’ trade association; and Tarheel Electric Membership Association, Inc. (TEMA), a central purchasing and materials-supply cooperative.
North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants for employment.