Marketing & Communications Specialist III

Hiring Agency: Health & Human Services - Agency 25

Location: Lincoln, NE

About the Role

The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking a dynamic, motivated individual to join their team as the Marketing & Communications Specialist III. The successful candidate should possess excellent communication skills both orally and written, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships. This position leads the communication and marketing strategy for ServeNebraska and involves high-visibility public relations work with statewide and national scope.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team in developing and managing communication and marketing strategies for ServeNebraska.
• Work directly with media contacts and provide expertise consultation to the executive director on public relations strategies.
• Create and implement promotional ideas and policies for the commission.
• Provide strategies for sub-awardees and relay branding requirements, recruitment strategies, press releases, and publications from federal partners.
• Develop and implement informational and educational programs to keep the public informed about agency programs, projects, grants, awards, and grant notices.
• Write, design, compose, edit, research, compile, and/or select copy and layout for informational materials such as pamphlets, publications, audio-visual materials, media releases, displays, exhibits, and speeches.
• Organize data to ensure it reaches and is understood by the target audience.
• Engage in strategic planning and coordination of people and resources.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations, advertising, graphic arts, digital media, videography, or related field.
• At least three years’ experience in developing, planning, and managing public relations/publicity campaigns, mass media communication activities, public information programs, and/or marketing/promotional campaigns.
• Required experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Valid driver's license or the ability to provide independent authorized transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively face-to-face, over the phone, and through electronic means.
• Solid understanding of strategies to communicate with a variety of customers through social media, web-based platforms, newsletters, Public Service Announcements, fliers, project reports, annual reports, and/or surveys.
• Experience in creative writing, development, planning, and managing public relations/publicity campaigns.
• Graphic design skills and experience working with multiple programs.
• Leadership skills among peers.

Skills and Knowledge

Knowledge of:

• The principles and practices of journalism and public relations.
• Techniques of layout design and online layout.
• Principles and practices of electronic and social media communication.
• Principles and practices of visual reproduction such as photography, graphics, or printing.
• Website design and maintenance.
• English language including spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, word usage, and grammar.
• Techniques, formats, and styles of informational material preparation.
• Methods and practices of public information dissemination.
• Principles, practices, and processes for marketing/advertising, promotion of ideas, services, imaging, and branding.
• Agency operations, rules, policies, and objectives.
• Agency program legislation and goals.
• Statewide and local media sources and operations, including contact persons, costs, and deadlines.
• Reference sources including agency reference material and external information sources.
• Inter-relationships of agency marketing, communications, advertising, and public relation/information activities.
• Methods of securing adequate publicity for news items.
• Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, and coordination of people and resources.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively in individual or group settings with news media representatives, government or program officials, agency staff, and the public.
• Apply the principles and practices of public relations, journalism, and marketing/advertising to public information or promotional functions.
• Skillfully operate audio and/or visual equipment.
• Write and edit copy to fit assigned space in a layout.
• Evaluate the public information potential of written, illustrative, and related material for specific project assignments.
• Develop information dissemination approaches to reach target audiences.
• Assign and review the work of others.
• Write and design informational pamphlets, reports, and posters.
• Assess the impact and effectiveness of specific informational or promotional materials or activities.
• Develop and apply agency policies and procedures for public information functions.
• Plan and oversee the operations of a public information function.
• Develop work priorities for effective use of available resources and staff.
• Delegate, direct, and review the work of agency employees and others in the preparation and release of public information materials.

Pay

$26.005 per hour – non-exempt

Schedule

Monday – Friday; 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement, and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency, and employment status. For more information on benefits, visit the State of Nebraska benefits page.