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, working directly with media contacts and providing expertise to the executive director on public relations strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team in developing and managing communication and marketing strategies for ServeNebraska.
• Work directly with media contacts and provide consultation to the executive director on public relations strategies.
• Create and implement promotional ideas and policies for the commission.
• Provide strategies for the commission’s sub-awardees, including branding requirements, recruitment strategies, press releases, and publications to broaden program reach in Nebraska.
• 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.
• Participate 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 a related field.
• At least three years of 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 in person, over the phone, and through electronic means.
• Solid understanding of strategies to communicate with a variety of customers through multiple modes, including social media, web-based platforms, newsletters, public service announcements, fliers, project reports, annual reports, and 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

Knowledge of:

• The principles and practices of journalism, public relations, and marketing/advertising.
• Techniques of layout design, online layout, and website design and maintenance.
• Principles and practices of electronic and social media communication.
• Visual reproduction techniques such as photography, graphics, or printing.
• 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.
• 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 relations 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 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 projects.
• 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.
• 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 preparing and releasing 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, visit State of Nebraska Benefits.