The Communications Network ? Communications Director-Mountain ...

Location:
Berea, KY

The Organization:
The Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED) is a 35 year-old multi-strategy sustainable economic development organization that seeks to create economic alternatives that work for people and places in need in Central Appalachia and Kentucky. MACED?s long-term goals are a strong and diverse economy; increased family well-being, particularly for low-income people; healthy and protected land, air and water; and an effective and accountable democracy.

MACED is a fast-paced, dynamic and growing organization with a 32-person staff that manages $21 million in total assets. The organization focuses its efforts on sustainable development and change strategies that generate economic and environmental benefits to people and places. These strategies include: 1) providing financial capital and expertise to individuals, businesses and communities, 2) conducting research and engaging in effective communications to support good public policy, and 3) demonstrating effective community economic development efforts that make a difference. MACED has recently completed a new strategic plan that focuses on two sectors (new energy and sustainable forestry), deepens our commitment to entrepreneur and enterprise development, and promotes the development of a new economic vision in Appalachia and Kentucky.

Position Description:
MACED is looking for a highly motivated and experienced communications professional to join its staff as the communications director. This senior position will lead MACED?s efforts to more effectively communicate about our work; increase our ability to influence thinking about development and policy in our region, state and beyond; and market our programs more successfully. Central to this position are a commitment to MACED?s vision and long-term goals along with experience and expertise in the communications field. The communications director will coordinate our communications team and staff; lead the development and management of a communications strategy; oversee MACED-wide communications; and support communications at the program level. The communications director serves on MACED?s management team and is supervised by the president.

Progress toward MACED?s long-term goals requires effective communications. MACED must be able to tell the story of our work, engage in public education and debate about important issues, and reach people and businesses to involve them in MACED?s programs. This new position will provide additional capacity needed to develop a clearer and more coherent communication strategy and increase the volume of effective communications carried out by the organization and its programs.

For MACED as a whole, additional communications capacity and leadership will help strengthen our brand and enhance existing communications vehicles while developing new ways to reach our audiences. The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KCEP) will receive a special focus from this position. KCEP is a state-wide MACED initiative that conducts research and advocacy around state fiscal and economic policy issues. The initiative relies heavily on communications to get the word out about research and influence public and decision maker opinions on policy issues. MACED?s demonstration and enterprise development programs rely on effective marketing to generate demand for products including financing and technical assistance. The Appalachian Transition Initiative is a communications effort aimed at fostering public conversation about the region?s evolving future. The communications director will add value to these diverse efforts by helping make our communications clearer, louder and more compelling.

Approximately fifty percent of the communications director?s time will be devoted to the overall MACED communications strategy and organization-wide efforts. Thirty percent will involve program level support and twenty percent will be committed to communications support for the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. The communications director will coordinate a communications team and will supervise one staff member along with communications contractors.

The duties and responsibilities of the communications director include but are not limited to the following:

Develop and Manage Communications Strategy:

• Facilitate development of MACED communications goals, approach and strategy.Ensure alignment of communications with MACED?s overall mission, vision, goals and five-year plan.
• Coordinate brand development and facilitate brand coherence and flexibility as appropriate across the organization.
• Coordinate the MACED communications team.
• Supervise communications staff and contractors.
• Build the communications capacity and skills of other MACED staff.
• Serve on the MACED management team.

Oversee MACED-wide Communications:

• Manage website design, development and maintenance and increase web audience.
• Oversee expanded social media presence.
• Cultivate relationships with media and develop stories to pitch to media outlets.
• Strengthen contact management systems.
• Develop systems to capture stories of our work in order to document impact and communicate impact to others.
• Oversee design and production of organizational materials including newsletter, impact report and collateral materials.
• Engage in content development including copywriting, layout and production.
• Work with development staff to integrate communications and fundraising.

Support Program Communications Efforts:

• Provide communications support to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.
• Provide communications assistance to research and policy team?s other issue campaigns.
• Work with programs to develop and implement marketing plans.
• Support documentation of program work to assist in evaluation and promotion efforts.
• Cooperatively engage in content development and production of program materials including copywriting, editing and design of publications and materials.

Minimum Qualifications and Characteristics:

Knowledge and experience:

• Commitment to sustainable development and to economic, environmental and social justice; five to seven years of work experience in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism and/or advocacy; minimum of a four-year college degree in journalism, communications or a related field; strong design skills and aesthetic sensibilities; broad knowledge of the communications field and experience in production using a variety of media; understanding of marketing; successful experience in supervision and group facilitation; able to work successfully on a team with diverse members.

Personal characteristics:

• Highly self-motivated; highly creative; commitment to strategic thinking and innovative action; ability to both lead and collaborate effectively; well-organized, attentive to detail, and able to work on multiple projects at once; keen sense of humor
• Technology and software: Strong computer skills and strong knowledge of communications-related software.

Communications:

• Strong writing skills; strong interpersonal communication skills.

Physical:

• Close vision with or without corrective lenses necessary for computer work; manual dexterity needed to operate computer; ability to perform assigned duties in a time-efficient manner; valid driver?s license.

Preferred Qualifications and Characteristics:

• Graduate degree in journalism, communications or a related field; experience working in non-profit organizations and in advocacy efforts; knowledge of the Appalachian region and Kentucky; knowledge of economic development and development finance; knowledge of contact management systems.

How to Apply:

Please e-mail your resume, three references and a cover letter specifically explaining why you are a good fit for this position to commdirector@maced.org. Application review will be on-going and continue until the position is filled. For more information about MACED visit www.maced.org.

The position offers a competitive salary, based on experience, plus a generous benefits package. Position is based in Berea, Kentucky. Berea is a beautiful, small college town, an hour south of Lexington, on the edge of the Appalachian region. MACED is an equal opportunity employer.

Source: http://www.comnetwork.org/communications-director-mountain-association-for-community-economic-development/

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