PR and Community Engagement Specialist

Description

Join Our Life-Saving Team at The Community Blood Center (CBC)

Are you passionate about making a difference? At CBC, every day is an opportunity to save lives. We partner with a dedicated community of volunteer blood donors to ensure that over 40 hospitals have access to a reliable blood supply. By joining our team, you'll play a critical role in this life-saving mission. Together, we can make a real impact.

JOB SUMMARY: This position executes CBC's community outreach efforts, targeted to provide local awareness of our needs, services, events, promotions, and materials, and raises CBC brand awareness through coordination with local organizations, participation at community events, and communicating with our communities-at-large. The PR & Community Engagement Specialist will provide educational materials and opportunities to build a network of relationships throughout the community to raise awareness of CBC and enhance current relationships and explore and identify new opportunities.

This position collaborates with the marketing team to expand CBC's donor base and works with other departments to promote and grow donor engagement within the community. Under general direction, the role provides organization-wide marketing and communications support, including developing collateral, creating key messages, content marketing, and executing digital campaigns. Additionally, the Specialist strengthens brand awareness and serves as a liaison between CBC and both internal and external stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (other duties may be assigned):

1. Media and Public Relations:

• Grow and foster relationships with media outlets, professional contacts and community groups throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest.
• Maintain a strong public presence by executing PR strategies that increase visibility and brand awareness in social and digital media, and marketing and communications initiatives.
• Manage media inquiries and interview requests, and coordinate interviewees and locations.
• Arrange and conduct public appearances, speaking engagements, promotions, or events to increase brand awareness and promote CBC.
• With the marketing team, evaluate opportunities for community partnerships, sponsorships, and advertising on an on-going basis.
• Interface with strategic community partners and vendors to develop/maintain strong working partnerships.
• Coordinate paperwork, payment, logo, ad delivery, etc.

1. Content:

• Identify, develop, and execute communications strategies for key media contacts and customer references.
• Develop internal and external staff and media talking points.
• Create and maintain CBC fact database.
• Communicate important CBC information and press releases to donors, sponsors, and staff.
• Coordinate the development of multimedia content for donor stories, internal/external videos, promotional videos, and other organization-wide projects.
• Utilize the power of word-of-mouth content, encouraging blood donors to share their experiences with others.
• Conceptualize, write, and edit creative content to increase brand awareness.
• Develop content for multi-platform outlets including print, television, digital, email, website, and social media platforms.
• Coordinate the development and execution of special promotions or campaigns.
• Plan, write and distribute the CBC newsletters following CBC Brand Identity guidelines, creating publications that provide key information to stakeholders while maintaining professional and high-quality editorial and stylistic standards.
• Write and proofread drafts of collateral and other marketing communications while maintaining the CBC brand.

1. Special Events:

• Support community awareness initiatives by executing public relations strategies aimed at promoting the blood center at community relations activities and special events.
• Assist in coordinating and managing special event planning, set-up, day-of execution, take down, and other duties as needed.
• Work with internal stakeholders on event drives intended to increase first-time donors and community awareness.

1. Social Media:

• Develop, execute & manage social media channels, video, content calendars and blog.
• Design, produce and publish high-quality, creative content across social media platforms that promote CBC message and brand.
• Coordinate and integrate social media content development and campaigns with other communications projects and event calendar.
• Monitor social media sites and appropriately respond to all inquiries and comments in a timely and professional manner.
• Assist in creating, developing, proofreading, and managing content for organization's web presence.
• Collaborate with the Marketing Operations Associate to Increase site traffic and site conversion through SEO/SEM initiatives, calls to action, dedicated landing pages, and content marketing.

1. Digital Marketing:

• Create and execute digital marketing campaigns aligned with CBC goals and marketing strategies while maintaining consistency of brand image, voice, and message.
• Create digital content for use on website, blog, and social media.
• Stay up to date on new media industry trends and emerging digital channels.

1. CBC:

• Maintain confidentiality of CBC, donor, and patient information always. Comply with all policies and procedures as outlined in the CBC Employee Handbook, CBC SOPs or directives. Maintains current level of job-related skills by attending in-services, training sessions, and reading publications.

JOB QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, communications, or related field.
• 5+ years experience in marketing, communications and public relations.
• Ability to work variable hours, including some early morning and/or late evening activities, as well as some weekends, traveling to events, and overnight stays.
• Proficient, in-depth knowledge and understanding of social media platforms, (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.), posting and leveraging content.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office. Graphic design experience is desirable.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication and public speaking skills, highly self-motivated.
• Demonstrated contemporary media and public relations skills and experience including experience working with news media outlets, reporters, editors, producers.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally, both orally and in writing, and be comfortable speaking to small and large groups while presenting information to internal and external audiences; maintains professional appearance.
• Able to schedule and follow-up on all actions with little direct supervision and possess problem-solving/negotiation skills to resolve issues professionally.
• Thorough understanding of traditional and digital marketing methods and market research methods.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret various types of documents and results, and write high-quality materials and articles in a pre-designed style and format.
• Proficient with Google Analytics.
• Ability to work in a collaborative, cross-team capacity, manage multiple projects and work within tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude toward donors, co-workers, vendors, and the community.
• Ability to effectively respond to complex requests or complaints from co-workers, supervisor, and/or management.
• Knowledge of the blood banking industry and donor recruitment techniques is a plus.

BENEFITS AND PERKS:We take care of our team - from competitive wages and valuable training to comprehensive benefits packages. This position offers:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance coverage
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• PTO/Sick Time
• Paid holidays
• Paid Volunteer Time Off
• 403(b) retirement savings plan with matching contributions
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted YMCA membership
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee referral bonuses
• Regular employee forums and committees - everyone on our team has a voice!

What are you waiting for? Take the next step. Your work can matter - to you and the community. Apply today!

The Community Blood Center
4406 W. Spencer St.
Appleton, WI 54914
www.communityblood.org
www.facebook.com/cbloodcenter

Community Blood Center, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability