Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) is seeking a bright, enthusiastic, energetic Communications Specialist to join our member engagement and communications team. You are a wiz on all things social media and technically savvy when it comes to managing a website. Whether print, digital, live, or on-air, you know how to promote a positive image for yourself and the Cooperative.

As Communications Specialist you will be responsible for creating and maintaining all Cooperative marketing and communications content including social media for the purpose of educating and informing Cooperative members and employees, local news media, elected officials, and the general public.

If you have at least three years' experience in the areas of marketing, communications, or public relations, keep reading! Previous experience in communications at an electric cooperative, with an emphasis on member and public relations, is helpful and preferred.

What will you do if you're hired?

• Create, write, and edit engaging internal and external communications material.
• Assist department director and vice president with project management coordination, strategic communications, media relations, brand management, writing, planning, and other departmental activities and communications.
• Collaborate with and support fellow members of SEC's Member Engagement & Communications Department.
• Create effective content and communications strategies.
• Track, monitor, and report communications analytics to department director and vice president.
• Develop and manage an editorial calendar to promote SEC's brand, programs, and services that aligns with SEC's strategic communications plan.
• Respond to media inquiries and develop content for media release.
• Manage and maintain SEC website.
• Evaluate, analyze, and recommend public relations and marketing tools/programs to department director.
• Work continually toward self-development to remain informed of the latest communications, public relations and marketing techniques, and best practices.
• Coordinate and manage all Cooperative social media channels.
• Assist in writing, editing, and taking photographs/videos for newsletters and other publications to enhance the Cooperative's image and keep members and employees informed.
• Update and maintain contacts with local media.
• Facilitate Cooperative communications during major power outage events.
• Create and manage content of monthly employee and member print newsletter and Cooperative Living

Our ideal candidate answers "yes" to the following questions:

• Can you provide examples of content you have created for social media, a website, mail inserts, newspaper ads, radio ads, magazines, or other media?
• Can you provide examples of marketing materials intended to educate an audience on a specific topic?
• Can you provide examples of how you have helped to advance and maintain a brand?
• Have you served as webmaster for a business or organization?
• Are you comfortable making presentations to members, employees, political leaders, and community groups within our service area?
• Do you understand why Electric Cooperatives exist and how they operate?
• Are you a self-starter who can manage multiple projects without constant supervision?
• Are you adept at responding to and resolving customer inquiries quickly and promptly?
• Can you successfully manage a variety of projects simultaneously within established guidelines?
• Are you able to solve problems and develop solutions to unique communications challenges as they arise?
• Do you have exceptional verbal and written communication skills?
• Are you willing and able to work whatever hours necessary to represent the Cooperative at community events and meetings? (Including mornings before 8 a.m., evenings, and on weekends?)
• Are you willing and able to work overtime hours during emergencies and major storm events?
• Do you have a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or related area?
• Do you reside within 60 minutes legal driving time of our headquarters office in Crewe, VA? Or are you willing to locate to this area?
• Are you willing to work full-time, onsite, at our headquarters office in Crewe, VA? (This is not a remote or hybrid position.)

The Communications Specialist must live within 60 minutes legal drive time of our Headquarters Office located in Crewe, VA.

At Southside Electric Cooperative, our members are our priority. Therefore, we are first responders when the lights go out. We are not intimidated by adverse situations - we know that extra hours will be necessary during emergencies. Like you, we are always ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work when the workload demands. You must be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays in the event of excessive power outages.

Benefits

Because SEC employees take great care of our members, we reward them with a very competitive salary and an excellent benefits package that includes:

• Employer sponsored Retirement plan after one year of service.
• Employer contributions to employee 401(k) accounts after one year of service. (Employees may contribute after completing a full calendar month of service.)
• HDHP Anthem HealthKeepers health insurance with 100% employer paid premium for employees and 95% employer paid premiums for their eligible dependents. (Anthem KeyCare is also available with a small employee premium.)
• Anthem Dental and Vision, with 100% employer paid premiums for employees and their eligible dependents.
• HSA with annual employer contribution.
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA).
• Basic Life Insurance and AD&D insurance, each at 3x annual salary for employees with 100% employer paid premium.
• Affordable life insurance for dependents including $20,000 life insurance per child for only $2 per month, regardless of the number of children covered.
• Tuition reimbursement including books and fees.
• Premium LifeLock with Norton

NO RECRUITERS OR AGENCIES!

You must apply via the posted job link in order to be considered. Applications through Cooperative.com are not regularly checked.

Documents to establish identity and employment eligibility are required.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States on a full-time basis. SEC will not sponsor applicants or take over sponsorship for work visas.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability status, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

About Southside Electric Cooperative

SEC strives to provide safe, reliable electricity and related services at the highest value to our member-owners. We exist to enhance the quality of life of the communities in which we serve and live. We achieve this mission by our actions that demonstrate integrity, fiscal responsibility, member engagement, community involvement, and by living out the cooperative principles. The relationship we have with the member-owners of SEC matters to us, and we work hard every day to prove this through our actions. We recognize that our member-owners expect to receive a quality of service which surpasses that typically associated with simply being a “customer” of an investor-owned utility. Our four district offices are located in the areas where we serve, and our employees live in these areas as well. Our employees are very active in our communities and participate in a number of ways to improve the areas in which they live. SEC employees are active volunteer fire fighters, EMTs, first responders, youth sports coaches, and Sunday school teachers, to name a few. Making Southside Virginia a better place to live and work is very important to us. It is inherent in our mission as a cooperative and it is a commitment we make, not only to our members but to our co-workers and our families.

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