Communications Manager

Summary of Position: Reporting to the Assistant Library Director, this position will manage and supervise most aspects of communications for the Talbot County Free Library, including overseeing all marketing and public relations in support of building awareness for library services and programs and creating messages that communicate the value of the library to the community. In this highly collaborative role, the Communications Manager will work closely with administration and staff in the marketing and promoting of the library, fundraising, resources, and events, which may include but would not be limited to creating advertising, signage, print publications, social media, web presence, and electronic content to further the goals and objectives of the library. The Communications Manager will serve as an integral ambassador to the community. The work schedule may include evening and weekend work as needed.

Reports to: Assistant Director

FLSA Status: Full-time; salaried; non-exempt

Supervisory Responsibility: Supervises interns and volunteers working on public relations or marketing projects.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Possession of a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing or related field from an accredited university and a minimum of three or more years of professional experience, preferably in a public sector or non-profit setting. Related work experience or education may be substituted for the specific degree requirement at the discretion of the Library Director;
• Strong public speaking skills, written communication, and proofreading skills; ability to write clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive prose
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with others
• In-depth experience and skills working with marketing software and relevant computer hardware and software
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, prioritize, demonstrate strong organizational skills, and meet deadlines
• Work experience in graphic arts design and production, and content creation

Preference may be given for:

• Spanish bilingual skills preferred;
• Work experience with social media and website content creation
• Work experience with a non-profit

Essential Duties: Examples are illustrative of this class of work; they are not intended to include all of the essential duties. Certain conditions, e.g. economic constraints, staffing patterns, changes in goals and objectives, etc., may necessitate changes to the duties described in this job description.

1. Public Relations Management
• Develops operational marketing plan including goals, objectives, strategies, and plans for marketing and communications of the library;
• Assists with strategic planning for the library
• Designs and directs marketing and public relations efforts to achieve established goals, with significant emphasis on media and community relations, marketing communications, market research, and brand management
• Confers with administrative and professional staff to determine the nature and emphasis of needed public information and community relations support, especially on library initiatives and major changes to policy or actions
• Interacts extensively in person, over the telephone, via e-mail and social media, with library system staff, patrons, partners, media, outside agencies, and vendors
• Develops positive and beneficial contacts and relationships with media representatives to create opportunities for keeping the library and its products, services, events, and programs in front of the public
• Serves as primary spokesperson along with Library Director to the media for library information, fielding and directing responses to media-related inquiries
• Oversees, as well as, writes and edits accurate, meaningful, and readable copy for newsletters, brochures, public service announcements, social media, website, and other assigned formats for the purpose of promoting library services and programs
• Collaborates with other staff to develop the library's social networking presence and to ensure the library has a user-friendly and informative web presence
• Develops style standards for all publications and then writes, edits, and oversees design for publications, signage, and displays in and outside branches
• Plans and supervises production of all library publications and is responsible for graphics production
• Works with administration and other library staff to identify and pursue development activities, including grant writing and funding, donations, and fundraising initiatives, and provides marketing support to the TCFL Foundation
• Establishes and implements a library marketing plan at regular intervals and determines appropriate publicity strategies to accomplish goals for marketing TCFL to the public and community stakeholders
• Serves as staff consultant on media relations
• Develops and maintains library and newsletter photo archive
• Collaborates with other staff to use public feedback tools such as customer surveys and focus groups
• Occasional travel via all modes of transportation
• Valid driver's license which is not suspended or revoked
2. Programming and Community Engagement
• Plans programs, marketing, social media, and public relations campaigns, including defining customer base and target markets
• Demonstrates exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create programs that serve the diverse needs and interests of our community.
• Organize and run Programming Meetings
• Cultivate relationships with local organizations, schools and community leaders to enhance the library's presence and impact
• Plans and implements library system special events and assists with special projects, including assisting in organizing special events, preparing pre- and post- publicity, and developing proposals for library events related to strategic planning
• Ensures TCFL's brand is fully integrated into all operational aspects of the library's functions
• Gather and analyze feedback from community interactions to identify areas for improvement and support data-driven outreach plans.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekend hours.
3. Public Services
• Serves as liaison and point of contact with government, community, and business groups regarding library information;
• Acts as point of contact with community and other outside groups regarding library information;
• Represents library at community forums, workshops, seminars, and serves on community and library committees;
• Identifies new and effective avenues of marketing the library system through collaborative community relations efforts;
• Establishes partnerships and contacts with community agencies, businesses, and organizations;
4. Supervision
• Supervises and evaluates the work of assigned volunteers and interns;
5. Other Duties as Assigned
• Performs tasks and duties which may not be specifically listed in the position description, but which are within the general occupational category and responsibility level typically associated with the employee's class of work;
• Maintains proficiency by learning new skills and technology and reading professional literature in field;
• Participates in meetings, teams/committees/workgroups, outreach activities, and training opportunities as appropriate
6. Physical Requirements
• Work requires routine physical effort in the handling of moderately heavy materials of up to 40 pounds.
• Work requires standing for long periods of time and some stooping and bending.
• Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safely precautions typical of such places as offices, libraries, classrooms or meeting and training rooms, e.g. use of safe work place practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls and observance of fire and building safely regulations.

The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this job. This, and all library positions, are eligible for system-wide transfer.

Talbot County Free Library staff work in a diverse environment and are expected to demonstrate respect for and relate to co-workers and patrons from many different backgrounds and cultures. The Talbot County Free Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Library's policy is to treat all applicants and employees equally without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability