What are the responsibilities and job description for the Marketing and Communications Specialist position at METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS?
SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation Planning of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is seeking a Marketing and Communications Specialist to support the Commuter Connections Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program for the metropolitan Washington, DC region. Working alongside the TDM Marketing Manager, this position will assist in planning, development, implementation, and evaluation activities related to Commuter Connections’ marketing efforts. This position places an emphasis on digital communications, including social media and website management. Additionally, this position will be the primary person responsible for coordinating the annual Bike to Work Day regional event. This high-profile COG event peaked at more than 18,000 participants.
The successful candidate for this position requires strong organization skills, the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment, an ability to coordinate stakeholder engagement and build consensus, excellent written and oral communications skills, and strict attention detail. Daily work will include team-oriented tasks requiring collaboration among team members, consultants, and network members. Prior TDM experience is preferred but not required.
EXAMPLES OF WORK
Coordinate the annual Bike to Work Day Event. Serve as staff lead to the Bike to Work Day Steering Committee with several hundred members, which includes facilitating five meetings per year. Build consensus among committee members for event goals, participation requirements, and collateral materials. Fulfill nuanced tasks to cultivate a successful event, including gathering and publishing pit stop information, procuring and distributing event collateral to pit stop managers, and overseeing an event sponsorship drive, among other duties.
Assist the TDM Marketing Manager in providing direction for the Regional TDM Marketing contractor. Submit feedback on media plans, messaging, artwork, and other marketing collateral developed by the contractor.
Develop, update, and procure marketing collateral such as brochures and flyers.
Maintain commuterconnections.org and biketoworkmetrodc.org websites. Regularly review content for accuracy. Build new webpages or alter existing webpages, as needed. Maintain website functionality in partnership with web developer.
Coordinate social media efforts for Commuter Connections. Recommend content for organic and boosted posts. Respond to occasional questions from the public.
Attend promotional events.
Gather and manage data and information relevant to evaluating marketing campaigns. Compile various reports, such as Campaign Summaries, Bike to Work Day Event Summaries, and data exports from platforms such as Google Analytics and Meta Ads Manager.
Assist the TDM Marketing Manager in coordinating and convening the Regional TDM Marketing Group. Present at quarterly meetings.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The successful candidate will require strong knowledge of communications field, including marketing, advertising, public relations, development and implementation of communication strategies. Excellent writing skills (including copywriting and editing) and demonstrated ability to write for a variety of audiences, from technical to the public. Possess an eye for graphics and layout for appealing and effective advertising. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to speak clearly and concisely; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, the business community, officials and the public; display of good judgment and tact. Ability to coordinate regional events. Ability to identify activities and opportunities that support the regional TDM marketing mission and objectives.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Two or more years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, outreach, public involvement, or a related field; and possession of a bachelor or master’s degree in an appropriate related field (Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Administration, Political Science); or some experience in writing and producing publications, journalism, public relations, local, state or federal government, or nonprofit organizations or any equivalent combination of knowledge and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Strong skills required for Microsoft 365 programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams) and web conferencing platforms (Webex/Zoom/Teams). Experience with WordPress and Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) considered desirable.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Ability to write reports, social media posts, and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business and professional periodicals and journals, website information, technical procedures, sales and service guidelines, or governmental regulations. Ability to interact with program stakeholders and fill support requests for data. Ability to effectively present information on marketing and respond to questions from management, committees, public groups, and/or program participants.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to calculate figures and amounts for general accounting purposes related to purchases, invoices, and contract expenditures.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to interpret personnel policies and practices and make appropriate decisions; apply good judgment and initiative, ability to maintain confidentiality.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This is a fast-paced environment and requires the ability to handle multiple tasks at any given time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
COG currently operates in a “hybrid” manner, where an employee may be eligible to telework up to two days per week, pending supervisor and Executive Director approval.
