What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Relations Specialist position at Saint Louis Zoo?
Responsibilities:
Responsible for supporting the public relations objectives of the Saint Louis Zoo, which includes raising awareness of the organization, its mission and the conservation work through the development and execution of highly effective public relations planning and activation. Writes engaging copy for a range of audiences through multiple channels. Brings strategic thinking and planning to the role to guide content development and prioritize where to invest the most efforts. Develops creative media pitches; conducts proactive media outreach; creates spokesperson preparation materials; staffs media on-site; responds to media inquiries; drafts and edits engaging copy for Zoo communication platforms and channels to reach a range of audiences; identifies and establishes new relationships with members of the media, content creators and other influencers. Monitors and engages with followers on social media and provides an early warning system for issues. Works with team to track results and gathers analytics to assess and improve the effectiveness of the Zoo’s digital communication. Plans, develops, edits and publishes digital content. Develops a range of website pages and updates the website. Manages the organization’s speakers bureau, which includes proactive outreach and reactive response to inbound requests and inquiries. Works with Marketing team members to increase effectiveness and engagement as appropriate. Constantly keeps abreast of industry and social media trends and makes recommendations for improvements. Edits and proofreads materials for a range of internal clients. Assists fellow Public Relations team members with other duties as necessary. Can juggle multiple responsibilities and projects at the same time and can work under deadline pressure, meeting Zoo and media needs. Can communicate complex ideas and issues in simple ways that are easy for the general public to understand.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s in communication, journalism, marketing or related coursework required. A minimum of 4 to 6 years of professional public relations or communication experience working in a relevant industry. Advanced professional grammar, writing, editing and proofreading skills. Experience working with media and can demonstrate proficiency in national media relations to drive earned placements. Excels at social media and digital communication. Previous experience working in the field of public relations at an agency setting or in-house at a conservation organization, zoo, aquarium, sanctuary or other wildlife care specialty organization is preferred. Passionate and experienced at excelling in a fast-paced environment as both a team member and an independent contributor with autonomy. Ability to respond quickly and meet deadlines. All successful candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background check.
Additional Requirements:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Writing samples
Education
Required- Bachelors or better in Communication or related field
