The Communications Specialist is responsible for promoting AHS events, activities, and content through a variety of mediums; creating and disseminating content about Arizona history through the AHS website and all social media accounts; writing and issuing press releases; managing the appropriate accounts; and supervising the graphic designer to ensure the quality and timeliness of all agency graphic design projects.
The communications specialist will develop community relationships, especially relationships with media partners, to promote AHS.
This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.
Social Media:
• Develop and implement a strategic social media plan that will help increase museum attendance, membership rolls, public awareness of our collecting needs, and brand recognition, among other things
• Social media responsibilities include creating and coordinating the creation of engaging content including at live events, developing a social media content calendar, developing and updating an internal social media policy, and serving as the administrator for all AHS social media
Communications:
• Maintains and updates media contact list and data
• Serves as the point of contact for media inquiries
• Helps to prepare, write, or edit important agency communications with key stakeholders
• Works with other departments to develop and distribute appropriate signage, graphic materials, and external communications and marketing for events, both in-person and virtual
• Manages the Constant Contact lists and information distribution
Website Management:
• Responsible for overseeing the content presented on the AHS website, including creating, editing, posting, and updating content
• Ensures consistent messaging and adherence to brand standards
• Serves as administrator for AHS website maintenance
Marketing:
• Coordinates the handling of marketing requests submitted by staff and works to create a brief marketing plan for each project or initiative
• Helps develop and implement marketing strategies that build museum and event attendance, membership, and brand recognition
• Maintains and ensures brand standards throughout all marketing content
• Works with team members to develop creative and engaging marketing content to promote AHS's programs and initiatives
• Oversees activities of staff graphic designer, helping to prioritize assignments and providing creative support on graphic design projects when needed
• Provides employee coaching and performance feedback
Knowledge:
• Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• Proficiency with social media for business use (esp. Facebook, Instagram, and X)
• Proficiency with Google products and WordPress website maintenance
Skills:
• Superb communication skills, including both oral and written communication
• Impeccable honesty and integrity
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of staff, stakeholders, colleagues, vendors, and potential partners
• Organizing and coordinating a multitude of complex projects to meet agency goals, including delegating tasks to appropriate staff
Abilities:
• Work collegially and collaboratively with diverse groups of stakeholders
• Analyze and synthesize complex information
• Coordinate a number of complex tasks and manage multiple projects to completion on deadline
• Form good interpersonal relationships
• Master's degree in communications and experience with social media posts
• Some knowledge of history, especially Arizona history preferred
• Valid state driver's license
• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.
The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Vacation plus 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Sick leave
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment
• If you have any questions please feel free to contact Brian Westerberg at brian.westerberg@azdoa.gov