Iowa Department of Revenue Hiring for Communications and Media Specialist at Des Moines, IA Full Time

Job Description

The Iowa Department of Revenue’s Lottery Division is currently seeking a Communications and Media Specialist (Information Specialist 2). The position reports to the Vice President of External Relations and Social Responsibility and works with other members of our External Relations, Marketing, and Website Teams to provide information to lottery players and employees and the public.

The Iowa Lottery delivers value to the state of Iowa by providing responsible entertainment to the public, maximizing revenues, and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, security and accountability. Iowa Lottery tickets are sold in about 2,500 licensed retail locations in all 99 Iowa counties.

The Lottery’s guiding principles include:

• Maintaining integrity, fairness and transparency in its operations and product offerings.
• Maintaining the “Iowa” nature of the Iowa Lottery through the organization’s product offerings, marketing and communications.
• Consistently offering an innovative and entertaining portfolio of products to Iowans.
• Being thoughtful stewards of state of Iowa resources by increasing Lottery operational efficiencies through consistent monitoring and control of business processes.
• Responsibly increasing sales.
• Delivering robust proceeds annually to the state of Iowa..

You will be an integral member of our External Relations team, providing accurate, timely and professional communications to lottery players and the public.

Responsibilities of this position will include:

• Perform audio, video, photo and graphics production as needed for lottery initiatives, including timely news releases, social media postings, newsletters, brochures, radio broadcast programming, and website updates.
• Post timely information to the lottery’s social media sites and provide timely responses to inquiries and input from the public, including via social media sites and the lottery’s public email addresses.
• Write, edit, design, produce and coordinate distribution of lottery communications including newsletters, brochures, radio broadcast programming, website updates, point-of-sale materials and reports. This includes utilizing appropriate production equipment and software.
• Interview and photograph lottery players and winners to produce timely information on behalf of the lottery, including news releases, social media postings and point-of-sale materials.
• Write, edit and distribute timely lottery news releases, particularly winner releases and ending game releases, and provide responses to open records requests or media relations assignments.
• Assist with data compilation and analysis regarding lottery social media and general communications initiatives, providing perspective on results of this data, and sharing the data and results with various internal and external audiences.
• Work cooperatively and professionally with lottery team members to complete lottery projects, including staffing lottery events and promotions.

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in the following:

• Professional-level experience in an area of communications, i.e. public relations, journalism, or a marketing-related discipline.
• Advanced experience working in video, audio, and graphics production utilizing products and tools in Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office.
• Experience coordinating and monitoring social media sites, including posting content and providing responses on behalf of an organization.
• Experience writing news releases, newsletters, emails and completing direct-to-consumer communications, including building out a planning calendar for these efforts.
• Experience working with members of the public in a professional and solutions-oriented manner.
• Strong oral and written communications skills, particularly in a customer- and team-focused environment.
• Experience working in communications and/or the media with knowledge of media production and distribution methods.

Job Specific Competencies:

• Knowledge of customer service: Principles and processes for providing customer service including assessing customer needs, meeting quality standards for service, and evaluating customer satisfaction.
• Knowledge of communications and media, including media production, communication, and distribution techniques and methods, including alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Strong knowledge of the English language, including meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Knowledge of sales and Marketing, including the principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services, including marketing strategy and tactics and product demonstration.
• Strong skills in oral and written communication, including active listening, effective speaking and social perceptiveness.

Employer Highlights:

The Iowa Department of Revenue is a well-respected employer. We are focused on providing excellent customer service, while offering a wonderful team atmosphere, work-life balance, free parking, and casual attire. We offer a flexible working environment and opportunities to work from home with the ability to work from anywhere in the State of Iowa as long as it is your primary residence. We have a great total compensation package for all of our full-time employees, including:

• Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC)
• Flexible Working Environment- Work from Home Opportunities
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

Questions?

The mission of the Iowa Department of Revenue is to serve Iowans and support the state government by collecting all taxes required by law, but no more. Our strength is driven by the skills, talents, and diversity of our people. We value and promote diversity and inclusion in every aspect of our business and at every level of our organization. If you’re looking for a career with an organization that values its employees and customers, you’ve come to the right place.

Applicants must live within the State of Iowa to qualify for this position.