State of Minnesota Jobs

Working Title: Communications Director

Job Class: Communications Supervisor

Agency: Teachers Retirement Association

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 04/22/2024

• Closing Date : 05/13/2024

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Teachers Retirement Assoc / Teachers Retirement Asc-MMA

• Division/Unit : TRA Payroll Unit / Operations

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes - up to 10%

• Salary Range: $38.74 - $55.69 / hourly; $80,889 - $116,280 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 216 - Middle Management Association/MMA

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Executive

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) has been administering pension coverage to Minnesota educators for decades, with a mission to help members and their beneficiaries plan for an independent and financially secure retirement. We are currently seeking job candidates with strategic leadership ability, written publication experience, and strong public relation skills to serve as our organization’s Communications Director.

Our Communications Director position exists to lead the communications and marketing efforts for TRA, and is responsible for the development of publications, newsletters, presentations, social media, promotional communications, and other marketing and educational materials. The incumbent hired into this role will be a strategic partner, managing long-term communication planning initiatives and the implementation of those plans through a variety of different communications channels to ensure alignment with TRA’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. Additionally, the incumbent will provide recommendations on public relation strategies to TRA’s executive team, and will lead a team of communications staff.

This position is located in our Saint Paul, Minnesota office and will require the incumbent to work a schedule that includes in-person work. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time for this role.

Minimum Qualifications

Four (4) years of progressive, professional experience in Communications and/or Public Relations.

A Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or closely related field can substitute for one (1) year of experience.

Experience must also demonstrate the following:

• Leadership responsibility requiring the supervision/leadwork of staff and/or management of major enterprise projects.

• Demonstrated experience developing or assisting in the development of written marketing materials, publications, webpages, and/or social media content.

• Demonstrated experience creating and executing (or assisting with) strategic communication and public relation plans.

• Advanced technical proficiency with publishing applications; Adobe Suite applications; Microsoft Office Suite; Cisco WebEx; and/or equivalent software packages.

• Ability to motivate, monitor, coach, and/or provide constructive feedback to employees.

• Ability to plan, organize, and successfully manage competing priorities and deadlines.

• Ability to diagnose problems and recommend solutions for internal control best practices, policy development, and process improvement purposes.

• Strong interpersonal skills, written and verbal communication, and attention detail necessary to collaborate on enterprise projects and initiatives; communicate information about sensitive topics; influence others to resolve conflicting viewpoints; train and present to a variety of stakeholders; create and edit a variety of materials; and champion a work culture that advocates for inclusion.

Successful candidates must also possess the ability to secure their own transportation for in-state business travel and/or conferences. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time for this role.

Preferred Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or closely related field.

An Advanced degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or closely related field.

Supervisory or Management experience.

Experience working in the financial services industry and/or a public pension organization.

Experience managing a budget for a work unit.

Experience working with graphic design, photography, and/or videography.

Physical Requirements

This position requires occasional transporting of articles such as file folders, ledgers and/or small tools. May be required to move or maintain a stationary position for long periods of time.

Additional Requirements

Successful candidates must pass past-employer reference checks and a criminal background check.

It is the policy of TRA that all finalist(s) submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

• State of Minnesota state government employment records check (applies to current and past State of Minnesota state government employees only)

• Criminal History Check

• Employee Reference Check

• Social Security and Address Verification

• Education Verification

• Driver's License Check

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.