Communications & Research Project Staff #2024-09

POSITION TITLE:                      

Communications & Research Project Staff

POSITION JOB#:                           

2024-09

DEPARTMENT:                             

Public Affairs

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:      

Director of Public Affairs

LOCATION:                                

St Paul Office

HOURS/STATUS:                           

Full Time/TEMPORARY

FLSA STATUS:                               

Exempt

EMPLOYEE GROUP:                 

TEMPO

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:        

12 Months

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Director of Public Affairs, with day-to-day direction in program implementation from public affairs professional staff, the Communications and Research Project Staff will implement targeted portions of Education Minnesota’s communication and research program. This will include research on legislative issues, and state and local candidates, along with writing and editing multiple supporting materials.

This is a temporary position, not lasting beyond November 2024.  

Education Minnesota is a member-led labor union that has identified racial equity and social justice as primary organizational goals. All staff are expected to participate, individually and collectively, in ongoing training, discussions, and activities to advance these goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Research, write, edit and publish internal and external communications.
• Conduct research on education issues, legislative candidates, and school board candidates.
• Provide writing, proofreading, and editing services for a variety of projects as directed.
• Participate in internal and external anti-racist trainings to support growth and individual racial equity goals, including assessments of intercultural competence.
• Create engaging, relevant, and accurate content and shareable materials for social media and other platforms.
• Input data and implement data strategies of the campaign as directed.
• Attend meetings and trainings as directed.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge and understanding of unions.
• Knowledge and understanding of the legislative and political process.
• Demonstrated ability to engage people through online and/or social media activism.
• Demonstrated ability to research legislative issues and candidates.
• Excellent communications skills, including writing and editing.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize and work independently.
• Demonstrated awareness of social, racial and economic justice concerns.
• Experience working with confidential and sensitive information and issues.
• Ability to work with technology, social media, design and data tracking systems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• B.A. degree in communications or closely related field and a minimum of one years’ experience in some type of communications field or
• AA/AS degree and five years’ experience in some type of communications field.
• Valid Driver’s license
• One year of involvement in a union, political or advocacy campaign.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination (vaccination card). If you have a medical exemption, you will be asked to provide a written waiver from your medical provider. If you have a religious exemption, you will be asked to provide documentation stating your religious exemption.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of educational issues.
• Knowledge of the political process.
• Strong knowledge of Adobe InDesign.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Willingness to work nights and weekends as needed.
• Able to successfully pass a post offer pre-employment background check.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Works in a general office environment. This position will interact with employees, vendors, members, and the general public on a somewhat regular basis. These interactions require judgment and discretion that can involve confidential information, private information and some disagreeable human interactions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work is in a general office environment. Employee is required to: talk and hear; frequently stand, walk, and repetitively use hands dexterously (use fingers to handle, feel), reach with hands and arms, bend and physically, lift and carry up to 5 pounds; occasionally lift up to 25 pounds and infrequently travel by various conveyances (e.g., air, rail, auto).

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION:

Maintain confidential information related to the organization, members and potential members, and staff.

EDUCATION MINNESOTA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Education Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing an inclusive environment of mutual respect where diversity is valued, supported, and celebrated to benefit applicants, employees, members, and students. Discrimination of any kind is prohibited. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, job requirements and business needs. Education Minnesota strongly encourages women, BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, immigrants, and veterans to apply.