COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, Bluestem Communications - Chicago, IL

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR POSITION OVERVIEW

Bluestem Communications is searching for a Communications Coordinator to support the Communications Director with writing and project management. We are looking for someone with excellent writing skills who is enthusiastic and willing to learn about and adopt Bluestem’s Communication’s philosophy and methodology. This full-time position works under the supervision and direction of the Communications Director assisting her with managing and implementing ten to fifteen communications and stakeholder engagement projects simultaneously. In addition to outstanding writing and organization abilities, someone with excellent presentation skills and a background in environmental issues, particularly land and water conservation, is highly desired.

Bluestem Communications researches, designs and implements communication strategies and stakeholder engagement processes and supports environmental coalitions. Our work aims to engage people in environmental issues in order to motivate positive behavior change by connecting people’s existing personal values to environmental causes. Bluestem also implements engagement processes in order to learn from and educate segments of the public or stakeholder groups. The engagement projects support government agencies, municipalities and others in their quest to better understand what an audience thinks, knows and feels about a topic.

Responsibilities

The Communications Coordinator is responsible for the following tasks:

1. Writing: Assist with developing and writing communications materials (including newsletters, website text, brochures, ads, fact sheets, how-to-guides, etc.), messages, communications strategies and marketing plans. Writing tasks include:
   1. Issue research
   2. Developing first drafts
   3. Editing text
   4. Photo research
2. Project Management: Assist the Communications Director with simultaneously managing ten to fifteen communications projects. Project management tasks include:
   1. Develop and follow timelines
   2. Prepare agendas and assist with meeting set-up and organization
   3. Take detailed meeting notes
   4. Conduct follow up tasks from meetings
   5. Write project reports
3. Stakeholder Engagement: Assist the Communications Director with planning and managing the logistics of stakeholder meetings and preparing final reports. Stakeholder engagement tasks include:
   1. Help plan and organize large meetings
   2. Assist with creating meeting handout materials and developing presentations
   3. Attend stakeholder meetings
   4. Transcribe notes from meetings
4. Research: Guided by the Communications Director, this position involves conducting research. Research tasks include:
   1. Conduct literature reviews of public opinion research and write final reports on
   2. Conduct research analyzing media coverage on specific topics and write final reports
5. Learn and adopt the Bluestem process for creating behavior change campaigns and writing values-based messages
6. Learn and adopt Bluestem’s system for planning stakeholder engagement processes

Bluestem has spent two decades researching audiences, testing communications methods and developing best practices for successful stakeholder engagement. Our years of experience have allowed us to develop a suite of tried and true tools and strategies that are unique and not widely practiced. Therefore, we do not expect new staff to join Bluestem with the knowledge of our methodology and practices. Instead we look for people who understand our purpose and the premise for our work and are willing to take the time to learn how we work and then eventually move into a more advanced position where they conduct and manage projects on their own.

Qualifications

• College degree
• 3-5 years of job experience, where job included:
  • Writing
  • Project management
• Experience conducting research
• Experience and confidence delivering public presentations
• Excellent inter-personal skills and a friendly, outgoing manner
• Experience working on teams and in a small office setting

Ideal candidates possess the above qualifications and are:

• knowledgeable about environmental and land and water conservation issues
• talented and quick writers who understand social marketing and public communications
• enthusiastic self-starters that eventually need little guidance
• engaging presenters
• quick learners eager to take on new tasks

Opportunity for Growth (1-2 years)

The right person has the opportunity to grow from the Communications Coordinator position into a more advanced position at Bluestem, either as a Communications or Program Manager. IF a Communications Coordinator eventually learns to work with the groups we serve and to create communication strategies and/or conduct stakeholder engagement projects using Bluestem’s methodology and without direct supervision, then there is an excellent opportunity to advance within the organization.

Hours

This is a salaried, full-time position.

Location

Bluestem Communication’s offices are located at 14 North Peoria St, Suite 4F, Chicago, IL 60607.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary $35,000 – $43,000 – commensurate with experience
• Health insurance
• 5% of salary contribution to retirement fund
• Vacation:
  • Year 1: 15 days
  • Year 2 and on: 20 days
  • After 5 years: 25 days
• Nine paid sick days
• Twelve paid holidays

Application Details

Please prepare and submit a cover letter explaining specifically how you meet the above criteria, your resumé and at least two writing samples. Please apply ONLY if you have ALL of the above qualifications and can readily complete the listed tasks. Application packets that have form cover letters, grammatical errors or do not include at least two writing samples will not be considered. Email cover letter, resume and writing sample to Rebeca Bell at: rbell@bluestemcommunications.org.

In the email subject line, write “Communications Coordinator.” No phone calls, please. Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis until the position is filled.