Job Description

Company: Kansas Soybean Association
Job Title: Director of Communications
Job Classification: Full-Time; Exempt
Reporting Relationship: Administrator & CEO
Location: Kansas Soybean Association Office, Topeka KS

Primary Accountability:

The Communications Director leads all Kansas Soybean Association (KSA) and Kansas Soybean Commission (KSC) communications programs and provides strategic direction to the CEO, program staff, and farmer leaders on key messaging issues. The Director manages the Kansas Soybean brand and is the primary avenue for sharing soybean checkoff success back to the farmers of Kansas and Association membership return on investment.

Major Duties Include:

• Leads the communications program to develop and maintain a favorable image of the soybean industry with the media as well as industry leaders – state, national and international.
• Collaborates with executive leadership and the Board of Directors to develop the corporate mission statement and brand strategic plan.
• Provides direct supervision of and coaching for the KSA Communications and Member Specialist position.
• Develops, implements, and adheres to communications program budget.
• Manages the Kansas Soybean Association’s corporate brand identity and image:
  • Manages the earned media program (news releases, press conferences, media packets and contact program), KSA and KSC publications (newsletters and/or magazines).
  • Manages the KSC broadcast program (radio, television, etc.).
  • Oversees KSA and KSC website maintenance and social media outreach.
  • Support for KSA and KSC speech, public statement, and talking points for leadership and staff.
  • Supervises the inventory of communications materials, including brochures, giveaways, KSA membership information, and other.
  • Provides leadership role in the annual Kansas Soybean Celebration, the premier public facing event showcasing KSA and KSC activities.
  • Communicates KSA and ASA legislative successes, issues and initiatives working with ASA communications, when possible, on mutual issues.
  • Communicates KSC and USB checkoff successes, issues and initiatives working with USB communications, when possible, on mutual issues.
  • Provides communications support to achieve KSA’s policy and regulatory objectives.
  • Works with other state and national soybean checkoff and association communications staff to develop and amplify programs and key industry messages.
  • Develops a communication program to support nomination and election of KSC Directors, USB Directors, as well as future referendums and/or checkoff polls in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and USB.
  • Provides support that encourages leadership development and training for county and state leaders.
• Maintains KSA and KSC photography & board member biography files.
• KSA and KSC Annual Meeting publication and event support.
• Provides communications support and cooperation for KSA’s corporate relations program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• BS or BA degree or equivalent work experience in journalism, communication, marketing or public relations.
• Three to five (3-5) years of experience in communications. Project supervision and comprehensive marketing experience, preferred.
• General knowledge of agriculture with an emphasis on soybeans is a plus.
• Evidence of technical communications skills, including writing, editing, photography, design, and others.
• Highly motivated, organized, accurate, and detail oriented with strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite or other similar design software.
• Good public relations skills, with evidence of ability to work and communicate with people to ensure effective internal and external relationships.
• Ability to plan, organize, direct and coordinate communications program activities of KSA and KSC.
• Familiar with accounting, experience developing and managing project budgets.
• Available to work evenings and weekends as job requires.
• Available to travel in Kansas and U.S. Furnish own vehicle for reimbursement of expenses at established federal mileage rate.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and programs.

Physical Demands:

• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk and hear.
• Frequently lifts and/or moves up to ten (10) pounds and occasionally lifts and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving and manipulating materials

Work Environment:

• Professional and deadline-oriented in-office environment with opportunity for some travel and reasonable schedule flexibility. The noise level in-office is typically low to moderate.

Additional duties and responsibilities may be added to this job description at any time. The job description does not state or imply that these are the only activities to be performed by the employee holding this position. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related responsibilities as requested by their supervisor.

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