External Communications Manager - Full-time / Part-time

Req ID: 90583

BASIC PURPOSE: The External Communications Manager will develop and implement a strategic digital communications and public relations plan that incorporates best practices and quality content to align with company goals. The person in this role will work closely with marketing, recruiting, operations, and additional business teams to support strategic objectives with communications solutions. The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic expert in using social technology and digital comms as means to reach and engage key audiences in meaningful and measurable ways. The External Communications Manager also evaluates engagement analytics and provides measurement reporting and sound business insights to senior staff to improve Love’s digital communications strategy.

      The External Communications Manager works from Love’s Corporate Offices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with approximately 5% travel in the United States.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads Love’s social media and digital communications strategies as well as media relations initiatives by crafting business plans, campaigns and editorial schedules, sourcing emerging channels, and actively participating in and monitoring communications across our audiences.
• Motivates and inspires a small team of communicators to create original written and video content for key audiences, engage in conversations across platforms, as well as monitor, listen, respond, refer and provide analysis and engagement metrics for all channels.
• Works with communications team to create actionable cross-functional project plans blending external communications with other communications disciplines for enterprise initiatives.
• Oversees media relations activities including media inquiry response, relationship building with media professionals, and successfully pitching stories resulting in positive coverage. Occasionally serves as company spokesperson.
• Creates shareable content through the development of resources, regular meetings, and collaboration on special projects. Coordinates approvals at all stages and delivers projects on time.
• Develops, optimizes and maintains web content for loves.com. Ensures content is of high quality for readership, engagement and SEO. Provides SEO reports and makes recommendations for strategic direction of content.
• Provides input and recommendations for the external communications budget.
• Serves as the external communications representative on special task forces or committees within the organization.
• Regularly presents external communications-related material, measurement reports and recommendations at meetings with senior leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

   

  EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, public relations, communications, journalism or related field preferred.
• Experience:
  • 6+ years of corporate comms experience or equivalent exposure to a corporate communications environment.
  • Experience in writing, editing and creating content across social media platforms and websites, leveraging digital communications management and analytics tools, and knowledge of social media legal guidelines.

     

    SKILLS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Skills:

• Excellent writer with solid verbal communication skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe creative suite, strong negotiation skills, demonstrated strong collaborative and project management skills with ability to handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines, experience in leading a team.
• Proficient knowledge of social technology tools including content delivery, advertising, SEO and algorithms.

• Typical Physical Demands:
  • Requires prolonged sitting, some bending and stooping.
  • Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard and calculator.
• Requires normal range of hearing and vision.

.

Job Function(s): Communications

Clean Places, Friendly Faces. It's been the guiding principle at Love's for more than 50 years, and it's leading us into the future. We're passionate about serving drivers with clean, modern facilities stocked with plenty of fuel, food and supplies. Love's has two primary kinds of stores. Our 'Country Stores' are fueling stations with a convenience store attached. The larger 'Travel Stops' are located on interstate highways and offer additional amenities such as food from popular restaurant chains, trucking supplies, showers and more.