Social Media & Public Relations Representative

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Job ID: 29006
Agency: Tourism
Location: Pierre, SD
Salary: $ 55,000-$58,000/annually, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade: I
Closing Date: 11/19/2024

The State of South Dakota Department of Tourism is hiring a Social Media & Public Relations Representative to join their Pierre, SD, team. This onsite role, part of the Global Public Relations & Content Services team, will focus on a variety of storytelling utilizing content and social media as well as coordinate public relations and media efforts.

About our team:

We’re here to serve the people of South Dakota and all who come to meet our Great Faces and explore our Great Places. Learn more about the Department of Tourism: https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/ and https://sdvisit.com/.

About the role:

The Social Media & Public Relations Representative will use a proactive approach utilizing content to tell the South Dakota travel story. Focus areas include managing the day-to-day social media accounts for Travel South Dakota, assisting with strategic planning for social media, and ensuring continuity between social and paid marketing efforts to further strengthen Travel South Dakota's mission of maximizing tourism's impact on local economies. This role coordinates public relations and media efforts for the department, including working closely with industry partners and travel journalists. Frequent in-state and out-of-state travel is required. This is a full-time, 40 hour weekly, position.

Who we want:

A self-motivated individual with excellent communication and organizational skills who is punctual, and detail oriented. Must thrive and excel in a team environment. Qualified candidates should have proven experience in applying problem-solving and critical thinking skills in various situations.

Why choose our team?

The State of South Dakota offers paid training, a generous benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, and paid family leave plus a 6% pension match with the South Dakota Retirement System and so much more!

Role responsibilities (not an entire list):

• Provide direction, support, and quality control of Travel South Dakota's social media efforts, including timely on-brand engagement (including responses).
• Implement tactics supporting social media strategy to drive engagement and brand awareness.
• Collaborate with the department’s agency of record to engage consumers on the department's channels and respond to proposals and deliverables.
• Capture unique content from across the state for the department's owned social media channels and track metrics and reporting.
• Coordinate tours with local CVBs and chambers of commerce for journalists and influencers.
• Work with travel journalists on unique story ideas, attend media shows to meet with travel journalists, and produce collateral material for media.
• Follow-up with travel journalists and industry partners on earned media tracking and reporting.
• Travel frequently, including overnight, in-state, and out-of-state to support the department is required.

The ideal candidate will have:

A bachelor's degree in public relations, mass communications, marketing, or a related field is preferred. A background in communications and/or public relations and working in social media management is also preferred. 

 Knowledge of: 

• public and media relations;
• social media: platforms, best practices, and management;
• professional style writing, including AP Style, and editing and copy writing;
• strategic communications;
• marketing strategy development;
• customer service tactics and issue management.

Skill to: 

• effectively communicate across a variety of formats (writing, verbal, etc.);
• create unique social media content, including reels;
• work cooperatively with others in a team environment;
• establish effective working relationships with industry partners and media personnel;
• be detail-oriented;
• proofread. 

Ability to: 

• communicate information clearly and concisely in an effective format;
• develop and execute social media strategies;
• analyze and interpret information;
• maintain grasp on social media trends and apply to department's channels;
• organize and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously and meet short deadlines;
• design media marketing materials;
• lift 30 - 50 lbs;
• respond to urgent situations in a timely and professional manner and remain calm in pressure situations;
• understand the impact of key issues and world events and their impact on our efforts;
• be willing to travel within South Dakota and outside the state for events and training. 

Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your cover letter, resume, a brief sample of professional writing, and a digital/social media campaign or post examples you have created. ALL of these must be included for the application to be considered.

 A valid driver's license is required for this position.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online:  https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=IS
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"