Southwestern Electric Cooperative

Director of Communications

What do endangered species, Abraham Lincoln and Hurricane Katrina have in common?

Us.

If you’re tired of seeing your cutting-edge ideas flounder in a conservative, “we-can’t-do-that” environment and ready to work for a company that rewards creativity and innovation, we have the job for you.

Southwestern Electric Cooperative, a distribution co-op based in Greenville, Ill., is seeking a director of communications. Before you write this off as just another corporate communications job, consider this: Southwestern Electric publishes an award-winning, four-color monthly magazine that covers stories usually reserved for larger, national publications.

Past issues have included features on manatees, a state-of-the-art museum that explores the life of Abraham Lincoln, co-op aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and a program to support emotionally traumatized children. In other words, subject matter is limited only by your imagination and your ability to make the topic relevant to our members.

Our board of directors and management team recognize the vital role communications plays in advancing corporate objectives. We’ll provide you with the tools—and budget—you need to produce professional messages for various media channels.

We understand that a job in communications can mean long hours and demanding deadlines, and we pay accordingly.

Starting salary ranges from $65,000-$85,000, depending on your experience, qualifications and abilities. We also offer a superb benefits package, including excellent medical insurance, paid holidays, vacation, and a 401k plan, and a defined benefit pension plan.

On top of a generous salary and great benefits, we’ll cover your moving expenses and provide all the coffee you can drink. As a bonus, your office will come with a breathtaking view of our parking lot and the neighboring federal correctional institution—a constant reminder that no matter how tough a day you’re having, things could get worse.

What do we expect in return? Quite a bit, actually.

The successful candidate must be able to effectively educate our membership on cooperative initiatives, services and programs. You’ll need a thorough understanding of cooperative principles, a firm grasp of graphic design, and exceptional writing and photography skills.

Responsibilities:

Write, edit, photograph, proof and oversee production of four-color monthly magazine.
Develop and direct member education and advertising campaigns, messages and direct mail pieces.
Represent the cooperative and act as our spokesperson at various events.
Produce media releases and photograph special events as needed.
During crisis situations (such as widespread power outages), gather data from various departments, develop timely, accurate and consistent statements, then deliver those messages internally and to the media.
Develop and adhere to a budget.
Work with outside agencies to develop creative materials and ensure professional execution of all creative deliverables.
Participate in interdepartmental communications and planning; craft and edit key correspondence from various departments; assist coworkers with communications as needed.
Coordinate and promote Co-op Connections discount card program.
Produce annual corporate report.
Develop and/or acquire creative materials for television, radio and print advertising.
Manage communications department personnel and ensure smooth interaction with other departments.
Develop content for corporate website.
Work with other organizations to achieve mutual objectives.
Cheerfully accept other duties as assigned and play well with others.

Qualifications:

Six to 10 years of professional experience, including a minimum of four years experience in at least two of the following areas: writing, editing, photography, marketing, verbal jujitsu or broadcast media development.
Exceptional writing and photography skills.
Degree and up-to-date training in area of expertise.
Successfully directed/managed creative personnel in a marketing/communications environment, and worked in teams that included creative personnel and general management.
Strong creative vision and ability to work against multiple deadlines with minimal supervision.
Thorough understanding of graphic design.
Working knowledge of Adobe software, including Photoshop and InDesign.
Thorough understanding of cooperative business structure and philosophy.
Strong time management and creative resource management capabilities.
Good mind, pleasant disposition, and ability to exhibit grace under pressure.

To apply:
Obviously, we need a strong cover letter and resume. But the best way for us to evaluate what you can do is to see what you’ve done. Please send five examples of your best work, along with an explanation of your role in the development of the samples (You shot the photos, wrote the copy, nicked the images from your brother-in-law, etc.).

We won’t be returning your samples. If you’re considering sending the only extant copies of your life’s work, well, you should know better.

Please send your cover letter, resume and work samples to:
Carrie Frank
Human Resources Coordinator
Southwestern Electric Cooperative
PO Box 549
Greenville, IL 62246

Or you can email your materials to carrie.frank@sweci.com

This is an immediate opening; apply ASAP.

Finally, no phone calls please. If you can’t represent yourself well enough in print, we’ve learned what we need to know. If you choose to call despite this warning, we’ll read that as a sure sign you can’t follow directions and add you to our “never-ever-under-any-circumstances-do-we-hire-this-person” list.

Southwestern Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity employer. The various bits of legal jargon that typically apply to employment ads apply here as well. You’re welcome to browse elsewhere for the exact language.

Southwestern Electric Cooperative, PO Box 549, Greenville, IL 62246. Ph: 800.637.8667 Email: info@sweci.com