Job Summary
Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) has been administering pension coverage to Minnesota educators for decades, with a mission to help members and their beneficiaries plan for an independent and financially secure retirement. We are currently seeking job candidates with strategic leadership ability, written publication experience, and strong public relation skills to serve as our organization’s Communications Director.
This position is located in our Saint Paul, Minnesota office and will require the incumbent to work a schedule that includes in-person work. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time for this role.
How to Apply
Visit the MN Careers webpage: http://www.mn.gov/careers and search using the Job ID# 76027. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.
If you have questions about the position or are an individual with a disability and need to request an accommodation for a scheduled interview, contact Justin Johnson at jjohnson@minnesotatra.org.
To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Justin Johnson at jjohnson@minnesotatra.org
Diverse Workforce
We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.
A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:
- 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission
- 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
- 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job
- 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule
Comprehensive Benefits
Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:
- Public pension plan
- Training and professional development
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- 11 paid holidays each year
- Paid parental leave
- Low-cost medical and dental coverage
- Prescription drug coverage
- Vision coverage
- Wellness programs and resources
- Employer paid life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability
- Health care spending and savings accounts
- Dependent care spending account
- Tax-deferred compensation
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) -Tuition reimbursement -Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.
Teachers Retirement Association also offers free ramp parking at our Saint Paul Office location.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. The State of Minnesota recognizes that a diverse workforce is essential and strongly encourages qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.
We will make reasonable accommodations to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and indicate what assistance is needed.
Responsibilities
Our Communications Director position exists to lead the communications and marketing efforts for TRA, and is responsible for the development of publications, newsletters, presentations, social media, promotional communications, and other marketing and educational materials. The incumbent hired into this role will be a strategic partner, managing long-term communication planning initiatives and the implementation of those plans through a variety of different communications channels to ensure alignment with TRA’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. Additionally, the incumbent will provide recommendations on public relation strategies to TRA’s executive team, and will lead a team of communications staff.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
Four (4) years of progressive, professional experience in Communications and/or Public Relations.
A Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or closely related field can substitute for one (1) year of experience.
Experience must also demonstrate the following:
- Leadership responsibility requiring the supervision/leadwork of staff and/or management of major enterprise projects.
- Demonstrated experience developing or assisting in the development of written marketing materials, publications, webpages, and/or social media content.
- Demonstrated experience creating and executing (or assisting with) strategic communication and public relation plans.
- Advanced technical proficiency with publishing applications; Adobe Suite applications; Microsoft Office Suite; Cisco WebEx; and/or equivalent software packages.
- Ability to motivate, monitor, coach, and/or provide constructive feedback to employees.
- Ability to plan, organize, and successfully manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- Ability to diagnose problems and recommend solutions for internal control best practices, policy development, and process improvement purposes.
- Strong interpersonal skills, written and verbal communication, and attention detail necessary to collaborate on enterprise projects and initiatives; communicate information about sensitive topics; influence others to resolve conflicting viewpoints; train and present to a variety of stakeholders; create and edit a variety of materials; and champion a work culture that advocates for inclusion.
Successful candidates must also possess the ability to secure their own transportation for in-state business travel and/or conferences. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time for this role.
Preferred Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or closely related field.
- An Advanced degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or closely related field.
- Supervisory or Management experience.
- Experience working in the financial services industry and/or a public pension organization.
- Experience managing a budget for a work unit.
- Experience working with graphic design, photography, and/or videography.
Physical Requirements
This position requires occasional transporting of articles such as file folders, ledgers and/or small tools. May be required to move or maintain a stationary position for long periods of time.
Additional Requirements
** Successful candidates must pass past-employer reference checks and a criminal background check. **
It is the policy of TRA that all finalist(s) submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
- State of Minnesota state government employment records check (applies to current and past State of Minnesota state government employees only)
- Criminal History Check
- Employee Reference Check
- Social Security and Address Verification
- Education Verification
- Driver's License Check
Teachers Retirement Association
Suite 400
Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota 55103
US
