Marketing & Communications Specialist in South Whitley, Indiana at Ag Plus

About Company:

Location: Administration, South Whitley, IN

Job Title: Marketing & Communications Specialist

Department: Administration

Reports to: Human Resources & CEO

Summary: The Marketing & Communications Specialist works collaboratively with Ag Plus' divisions to bring their marketing and communication needs to life. This position combines creativity, communication, and strong execution skills to develop professional marketing materials and content that support the goals of Ag Plus and its Grain, Agronomy, Energy, and Feed businesses.

The successful candidate will bring ideas and creative recommendations to the table while understanding that effective marketing at Ag Plus is a collaborative process. This role works closely with division leaders, sales teams, management, customers, and outside vendors to understand the purpose and audience of each project and develop marketing solutions that are practical, effective, and appropriate for the agricultural industry.

A strong understanding of agriculture, rural communities, and the Ag Plus customer base is important to succeed in this role. The ideal candidate understands that effective agricultural marketing is not always about following the newest trend, but about communicating useful information in a way that builds trust, supports relationships, and resonates with our members and customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Collaborate with Ag Plus divisions to understand their marketing goals, audience, project needs, and vision.
• Translate ideas and information provided by division leaders, sales teams, management, and vendors into polished and effective marketing materials.
• Bring creative ideas and recommendations to projects while remaining responsive to the needs, expertise, and direction of the division being supported.
• Develop flyers, advertisements, signage, social media content, direct mail pieces, event materials, presentations, digital graphics, and other promotional materials.
• Manage and maintain Ag Plus' website and social media presence, ensuring information is accurate, timely, relevant, and consistent with company branding.
• Identify opportunities to improve how Ag Plus communicates existing promotions, products, services, events, and company information.
• Develop and distribute the Ag Plus member newsletter by gathering information, writing and editing content, coordinating photography and graphics, and managing production and distribution.
• Work with employees throughout Grain, Agronomy, Energy, Synergy Feeds, and corporate departments to gather content and develop communications appropriate for their respective customers and audiences.
• Coordinate with outside advertising agencies, printers, promotional vendors, media representatives, and other partners to complete marketing projects.
• Support the promotion and execution of customer events, plot days, trade shows, community activities, sales meetings, and other company events.
• Maintain consistent Ag Plus branding and messaging across all marketing and communication channels.
• Take and coordinate photographs and maintain company photos, graphics, logos, templates, and other marketing assets.
• Prepare company announcements, news releases, sponsorship materials, community communications, and other public relations materials as needed.
• Maintain customer databases and mailing lists used for marketing and communications.
• Manage multiple projects and requests from different divisions, prioritize deadlines, communicate project status, and ensure assignments are completed accurately and timely.
• Proofread and review materials for accuracy, grammar, pricing, dates, branding, and other relevant information prior to publication or distribution.
• Stay informed of marketing trends and tools and recommend new approaches when they are appropriate for Ag Plus' business, customers, and industry.
• Develop an ongoing understanding of Ag Plus' products, services, customers, business divisions, and the agricultural industry.
• Perform other administrative duties and projects as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree (B. S.) from four-year college or university; or five to seven years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Agriculture understanding and experience preferred.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Database software; Design software; Internet software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.