Missouri Botanical Garden Looking for Public Information Officer at St Louis, MO  Full Time

At the Missouri Botanical Garden, we’re committed to creating meaningful experiences for people that inspire a love of plants and passion to protect them and their vital role on Earth –and in this role, you’ll contribute to the commitment

Summary: Plans and coordinates public relations activities for Missouri Botanical Garden. Works with other Communications division staff to plan and implement communication tactics designed to enhance Garden visitors’ experiences at our live and virtual sites and to create and maintain the Garden’s public image as a premier cultural institution and a global leader in educating the public about plant science, conservation and sustainability by performing the following duties. Maintain the Public Relation team’s content calendar and assist with or accomplish other duties as necessary.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serves as the Garden’s contact to the media and as a spokesperson for the institution, supporting the Garden’s Senior Public Information Officer.
• Serves as the primary media contact for Butterfly House, Shaw Nature Reserve and Sachs Museum.
• Responds appropriately and professionally to media requests and needs of senior management before and after regular work hours.
• Writes appropriate news releases, media advisories, and story pitches to positively promote the Garden.
• Writes and edits information for the Garden’s website including fact sheets and public event listings.
• Fosters relationships with media through networking and other opportunities.
• Compiles and maintains a list of Garden experts available for media stories.
• Writes and edits information for the Garden’s website including fact sheets and public event listings.
• Oversees the Garden’s blog, Discover + Share, managing a content calendar, editing contributed posts, and contributing posts.
• Serves as primary point of contact and onsite guide for media contacts and commercial photography shoots during interviews at the Garden and other sites.
• Produces weekly internal newsletter and supplies content to other internal channels.
• Serves as back-up for social media management as needed.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and respect within our division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and others.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Represents the Garden in a positive manner at all times.
• Meets expected attendance guidelines.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behaves & communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and respect within our division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and others.

Competencies:

• Communication: Combines listening skills, verbal and written communication skills and visitor relation skills.
• Collaboration: Incorporates teamwork, mutual respect, active engagement, cooperation and visitor focus.
• Accountability: Initiative to take ownership of responsibilities, the ability to prioritize and the working knowledge and skills to take action.
• Problem Solving: Blends problem solving skills, judgement and decision making skills along with creativity and resourcefulness.
• Stewardship: Merges the practical application of the Garden values and support for a positive organizational climate

Qualifications and/or Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years of related experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; exceptional ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must enjoy and feel comfortable interacting and working in close proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions.
• Proven track record of media relationships and successful placements; superior ability to effectively manage and foster professional working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to manage heavy workload and tight deadlines.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Independent self-starter, creative, flexible, and possess the ability to effectively multi-task.
• Strong interest in scientific principles of plant conservation and the environment preferred.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Photography and video skills a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal team members and external organizations for the purposes of creating a commitment to common goals, prioritizing, minimizing obstacles, and executing realistic priorities in a sophisticated environment.
• Solid Internet research skills.
• Scheduling flexibility that allows working some weekends, evenings, and holidays is required.
• Travel required (local).
• Demonstrates highest level of professional and ethical conduct.
• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receiveCOVID-19 vaccinations by hire date, and the Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on community health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain visas, vaccinations and immunizations for all countries where travel is required.
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in PR, Marketing, Business, Journalism, or other related field is required.
• An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered.

Language Skills: Ability to communicate effectively in English (oral/written).

Mathematical Skills: Proficient college math aptitude: ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume; ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability: Requires the 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:

• Microsoft Office Suite; including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Knowledge of Vocus marketing and PR software a plus.
• Solid Internet research skills.
• Superior knowledge of social media platforms.
• Familiarity with uploading content to a variety of content management systems a plus. Basic familiarity with HTML coding a plus.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing).
• Must be able to work both indoors and outdoors.
• Must be able to lift and carry 20 pounds.
• Ability to push/pull supply cart.
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb step stools, short ladders, etc.)
• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside the office and outside in Garden locations, and must be able to remain in a stationary position as needed.
• May require time working in all outdoor weather conditions.

Work Environment:

• Principally operates standard office equipment to include computers, copiers, files, fax machines.
• Standard business casual attire required.
• Ability to work outdoors in temperatures over 100F as well as in inclement weather conditions as needed.
• Frequent off-site meetings will be required.
• Must have access to transportation to escort off-site media interviews.

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

Garden staff, volunteers and guests as well as outside media contacts.