Working Title: Communications Associate

Job Class: Information Officer 2

Agency: Department of Employment and Economic Development

Job ID: 81481
Location: St. Paul
Telework Eligible: Yes, may be eligible to telework up to four (4) days per week
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Limited
Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted: 11/01/2024
Closing Date: 11/07/2024
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Employment & Economic Development Department / MAPE
Division/Unit: Paid Family & Medical Leave
Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
Days of Work: Monday - Friday
Travel Required: No
Salary Range: $25.29 - $36.71 / hourly; $52,805 - $76,650 / annually
Classified Status: Unclassified
Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Association of Professional Employees / MAPE
End Date: Up to two (2) years
FLSA Status: Nonexempt
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: No

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

About the Paid Leave Division:

Paid Leave is a new program launching in 2026. The program will provide partial wage replacement to Minnesota workers who are out of work due to a qualifying condition, such as a severe health condition that prevents them from working, or when they need time to care for a family member or a new child. We are building a program that will be easy for every Minnesotan to use. We are engaging the people who depend on us—workers, employers, caregivers, and insurers—to learn from them and build the program around their needs. We are using modern service delivery and product practices to deliver the program. The Paid Leave team has high standards and an unrelenting commitment to serving Minnesotans. It is a start-up environment without legacy systems or preconceived ways of working, so we have a unique opportunity to create human-centric processes and systems to deliver this new benefit to Minnesotans.

Position Purpose:

Under general supervision of the Paid Leave External Communications Manager, the Communications Associate will help implement all aspects of the communications program for Paid Leave. The primary purpose of this role is to prepare a variety of informational material to increase public awareness of the Paid Leave Program. This position will provide technical and copy writing services and support external content creation for the Paid Leave program. This position may receive work direction from other communications staff within the team and will work alongside and provide administrative support to all members of the communications team.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide technical and copy writing services for the Paid Leave program, which content may include email newsletters, public presentations, prepared remarks, product documentation and other copywriting and technical writing needs.
Provide copyediting services for written communications, including copy drafted by Paid Leave subject matter experts, including articles for the internal knowledge base and answers to frequently asked questions.
Support internal communications such as team email updates, presentations, and other team communications needs.
Provide communications and administrative support to the division as needed. This may include requests to: Track projects, assist with procurement and purchases, help with communications events and meetings, catalog photos, update file systems, and compile metrics and analytics.

This posting may be used to fill multiple positions.

This position is telework eligible and is occasionally required to be on-site at the St. Paul office. Staff are provided with the tools and equipment to be successful in a virtual work environment and may telework from anywhere in Minnesota or a neighboring state. Please note, the telework policy could change with notice based on business needs.

This position is expected to last two (2) years.

Minimum Qualifications

Please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held. Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for this position.

One (1) year of experience in communications, journalism, or marketing.

Applicants that meet the above minimum qualification will be further evaluated on the following:

Experience with Microsoft Office Suite or similar software such as Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.
Knowledge of journalistic principles, Associate Press (AP) Style, and media relations.
Experience writing and communicating for a diverse public audience.
Ability to manage multiple priorities at the same time and meet strict deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or higher in communications, journalism, marketing, or other closely related field as determined by the agency.
Experience writing press releases and blog posts.
Experience working with the media.
Knowledge of social media platforms.

Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

A job offer will be contingent upon successfully passing a background check. The background check may consist of the following components:

Criminal Background Check
Employment Record Review (current and former State employees only)
Employment Reference Check
Conflict of Interest Review
Driver’s Record Check

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

How To Apply

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

Veterans

To be considered with Veteran's Status, you MUST indicate this on your application and submit a copy of your DD-214 form and other required documentation to talent.acquisition.deed@state.mn.us by the closing date.

Recently Separated Veterans (RSV): Effective July 1, 2009, legislation provides that the top five RSV applicants who apply and meet the qualifications for a vacancy shall be granted an interview.

Certain Disabled Veterans: Effective August 1, 2012, legislation provides state agencies with the option to appoint certain disabled veterans on a non-competitive basis.

See the above links for criteria and eligibility.

Contact

If you have questions about this position, contact Nellie Saunders at nellie.saunders@state.mn.us.

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your benefits may include:

Paid vacation and sick leave
12 paid holidays each year
Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
- Fertility care, including IVF
- Diabetes care
- Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being

Support to help you reach your career goals:

Training, classes, and professional development
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support:

A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance
Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

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.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. State agencies are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the state and strongly encourages persons of color and Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve Minnesotans.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and disabilities related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, disability, veteran status or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants With Disabilities

Minnesota state agencies make reasonable accommodations to their employees and applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and need assistance in searching or applying for jobs with the State of Minnesota, call the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and let us know the support you need.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employer, and encourages all qualified candidates to apply for job opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application and search tools, please contact Karen Lilledahl at Karen.Lilledahl@state.mn.us. Please indicate what assistance is needed.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development jobs

Communications Associate - Information Officer 2 - Paid Leave