Public Affairs Program Manager

WHY WHEDA?

WHEDA serves Wisconsin residents and communities by working with others to provide creative financial and technical resources to stimulate and preserve affordable housing, small businesses, and agriculture.

WHEDA values Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as part of our culture.

WHEDA employees participate in the State of Wisconsin benefit package (https://www.wheda.com/about-wheda/careers/benefits).

WHEDA offers an excellent benefits package that includes: Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance, State Retirement plan; 457 Deferred Compensation, Group Term Life Insurance (and optional term life insurance for family members), Commuter Allowance, Short and Long Term Disability Insurance, paid sick leave, paid vacation time thirty six (36) personal holiday hours, Nine (9) paid legal holidays per year, tuition reimbursement program.

WHEDA is an equal opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans are also encouraged to apply.

WHEDA employees have the option to select a hybrid telework/flex schedule.

WHEDA employees are required to report their COVID vaccination status, whether vaccinated or not, and must provide supporting documentation if vaccinated. Newly hired employees will be required to submit this information within their first four weeks of employment.

WHEDA is seeking a Public Affairs Program Manager to join our Marketing and Communications team! This position is responsible for leading WHEDA’s public affairs and communications activities to increase the Authority’s visibility, spotlight its programs, provide media relations, and lead media outreach. This is a non-supervisory position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Responsibility for planning, developing, and communicating WHEDA’s mission, strategic direction, programs, policies, and activities internally and externally. Evaluates the effectiveness of WHEDA’s messaging; analyzes feedback from the media and the public; develops recommendations and implements improved communications to enhance WHEDA’s public image;
  
  
• Serves as the primary point of contact for news media (local, national and industry); engages in outreach efforts and relationship development with media, bloggers and the press; responds to media inquiries; provides background information, arranges interviews and facilitates media visits; manages media database and builds media contact lists by region and media sector; tracks, reports and analyzes media coverage;
  
  
• Conceptualizes and implements traditional and social media strategies and campaigns that advance WHEDA’s mission and strategic goals; produces and places op-eds, blogs and other content including original infographics for external publications; writes compelling content, stories, backgrounders, scripts and technical pieces; develops a targeted, integrated delivery strategy across media outlets, wheda.com, and social; utilizes search engine optimization techniques to ensure WHEDA visibility;
  
  
• Manages editorial calendars, scoping out content requirements and opportunities that help connect new and existing audiences to WHEDA; utilizes various resources such as social media monitoring, media tracking programs and public outreach to follow, analyze and execute effective media campaigns; ensures that all messaging is consistent, meets brand standards and promotes a positive image of WHEDA;
  
  
• Organizes press conferences and speaking events. In support of WHEDA public events, manages all logistics; coordinates photography and videography as required; prepares talking points and briefing materials; incorporates events into WHEDA’s online and social outlets; writes media advisories; develops and executes effective media pitches; tracks and reports coverage of all events;
  
  
• Assists with monitoring, testing and updating WHEDA’s Crisis Communication Plan; deploys new approaches to difficult and complex public affairs problems; conceptualizes and implements plans and talking points to counter negative media;
  
  
• Participates in the development and strategic planning of communications campaigns, policies, goals, procedures and media; evaluates communications needs to advise management of the information that should be made available to the public, employees and board members; determines the best approaches to convey information; improves the effectiveness of communication tactics; assists with conducting assessments and evaluations to ensure objectives are met and suggests quality improvements to leadership;
  
  
• Maintains confidentiality as it pertains to customer information and any other information obtained in role as a WHEDA employee;
  
  
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

WRITING SAMPLE: Please submit a writing sample such as a news release, brochure copy or other writing sample.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s Degree in a public relations, communications, media relations or closely related field with demonstrated 6+ years of progressively responsible experience related to the area of assignment, including a minimum of three years of public relations; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. Valid Wisconsin Driver’s License is also required.

Knowledge required for this position includes:

• Public relations principles and practices; 
• Communications policies, principles, practices, and procedures; 
• Authority programs and practices; 
• Project management principles and practices; 
• Problem solving and analytical methods; 
• Crisis communications policies, principles, practices and procedures. 
  
  

Skills required for this position include:

• Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of communications programs, analyzing feedback and improve communications to advance WHEDA’s mission and brand; 
• Understanding and experience in using traditional and social media to communicate programs, policies and activities; 
• Ability to create photography, video and graphic assets to complement communications programs and activities; 
• Advanced understanding of Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite;
• Developing and implementing public relations campaigns for internal and external consumption;
• Forming and maintaining positive relationships with WHEDA’s Board, industry partners and clients; 
• Researching, writing, editing, and scripting documents, includes ability to understand and explain complex information to the public; 
• Negotiating; 
• Managing multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines; 
• Identifying, analyzing, and resolving problems; 
• Ability to use sound judgement to provide media relations advice to leadership about newsworthy, sensitive, and/or controversial issues; 
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

SALARY: WHEDA offers a competitive salary which will be commensurate with qualifications. This position will pay in the low to mid $60,000’s.