Marketing Communications Specialist-Rural Innovation Strategies Inc.

Job Description

Job Title: Marketing Communications Specialist

Company: Rural Innovation Strategies Inc.

Location: Traverse City, MI

Pay: $75000 – 85000 per year

AI Pay Analysis: The hourly rate corresponding to an annual salary of $75,000 to $85,000 translates to approximately $36 to $41 per hour. For a Marketing Communications Specialist in Traverse City, MI, this rate appears competitive, especially when considering the cost of living in the area, which is generally lower than national averages. According to industry standards, salaries for this role typically range from $50,000 to $80,000 annually, depending on experience and specific job responsibilities. Thus, the offered rate aligns well with market expectations, making it an attractive option for candidates in that region.

Job description:

Are you a creative, results-oriented marketer with a passion for making a meaningful impact? Join our mission-driven team that is redefining possibilities in rural communities across the nation.

Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI) is a dynamic social impact consulting firm collaborating with the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Together, we empower rural communities to develop thriving tech economies by fostering scalable entrepreneurship and creating tech jobs.

As we enter an ambitious growth phase, we are seeking a Marketing & Communications Specialist to enhance our national visibility, engage key audiences, and generate new business leads. This high-impact role offers the opportunity to collaborate with a passionate team where your creativity, problem-solving skills, and design instincts will drive meaningful change.

If you are excited about building bold campaigns, engaging new audiences, and making a difference in rural America, we want to hear from you.

Marketing Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement comprehensive digital marketing strategies aligned with organizational goals, focusing on lead generation and enhanced engagement across websites, email, and social media.
• Oversee all aspects of digital campaigns, from planning and execution to analysis and optimization, in support of key initiatives, events, and programs.
• Ensure digital activities are integrated with broader communication strategies, encompassing earned media, events, thought leadership, and speaking engagements.

Social Media Management

• Manage the social media presence of CORI and RISI, including content creation, scheduling, posting, and engagement on LinkedIn and Facebook.
• Monitor KPIs and campaign performance, utilizing tools such as Hootsuite and native platform analytics to inform strategic decisions and optimize reach.
• Manage paid social campaigns and ensure brand consistency across all social touchpoints.

Content Development & Editorial Support

• Create compelling written and visual content for websites, social media, and email campaigns.
• Collaborate with staff to author content that highlights our work, elevates our thought leadership, and aligns with programmatic goals.

Email Marketing

• Develop and execute email marketing campaigns, including newsletters, announcements, and event invitations, while designing engaging and modern email templates.
• Maintain segmented email lists, adhering to best practices to ensure deliverability and effectiveness.
• Track metrics, analyze performance, and adapt content to boost audience engagement.

Website Management

• Manage updates to CORI and RISI websites, including posting blogs and announcements, updating landing pages, and setting up gated content.
• Collaborate with website vendors to support content development, SEO/SEM optimization, UX improvements, and ongoing enhancements.
• Monitor website performance using Google Analytics and provide actionable insights.

Design

• Design digital assets for social media, websites, emails, and collateral utilizing tools such as Canva and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Ensure brand consistency and quality across all visual content.
• Produce and edit video content for websites and social channels, and support the creation of presentation materials, including slide decks and talking points.
• Update and design printed collateral and templates as needed.

General Marketing & Communications Support

• Collaborate with various departments to support marketing and communication needs critical to the mission.
• Assist in planning and executing events and webinars.

Collaborate with external vendors, including web developers and graphic designers, while maintaining and organizing digital assets, including image and video libraries.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in marketing, content strategy, or a related field, ideally with a national nonprofit organization, social enterprise, or professional services firm.
• Reside or have lived experience in a rural community.

Proven success in managing and executing multichannel marketing campaigns focused on web, email, and social media, with attention to lead generation and engagement metrics.

• Strong writing and editing skills, adept at crafting compelling narratives and optimizing content across various channels.
• Experience designing engaging marketing assets aligned with organizational branding.
• Knowledge of SEO/SEM strategies and web content management.
• Proficiency in basic video editing, particularly for short-form video content and social media assets.
• Expert in marketing tools such as Google Analytics, Hootsuite, Constant Contact, Canva, Adobe Suite, and WordPress.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects cross-functionally, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to high-quality outputs, exemplifying creative problem-solving.
• A collaborative spirit and a passion for rural economic development and social impact.

Physical Requirements
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Location
This position is fully remote but requires travel to Hartland, VT headquarters and/or other rural locations 1-3 times a year for in-person meetings.

We are seeking candidates who currently live in or have lived in a rural area for more than 5 years, defined as a town with a (RUCA) code of 4 or higher as determined by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

Important Notes

• Tailor application materials to demonstrate your ability to excel in this role.
• Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible due to the fast-paced nature of this search.
• Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. manages the application and review process via our Workable platform. Please direct all inquiries through this system as we are unable to respond to phone and email inquiries at this time.

Benefits

• Annual professional development allowance.
• 100% employer-paid health, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance.
• 5% employer-matched 401k after 90 days.
• Home office setup allowance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Fifteen days of accrued PTO, plus eight floating holidays.
• The salary for this position ranges from $75,000 to $85,000, depending on experience.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer—people of color, people with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Our commitment to diversity in the workplace is paramount, and we support our staff with ongoing career development opportunities. We value your ambitions, personal experiences, innovative ideas, and passions, and believe that each unique story and perspective enriches our organization.

Job Posting Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2025 22:46:06 GMT

Apply now!