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Minneapolis Parks Foundation > Common Ground > News > Job Opportunities > NOW CLOSED Parks Foundation seeks Communications & Administration Assistant

NOW CLOSED Parks Foundation seeks Communications & Administration Assistant

Updated: New application deadline of Sunday, December 18, 2016

Job Announcement:

Communications & Administration Assistant

Download Job Announcement PDF

Overview

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is seeking a Communications & Administrative Assistant. This full-time, hourly position has been recently created because of the Parks Foundation’s continuing success and growth. The position will assist with a variety of duties, providing support to the:

  • Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships (social media, writing, organization),
  • Executive Director and Board of Directors (scheduling, logistics, administration), and
  • rest of the Parks Foundation staff.

This position will serve a key role in making sure administrative, operational, and communications tasks get done appropriately and on a timely basis. The Communications & Administrative Assistant will be the “go to” person when others need help getting work done.

Founded in 2003, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation helps ensure the economic, environmental, civic, and cultural health of Minneapolis and the region by creating the Next Generation of Parks™ that meet the demands and reflect the values of our generation and those to follow. The Parks Foundation is an independent, donor-supported nonprofit dedicated to supporting our continually evolving park system. The Parks Foundation brings visionary leadership, philanthropic investment, and private-sector expertise to support innovation and equity throughout the whole Minneapolis Park system. The Parks Foundation is the primary philanthropic partner to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, which stewards the city’s 6,790 acres of parkland and water. The Parks Foundation also partners with a number of additional organizations that have a shared interest in excellence for Minneapolis parks and public spaces. The Parks Foundation employs five staff members and several contractors, has an annual budget of $1.2-million, and is in the midst of its $14.8-million RiverFirst Capital Campaign.

Job Description

Job Summary
Title:
Communications & Administration Assistant
Reports To: Business & Administration Manager, but takes direction from other staff
Supervises: No one
FTE: 1.00 (40 hours per week)
Status: Non-exempt (Hourly)
Benefits: Health/dental insurance (cost split between employer and employee), vacation, sick, holidays, retirement, parking
Schedule: Mostly weekday daytime; occasional evenings and weekends (particularly in warm-weather months)
Job description last updated: December 13, 2016 (new application deadline)

The Communications & Administrative Assistant assists all other Parks Foundation staff members in a variety of duties. In particular, this position will help the Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships with social-media activity; writing and editing; managing data, files, and calendars; and other tasks. The Assistant will assist the Executive Director with scheduling meetings, preparing and distributing documents, and coordinating other tasks and projects. The Assistant will see to the needs of the Board of Directors and its committees, including meeting scheduling, logistics, agendas, document packets, and minutes. Finally, the Assistant will assist the Business & Administration Manager and development staff with a variety of tasks, such as preparing mailings, filing, inputting data, running errands, light bookkeeping, and representing the Parks Foundation at outreach events.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities
1. Assist with social media and other communications (40%)

  • Assist the Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships to craft external-facing communications to the Parks Foundation’s constituents and the public.
  • Create posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the Parks Foundation’s blog. Upload material to online platforms.
  • Assist the Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships manage the Parks Foundation’s website.
  • Coordinate the Parks Foundation’s visual collateral, including photos, logos, and digital media.
  • Implement the Parks Foundation’s editorial calendar.
  • Maintain communications and partnerships database.
  • Attend meetings concerning communications and partnerships when the Executive Director and Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships are not available.
  • Assist the Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships in other projects and tasks.

2. Assist Executive Director and Board of Directors (25%)

  • Assist Executive Director with scheduling, document preparation, meeting logistics, and other matters.
  • Assist the Business & Administration Manager to coordinate meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees (regular and ad hoc), including scheduling, communications, agendas, document preparation, and meeting logistics.
  • Write and maintain minutes for meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees.
  • Assist the Executive Director in other projects and tasks.

3. Assist with administrative, operational, and fundraising activities (35%)

  • Assist the Business & Administration Manager with administrative and operational activities, both on-going and project-based.
  • Assist the Chief Development Officer and Annual Fund & Events Manager with development and special event activities.
  • Such activities could include data entry, creating reports, filing, preparing mailings, managing electronic files, emailing, scheduling, running errands, participating in meetings, writing, organizing, and communicating professionally with donors, contractors, and others.
  • Serve as a public liaison at events.
  • Perform light bookkeeping, including entering and paying invoices, making and entering deposits, and entering journal entries.

Qualifications, Experience, Education, and Skills

  • At least 3 – 5 year experience working in a professional setting.
  • Experience supporting communications and marketing efforts, preferably in a nonprofit setting. Experience in handling social media and communicating with a variety of audiences. Strong photography and videography skills are a plus.
  • Experience handling administrative and operational responsibilities, preferably at a nonprofit organization, particularly providing support for an Executive Director, department head, Board of Directors, or committee.
  • Experience working with a variety of staff, consultants, board members, partners, donors, volunteers, and others in a dynamic work environment.
  • Experience prioritizing a variety of tasks and taking direction from multiple coworkers.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Strong writing and editing skills.
  • Demonstrated professionalism, trustworthiness, enthusiasm, curiosity, and an interest in parks.
  • Experience using SalesForce, WordPress, social media platforms (especially Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and Microsoft Office Suite applications (especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Required education: undergraduate degree, Associate’s degree, or professional certificate. Preferred area of study: communications, journalism, marketing, administration, or other field related to the responsibilities of this position.
  • An understanding and appreciation of the diverse communities that use and support Minneapolis parks.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
The person in this position must be able to:

  • Effectively communicate with others.
  • Work at a desk for extended periods of time.
  • Operate a personal computer (including a keyboard, mouse, monitor) and other office equipment (such as a telephone, printer, copier, scanner).
  • Move throughout the office to conduct various tasks. Bend to file or retrieve documents.
  • On occasion, lift and move items up to 30 pounds unassisted.
  • Travel within the Twin Cites metro area for meetings and events.

To Apply for this Position

Send a resume and cover letter (as PDF files) to mkarl@mplsparksfoundation.org by Sunday, December 18, 2016. No phone calls and no employment-agency submissions, please.

The Parks Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons of color are encouraged to apply. The Parks Foundation does not discriminate against applicants for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, nationality, ancestry, age, religion, marital status, familial status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, or any other legally protected group.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

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