JOB DESCRIPTION

Grow, Connect and Influence with the Chamber

For more than 80 years the Opelika Chamber of Commerce has been working every day to make Opelika a better place to live, work and grow a business. Recognized for their operational best practices among 501(c)6 not-for-profit Chambers of Commerce, the Opelika Chamber is one of only 3 5-star accredited chambers in the state of Alabama. This is a rare opportunity to be part of that important work.

Representing nearly 1,000 businesses, the Opelika Chamber of Commerce strives to be a leading catalyst for a better Opelika. If you like to be at the center of the action, then the Chamber is the place to be. You will have the chance to establish relationships with every business in the city from large public companies to neighborhood restaurants. The Chamber strengthens our community as the champion for business.

The Opelika Chamber is a high-performing team that expects a lot of every member and delivers amazing results. It starts with core values. These are ours:

Practice Positivity

Earnestly Build Bridges

Earn Trust

Aspire to Excellence

Seek Continuous Growth

Practice Servant Leadership

Position: Marketing & Event Specialist

Reports To: Vice President/Director of Marketing, Communications & Media

This person will assist the Director of Marketing, Communications & Media in the development & design of all internal and external marketing & communications efforts, including but not limited to press releases, newsletter creation, copyrighting, graphic design, social media strategy & implementation and more. 

In addition to marketing efforts, the Marketing & Event Specialist will also support and assist the Vice President in all event planning, setup, and coordination efforts. These events include, but are not limited to: Ribbon Cuttings, Food Truck Fridays, Business After Hours, Business Over Breakfast, Annual Meeting, Annual Golf Tournament, Legislative Reception, State of the City, She Mean’s Business events, All Things Marketing Summit, First Responders events, etc.

We are looking for a bright, vibrant and joyful candidate who is flexible, a continuous learner, and able to handle a significant workload while maintaining organization, meeting deadlines, and more. The ideal candidate will be passionate about helping the business community, passionate about Opelika, and a team player ready to joyfully build relationships and be actively engaged in our efforts.

Responsibilities and Duties

In collaboration with the Vice President, this person shall:

• Assist with the planning and execution of all events put on by the Opelika Chamber, with tasks including but not limited to table setup and breakdown, loading, transportation and carrying of heavy materials (no more than 40 lbs.), pre-event setup and post-event breakdown, and more.
• Assist with the execution of the annual REACH campaign
• Assist in the management of all programming related committees of the Chamber (She Means Business Council, Minority Business Council, Small Business Committee, Talent & Workforce, Public Policy Committee, and Business Alliance Committee), including but not limited to meeting notifications, meeting room set-up, nametags, meeting notes and distribution of meeting packets.
• Assist with the execution and preparation work for the 20 Under 40 program and the Lee County Young Leaders program, including but not limited to meeting and session setup, refreshments, ordering supplies, and application processing and management.
• Negotiates pricing and locations for events to include facilities, catering, and entertainment.
• Coordinate speakers, event locations, and registration for all events.
• Communicate post-event surveys and create reports.
• Represent Opelika Chamber as a spokesperson for local radio programming on a regular basis
• Manage the Lee County Young Leaders & 20 under 40 social media pages, including the development of a communication calendar, posting and interacting across all channels. 

In collaboration with the Director of Marketing, Communications & Media, this person shall:

• Implement the communication calendar and digital strategy, including content creation, posting, and interaction of all social media channels, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
• Assist with the design and printing of materials for events and programs as needed.
• Develop content for all Chamber publications/email newsletters including The Connector, Opelika in the Know, Chamber Insider, Explore Magazine, Annual Report, Public Policy Updates and other projects as needed.
• Assist in the overall management of the Chamber’s website by creating Chamber and Community events.
• Be willing to engage in creative brainstorming when it comes to content creation and implementing.
• Consistently help communications stay within brand guidelines.
• Execute the Cost-of-Living Survey.
• Edit and approve member and internal calendar submissions.
• Write press releases and marketing copy as needed.
• Write speech and event scripts for President & CEO and Board Members as needed.
• Serve as photographer/videographer for the Chamber capturing photos/video at chamber programs, special events, meetings, and community events as needed.
  
• Responsible for creating and managing the Food Truck Friday line-up; Confirms all vendors have the appropriate documentation to participate; and communicates logistics including but not limited to trash cans, lighting, portable restrooms and barricades.

• Contributes to the membership retention plan, proactively visiting with existing member businesses and provides recording/tracking of monthly visits, to include in-person and phone/email contact attempts. A minimum of 1 visit/week is expected.
  
• Support fellow staff members for all Chamber events, retail promotions, fund raisers, seminars, membership campaigns, trade shows, retreats, social events and special meetings as directed by the President & CEO.
  
• Other duties assigned by the Chamber President & CEO.

Desired Experience and Required Attributes: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Business or related field.
• Graphic design experience, with basic comfort of Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Canva programs.
• Detail-oriented when it comes to creative work and assessing materials.
• Comfortable with accountability, takes ownership of your work.
• Strong time management & organizational skills required.
• Enthusiasm and a positive attitude, ability to maintain grace under pressure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to receive constructive criticism well.
• Team-player mentality, and willingness to support colleagues even if it’s outside of job description.
• Passion for talking to people, relationship building, and bridge building.
• Comfortable with a flexible schedule that is subject to change on a whim. Some evenings and weekends will be required of the position, as well as additional travel to conferences, training, etc.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs. with ease and willingness to roll up your sleeves for event set up.
• Working capabilities in the following programs:
  • Web programs including Growthzone, Constant Contact, Asana, Loomly and all social media platforms.
  • Microsoft Office Suite with excellent skills in Word & PowerPoint.
  • The Marketing & Event Specialist should have working knowledge or be willing to learn these platforms.

Benefits: 

• Full time, hourly position with an expected 40 hour work week.
• Competitive salary will be offered dependent upon skills and experience.
• Annual bonuses plus phone allowance & mileage reimbursement available.
• Paid PTO + Comp Time + 12 paid holidays annually
• Retirement benefits to include a 3% employee match in a Simple IRA.
• Group Health, Dental & Vision insurance is available.
• Group Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment & Long-Term Disability coverage are covered & paid for by the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.

Application Instructions: Please complete a cover letter and resume and submit it via email to hiring@opelikachamber.com. Application period is open through May 31, 2024.