The Illinois Municipal Retirment Fund (IMRF) provides death, disability and pension retirement benefits to employees of local governments and school districts in Illinois (with the exception of the City of Chicago and Cook County). As the second largest - and best funded - statewide public pension system in Illinois, IMRF services over 3,000 municipal employers in the State. We are an award-winning organization, located in Oak Brook.
The External Communications Specialist is responsible for informing members and employers – and building the IMRF brand – through effective, strategic external communication. Develop effective external communications strategies that advance business priorities and the brand, and then execute them. Provide strategic communication counsel to business leaders, including the Executive Director. Communications channels include IMRF’s print and electronic newsletters, targeted emails, video, webinars featuring business leaders, the public website, and more. After six months of service, this position will allow for 2 remote days per week.
Strategic Responsibilities
- Responsible for improving and executing IMRF’s External Communications Strategy.
- Develop communication plans aligned with organizational goals, measure the impact, articulate the results, and implement improvements.
- Offer guidance and support to leaders for communicating with members and employers, including working directly with the Executive Director.
- Offer guidance and support for sharing information related to technology modernization initiatives impacting members and employers.
Tactical Duties
- Design, write, and deliver communications targeting members and employers.
- Manage editorial calendars, interview subject matter experts, create content, coordinate content review, distribute content, track analytics, and implement improvements.
- Use a variety of delivery methods, including but not limited to member print and electronic e-newsletters, the employer e-newsletter, single-topic emails, video, employer webinars, articles for the public website, periodic reports like the Economic Impact Study, and more.
- Script and create short videos to educate and build the brand, including those that feature the Executive Director.
- Support the marketing, development, and delivery of webinars, including those that feature the Executive Director.
- Facilitate Communications’ role in the Trustee election process.
- Serve as a liaison to communicate endorsed-insurance offerings.
- Partner with Digital Communication Specialist to send quarterly employer survey.
- Ensure communications comply with the IMRF Brand Standards Guide and the IMRF Style Guide.
- Backup other Communications Department members, as needed.
- Other duties as assigned
Desired Experience & Skills
- A Bachelor’s Degree is required. A degree in communications, journalism, marketing or a related field is preferred.
- Must have at least 3 years external communications experience.
- Must have experience both executing communications tasks and developing communications strategies.
- Must have experience working directly with executives on external communications
- Must have exceptional writing and editing skills.
- Must have experience using email-marketing tools.
- Must have knowledge of the suite of Adobe Creative Cloud applications (IMRF works in a PC-based environment), email-marketing software, and video-editing software.
- Must possess the ability to thrive in an environment that demands collaboration with internal customers.
- Must have the ability to manage complex communications projects involving numerous stakeholders and hard deadlines.
- Must be a self-starter able to work independently with minimal guidance.
- Must be deadline driven.
- Must be a multi-tasker.
- Must have a valid driver's license.
Compensation & Benefits
The expected annual salary range for this role is $62,000 - $80,000. Please note the salary information is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. The range listed is just one component of IMRF's total compensation package for employees. Other factors include the following benefits:
- Pension, disability and death benefits as a member of IMRF
- Generous insurance benefits, including medical, dental and vision
- 35-hour work week, Monday-Friday; up to 2 days remote after 6 months of employment
- Paid vacation, sick, 2 personal days
- 12-13 paid holidays
- Tuition reimbursement up to $10,500 per calendar year
- Business casual attire
