Preferred location is NWA but the selected incumbent can live and work anywhere within the 4 state footprint, AR, KS, OK, and MO.
Work hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm with additional hours as needed.
Exempt: Yes
Salary Grade: Grade 16
Summary:
SUMMARY: The Corporate Public Relations (PR) & Media Relations Manager works closely with the designated company spokesperson to create a PR & media relations strategy that reflects the proper Arvest public image. The incumbent is responsible for leading and implementing an annual corporate PR & media relations plan. The Corporate PR & Media Relations Manager is also responsible for cultivating and enhancing media relationships, creating a variety of content, and generally increasing publicity and brand awareness of the company.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Create a media relations strategy for the company in corroboration and input from with the company spokesperson. Lead and implement an annual media relations plan, seeking high-level and/or high-hit placements in print, broadcast, and online media. Cultivate and enhance working relationships between the press and local banks and divisions to help ensure the company’s reputation is protected and criticism is deflected. Create and maintain media lists.
- Contribute to the development of a PR strategy for the company. Lead and implement an annual PR plan to help ensure the company protects and promotes its image in an appropriate, coordinated, and consistent manner.
- Serve as key point of contact for local banks, divisions, and departments for PR/media relations. Consult on local bank, divisions, and departments media inquiries. Respond timely to requests of and consistently deliver quality support to banks, divisions and departments regarding PR/Media relations needs. Lead and direct regional PR/media relations meetings as needed.
- Reduce complex topics into clear, concise messaging to create content for press releases and kits, byline articles, talking points, briefing materials, and presentations, among others. Create, copy edit, proofread and/or revise communications as needed. Ensure that communications align with Arvest brand and product guidelines and provide a consistent message.
- Manage corporate media inquiries and interview requests. Detect PR issues as they emerge and consult with the company spokesperson to address them directly. Support the company spokesperson as needed. Coordinate closely on PR/media relations with company’s compliance and social media teams, among others. Update the company website’sArvest.com Share page.
- Monitor, analyze and communicate PR results monthly and make recommendations for improvement to stakeholders across the organization. Create and utilize scorecard measurements where applicable to monitor PR/media relations KPIs.
- Maintain a keen understanding of industry trends and make appropriate recommendations, regarding a PR/media relations strategy surrounding them.
- Manage relationship with external public relations agency.
- Develop a network of relationships with counterparts in the industry to share ideas, best practices, and trends.
- Cooperate with all levels of management in the bank group. Provide courteous and efficient customer service to internal customers, i.e., banks and subsidiaries, in order to foster efficiency, productivity, and excellence.
- Understand and comply with bank policy, laws, regulations, and the bank's BSA/AML Program, as applicable to your job duties. This includes but is not limited to; complete compliance training and adhere to internal procedures and controls; report any known violations of compliance policy, laws, or regulations and report any suspicious customer and/or account activity.
TEAM ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Support and uphold the Arvest Mission Statement.
- Uphold the Arvest Code of Ethics and ensure that confidential information is safeguarded.
- Maintain a high level of cooperation and rapport with all associates in order to ensure accurate and efficient operations and service.
- Formulate and communicate new ideas and suggestions that will improve profitability and efficiency for the company’s overall operation.
- Promote professionalism at all times.
Responsibilities:
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, related field, or equivalent relevant experience is required.
- 5 years of experience in PR, journalism, marketing or communications required.
- 3 years of experience in working directly with online or offline media outlets and/or PR agencies required.
- Demonstrated ability to reduce complex topics to clear, concise messaging; write quickly and meet deadlines; internet research skills & interview skills; media evaluation; crisis communications; ability to work calmly and quickly in high-stress situations required.
- Demonstrated experience with writing press releases and content geared toward generating media interviews required.
- Working experience with AP writing style and Microsoft Office, required.
- Demonstrated ability in working with traditional media and sustaining relationships with the press, required.
- Experience in a similar role in banking or financial services is preferred.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Must be able to arrive at work on time, work on site and have regular work attendance
- Must be able to work cooperatively with other co-workers regardless of personality, presence or communication style
- Must be able to provide cordial customer service regardless of customer personality, presence or communication style
- Must be able to perform several tasks at once
- Must be able to work in a stressful atmosphere
- Must be able to rotate job tasks
- Must be able to greet others cordially
- Must be able to coordinate multiple and changing priorities
- Must be able to verbally communicate with all other associates
- Must be able to operate telephone, scanner, copier and FAX machines
- Must be able to occasionally work outside of normal business hours.
- Must be able to move from department, division, or bank to department, division, or bank to attend meetings
- Must be able to operate personal computer keyboard in order to create reports, schedules and other appropriate documentation
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and to talk and hear. The associate must occasionally reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch. The associate may occasionally be required to lift or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and color vision and the ability to adjust focus.
The associate must be able to travel occasionally by themselves within the U.S., including overnight, and via automobile and air.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.