Public Relations Specialist Education

Public Relations Specialist Education- Arcadia, Wisconsin

We have an exciting opportunity for a strategic and passionate Public Relations Education Specialist to join our dynamic team! The Public Relations Education Specialist will be responsible for growing the brand of Ashley Furniture Industries through establishing partnerships and collaborating with educators and students from K-12 schools, technical colleges, and universities. This position will plan, coordinate, and communicate Ashley’s Education Foundation initiatives both internally and externally. The Public Relations Education Specialist will be responsible for interfacing with all internal (all major departments within Ashley) and external contacts (educational institutions, government, media, business, community and consumers) - representing the Ashley Brand and the Public Relations Department in a highly professional manner; while maintaining the highest level of confidentiality. This position will also assist with shaping, guarding and crafting the public image of the company and designing promotional campaigns and educational Initiatives within budgeted dollars.

What Will You Do?

• Assist with the planning, development and execution of strategic goals and objectives to deliver career pathway programs and services, such as VEX robotics, FIRST robotics Skills USA, supervising tours, job shadow experiences, career day events, internships, apprenticeships and more, offered at Ashley Companies.
• Communicate with area schools regarding the employment opportunities available and the skills needed throughout the Ashley Companies
• Coordinate and develop promotional publications and public relations activities for career pathway programs.
• Effectively communicate with area schools on Ashley’s educational initiatives including career planning and Ashley scholarship programs.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Ashley employees, area businesses and schools to build STEM educational programs.
• Research and develop successful programs to provide engaging and exciting projects that focus on the areas of STEM education.
• Professionally communicate with members of education, government, businesses and Ashley employees to plan meetings and Public Relations related events.
• Document all possible literature, photos and video that will be used for Ashley promotional materials and program development.
• Collect, prepare and disseminate information regarding community educational outreach and charitable efforts, major business developments (new retail, manufacturing, distribution initiatives, investments, openings and expansions), and crisis responses for Ashley Companies to internal and external audiences.
• Manage Ashley’s community educational programs that drive positive employee branding and positive community relations
• Work with community non-profit organizations to create positive community relations.
• Assist with and coordinate company events related to community educational outreach programs, business expansions, governmental affairs or other events, often serving as Ashley’s primary liaison
• Work directly with media outlets to schedule advertising for community educational outreach programs, business expansions, governmental affairs or other events.
• Respond to requests for information from the media, working directly with the Public Relations Director, the media agent, Ashley’s legal and appropriate internal departments to ensure that media-related incidents are handled properly.
• Prepare and deliver speeches for a variety of educational community outreach, business, and other governmental affairs events.
• Prepare and disseminate communication content such as press releases, videos, brochures, flyers, advertisements, signage, online/social media-related content and posts, etc., for internal and external audiences. This includes working in collaboration with a wide variety of subject matter experts such as executives and graphic designers, etc
• Develop and implement SOPs and community educational outreach event calendars.
• Solicit community, government or business assistance in the form of grant writing financial, in-kind services through written or vocal action.
• Organize, plan and prioritize projects and tasks, and communicate tabled, in-process and completed tasks to other Public Relations department members as well as community and government partners
• Receive, log, track and report on historical budgetary activities, including PR-related corporate and non-profit (e.g. Ashley for the Arts) expenses, review for approval of payment and forward to accounts payable

What Do You Need?

• Bachelor Degree in Public Relations, Education, Marketing or related field or equivalent work experience
• 2 years’ experience in Public Relations, Education, Corporate Communications or Marketing related position
• Ability to motivate, teach and supervise youth while maintaining a safe environment
• Strong communication skills, including active listening and reading comprehension to accurately assess situations, and effective speaking and written skills to get messages across that have the desired effect
• Ability to use social perceptiveness, persuasion, critical thinking, and negotiation to competently solve complex problems.
• Ability to generate multiple ideas about a topic and to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to approach them
• Ability to order information, understand the implications of new information, and apply both inductive and deductive reasoning to reach sound judgments and decisions.
• Effective time management and organization skills including the ability to manage one’s time on multiple projects simultaneously and the time of others when necessary, and monitoring and coordinating efforts to make needed adjustments.
• Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods.
• Knowledge of financial management to effectively use resources, determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for those expenditures.
• Ability to display empathy, understanding and patience with employees and external customers through a strong orientation to service.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Ability to respond professionally in situations with difficult employee, business, customer, media, government or community member issue or inquiry
• Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite and the Internet

Who Are We?

• We offer competitive pay and excellent benefits.
• We are a multi-billion-dollar company and the largest manufacturer of furniture in the world and offer one of the industry’s broadest product assortments at over 20,000 storefronts in 123 countries.
• Growth-Focused is one of our core values, and we are dedicated to helping you grow with us through training, mentoring, and coaching as well as investing in the latest design tools, production equipment and new technologies.
• Environmental efforts are a priority as we continually seek to recycle, reuse and replenish every day.
• Millions of dollars are contributed annually to local and national charities as we seek to improve the lives of people around the world.

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide a drug-free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. Principals Only.