Do you have experience in marketing and communications, or in growing audience engagement on digital platforms?

We’re looking for a new team member to join our small but incredibly clever and dedicated team. We’re after someone who has a way with words, a creative mind and an attention to detail, to fill the position of Marketing & Communications Manager at Shepherdess.

Along with your skill set, just as – if not more – important is finding team members who are the right fit for Shepherdess. You’ll need to be aligned with our values, enjoy working collaboratively and in a fast-paced environment, have an affinity with rural communities and an understanding of rural life. What we can offer in return is experience in media and events, working for an organisation that lives by its values, the ability to work from anywhere in the country (as long as you have internet), flexible working arrangements – many of us are mums with young kids and we juggle both across the week – and a supportive, creative team, who all believe in what we are doing and where we are headed.

This role would suit someone who is freelancing or contracting, with suitable capacity amongst their other responsibilities.

ROLE DESCRIPTION
Role Title: Marketing & Communications Manager

Responsible to: Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Supervisory Responsibility: Digital Content Manager

Key Relationships: Partnerships Manager, Subscriptions Manager, Designer

Purpose Statement:
To grow brand awareness and drive subscriptions, online and retail purchases, to ensure strong customer revenue for Shepherdess.

Responsibilities:

Managing and executing subscription marketing campaigns, including our quarterly subscription offer and other targeted campaigns in between;
Developing and delivering our subscriber communications strategy.
Co-ordinating bulk subscriber communications, including EDMs to subscribers.
Integrating subscription communications across our digital platforms.
Working with other team members to plan, brief and execute subscription campaigns, co-ordinating contributions from each team member to deliver on the campaign.
Reviewing and refining subscription efforts.
Supporting the team to think about ways they can support the growth of subscriptions through their roles.
Managing and executing marketing and communications strategies and campaigns for key Shepherdess projects and events run throughout the year. These may change year on year, depending on priorities. Our 2023 projects and events included:
MAKE Virtual Workshop Series
Shepherdess Social Club
Shepherdess TV Series
The Shepherdess Muster
Coordinating our presence of in person at events such as A&P shows or partner events
Digital content oversight and management:
Weekly WIP meetings to review digital marketing strategy, campaigns and performance with Digital Content Manager and Editor.
Reviewing social media content before it’s published
Reviewing fortnightly subscriber newsletters
Working with Partnerships Manager to plan out and execute communications to Shepherdess partners and advertisers through our email platform.
Liaising with and briefing key internal team members and external PR, print and website suppliers, including:
Liaising and briefing our internal designer on all marketing campaigns
Liaising with and briefing external PR contractors on projects
Briefing website designer/developers
Managing print marketing projects with printers
Establishing and continuing media relationships (optional depending on skills and experience):
Researching, planning and executing media and brand profile opportunities including for Shepherdess story content.
Identifying newsworthy stories, drafting press releases, pitching to media and following through to completion of interview.
Drafting key messages for spoken media opportunities ie. radio interviews
Managing digital advertising;
Social media advertising campaigns
Writing advertising copy
Liaising and briefing designer on advertising assets
Reviewing and refining campaigns
Branded Google Ad Manager campaign
Ensuring brand messaging is consistent across our activities
Other tasks relating to marketing and communications as required, including across all Shepherdess initiatives.
Requirements:

Excellent written communication skills, including ability to write relevant and engaging copy for website, social media and email.
Exemplary attention to detail, including an excellent standard of grammar and spelling.
Project management skills.
Strategic thinking with regards to brand awareness and engagement.
Experience working in a business environment where customers are critical to sustainability.
Savvy using social media.
A data driven approach, using customer insights to drive growth and engagement.
A collaborative team player.
Ability to be flexible with work hours; working outside of usual business hours will be required at busy times and when deadlines need to be met.
An affinity and understanding of rural and regional New Zealand.
Must live in rural or regional New Zealand and be able to work remotely, with internet access to connect with the team.
Must be proficient with a computer, including (or willing to learn) Planoly, Asana, Slack, Klaviyo, WordPress and Dropbox.
Experience in a communications or marketing role desirable. Experience working in media an advantage.

Commitment:

Freelance position, estimated at 200 – 240 hours per edition – about between 20 and 25 hours per week depending on time in the season. Potential to start with a smaller number of hours and increase in future and as projects ebb and flow. Hours and rate to be negotiated with the successful applicant. Attendance at set weekly team meeting times is essential, however otherwise hours are the candidate’s choice. Opportunity for bonus to be paid when subscription and revenue targets are met.