Communications Specialist 1

Recognized as one of the best places to work in Southeast Minnesota for three consecutive years, at Olmsted County every role helps to foster a vibrant community where everyone thrives. Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, driving public service excellence and community well-being.

We don't just offer a job, we offer a career filled with purpose, growth, and fulfillment. Our benefits package ensures your wellbeing, while career advancement opportunities and professional development empower you to reach your full potential.

Join us, and you'll be part of a purpose-driven team where your work truly makes a difference. Together, we build a sustainable, healthy, and welcoming community.

Minimum Qualifications of Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in marketing, communication, education, or related field and one (1) year of experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.

OR

Associates degree from an accredited college in communications, marketing, education, or related field and three (3) years of experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.

OR

A combination of education and experience equivalent to five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.

Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position. Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid driver's license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.

Note: you will be required to submit writing samples and/or a portfolio of past communication work to be considered for this position.

Nature of Work

Under general supervision, develops and implements a variety of internal and external communications for the Olmsted County government organization to inform both employees and the community about services and programs. Will have primary responsibility for digital communications channels – specifically our public website but will also assist with our intranet. Will participate in communications projects to help build and strengthen the Olmsted County brand through a variety of communications mediums. Supports a diverse, respectful, and inclusive workplace.

Examples of Work

• Conducts day-to-day maintenance of the Olmsted County public website. Oversees county web contributors, reviews and approves pages for publishing, coordinates with web contributors on fixes and enhancements to content, coordinates with our external web vendor, and ensures accessibility of web content.
• Assists with intranet content development, maintenance of intranet site, and oversight of intranet web contributors.
• Develops internal and external communications content for distribution through a variety of communications mediums including digital communications, graphic design, social media, photography, and videography. Ensures accuracy, consistency, and positive brand image.
• Coordinates efforts to build and strengthen the Olmsted County brand. Collaborates with web contributors and departments to ensure consistency with county brand standards.
• Responds to timely or urgent communications.
• Supports Olmsted County during emergency situations.
• Completes additional tasks as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of communication principles, practices, strategies, and techniques.
• Knowledge of public relations principles, practices, and techniques.
• Skill in verbal communication including presenting to a variety of audiences.
• Skill in the use of written, digital, and social media communications.
• Skill in website content design and content management systems, and other electronic and social media.
• Skill in the use of computers and technology including Microsoft Office Products, design applications, photo and video equipment, and editing tools.
• Skill in interpersonal communication and relationships.
• Skill in editing and proofreading.
• Ability to determine the most effective communication media, methods, or tools.
• Ability to work in a group, with collaboration and inclusivity.
• Ability to prioritize multiple requests and meet multiple deadlines.
• Ability to write or edit in a variety of writing styles and on a wide range of topics.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to effectively organize and prioritize work.
• Ability to be creative and decisive.

Persons with disabilities: the above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: In compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the Physical and Environmental Demands:

Function:

24% or Less

25% - 49%

50%-74%

75% or more

Office environment

X

Sitting

X

Standing, walking, reaching, pulling,

X

Pushing up to 50 pounds

X

Lifting up to 50 pounds

X

Repetitive hand movements

X

Typing/data entry

X

Talking, hearing

X

Operate vehicle

X

Close vision

X

Distance and color vision

X

Depth perception and accommodation

X

Sedentary (exert up to 10 pounds of force)

X

Light effort (exert up to 20 pounds of force)

X

Medium effort (exert up to 50 pounds of force)

X

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Additional Considerations

• This is a Rochester, MN based position and is not remote eligible at this time.
• International relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.
• Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States.
• Olmsted County does not sponsor applicants for this position.

Provisional employees are eligible for benefits if employment is projected to be 12 months or longer and work at least 40 hours per pay period.

This document is a brief Summary of Benefits for Olmsted County Employees on the Paid Time Off Program.

Paid Time Off

Employees over .5 FTE accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) based on their length of service as follows:

First year to 5 years of service - accrue up to 23 days

6 to 10 years of service - accrue up to 25 days

11 to 15 years of service - accrue up to 27.5 days

16 to 20 years of service - accrue up to 30 days

21 to 26 years of service - accrue up to 32.5 days

Over 26 years of service - accrue up to 35 days

Employees begin accruing PTO on their first day of work and can use it as soon as accrued with supervisor approval.

Flexible Time Leave

All regular, full-time employees and part-time employees who are scheduled to work at least twenty (20) hours or more per week on an ongoing basis shall receive up to 24 hours (prorated by FTE) of paid FTL at their regular base pay each calendar year.

Commencement of Employment # of FTL Hours

Between January 1 and June 30 24 Hours

Between July 1 and August 31 16 Hours

Between September 1 and November 30 8 Hours

Between December 1 and December 31 0 Hours

Paid Holidays

Olmsted County recognizes the following legal holidays:

New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (4 hours when December 24th falls on a Monday – Thursday only), Christmas Day

Employee Health and Insurance Benefits

Health, Dental, Vision, Basic Life, Health Care Spending Account and Dependent Care Spending Account benefits become effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.

Health Insurance

The self-insured Olmsted County Employees' Health Plan is administered by Medica. Under the plan, eligible employees and their dependents have access to all providers in the Medica Health Plan Solutions network,

including Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center.

The plan offers a comprehensive preventive care program to help protect the health of employees and their dependents, 80% co-insurance on most services (after deductible) and access to Nice Healthcare, which offers no-cost virtual and in-home appointments, labs, x-rays, and more.

There is a base in-network deductible of $1,500/person, $4,500/family with the opportunity to earn a reward to lower the deductible to $500/person, $1,500/family. The in-network out-of-pocket maximum is $3,000/person, $6,000/family for those who earn the reward.

Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.

The monthly rates for healthcare coverage are as follows:

Health Insurance Rates

Single health coverage monthly cost to the employee is $110.00 per month or $55.00 per pay period. Employee Plus Children monthly cost to the employee is $500 per month or $250 per pay period. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $546.00 per month or $273.00 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $690.00 per month or $345 per pay period.

Nice Healthcare

Nice Healthcare is an additional healthcare option for employees on our health plan. The plan includes virtual and in-home care, primary care, convenient medication delivery, lab work and diagnostics, and comprehensive family care. There is no premium to the employee. Coverage is available for employees enrolled in the health plan and their eligible dependents (even if not enrolled in the health plan).

Prescription Drug Plan

The Olmsted County Employees' Health Plan prescription drug benefit is part of the health plan and is administered by Alluma. Covered prescriptions are based on the Alluma Advantage Formulary. The plan contracts

with Express Scripts to provide a national network. This allows members to receive prescriptions conveniently at home, or across the country, for the same co-insurance amount. Prescription co-insurance is 25% or 40%

depending on whether the prescription is formulary or non-formulary, with the opportunity to lower co-insurance through mail order. Prescriptions are subject to minimum and maximum charges. Both retail and mail order

prescriptions apply toward an annual $2,400/person or $4,800/family out of pocket limit.

Dental Insurance

The Olmsted County Dental Plan is self-insured and administered by Delta Dental. Coverage includes Diagnostic & Preventive Services – 100%; Basic Services - 80%; Major Restorative Services - 50%; and Orthodontics - 50%. Lifetime maximum for Orthodontics is $1,500 per eligible dependent child. Diagnostic and Preventive Services do not apply to the yearly individual maximum benefit of $1,500. There is a $50 deductible per family member per year, with a maximum of $150 per family. The deductible does not apply for Diagnostic and Preventive Services.

Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.

Single dental coverage monthly cost to the employee is $14.00 per month. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $25.00 per month or $12.50 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $56.00 per month or $28.00 per pay period.

Life Insurance

The County paid Basic Life Plan is group term guaranteed issue life insurance up to two times employee's annual salary rounded to the nearest $1,000 to a maximum of $300,000. Olmsted County pays 100 percent of enrolled dependent coverage costs for the following life benefits:

Spouse: $2,000

Children up to age 26: $1,250

Vision Insurance

Olmsted County offers insurance for vision correction materials through EyeMed. Benefits include discounts on frames, lenses, and contacts. Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.

Voluntary Life Insurance

The cost of employee and spouse Voluntary Life Insurance coverage is determined by age and the amount of coverage. This coverage would be in addition to what employees receive under the Basic Life Plan.

New employees who enroll within 30 days of eligibility may select up to $250,000 in life insurance coverage and up to $50,000 for their spouse without answering any health questions. Employees may apply for additional life insurance in $5,000 increments up to a maximum of $500,000. Spouses may apply for additional life insurance in $5,000 increments up to a maximum of $250,000.

New employees can also elect child life insurance without having to answer any health questions. The cost of life insurance is $1.30 per month, regardless of the number of children covered. The coverage amount is $10,000 per child.

PERA Life Insurance

Employees can purchase guaranteed issue group term life insurance coverage through the Voluntary Group Life Plan with the National Conference on Public Employees Retirement Systems (NCPERS) in which Olmsted County is a participant. It is underwritten by The Prudential Insurance Company of America and administered by Member

Benefits.

Cost is $16.00 per month with no medical questions asked.

Minnesota Paid Leave

The County participates in the Minnesota Paid Family Leave program. This provides partial income replacement to employees needing time off for covered conditions, including serious health conditions, bonding, or to care for a family member.

Long Term Disability Insurance

The County provides 40 percent pay replacement coverage at no cost to the employee.

Employees have the option to purchase an additional 26 2/3 percent pay replacement coverage for a total of 66 2/3 percent. Long-term disability benefits are effective on the first of the month following 30 days of service. The plan has a 90-day elimination period before benefits may be payable.

Employee Assistance Program

AllOne Health, Olmsted County's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), is a confidential service to help employees and their families address work and life issues. Online and telephone resources are available 24/7/365.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employees have the option of using one or both flexible spending accounts provided through Olmsted County to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and day care expenses with pretax dollars.

Health Care Spending Account limit is $3,400.

Dependent Care Spending Account limit is $7,500.

Blood Assurance Program

A Volunteer Blood Donor Program through Mayo Clinic Blood Bank is available to employees. It covers the employee and family for all red blood cell products.

Workers Compensation

All employees are covered by Workers Compensation insurance while performing County business.

Retirement

Olmsted County and employees pay into the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) as follows:

General Plan: Employee Share is 6.50%, County Share is 7.50%

Police & Fire Plan: Employee Share is 11.80%, County Share is 17.70%

Correctional Plan: Employee Share is 6.83%, County Share is 10.25%

General Plan members pay into both PERA and Social Security.

Deferred Compensation Plans

Olmsted County employees may choose to participate in Deferred Compensation Plans (457 Plans) offered through: VOYA Financial, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, and Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan.

Years of Service Awards

Olmsted County recognizes employees for milestones in their years of service (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and above).

Direct Deposit

All employees are paid bi-weekly. Employees' paychecks are electronically deposited directly into employees' bank accounts, avoiding situations like late checks or inconvenient trips to the bank.

United Way Donation

If an employee requests, the County will deduct contributions to United Way through payroll deduction.

Staff Development Program

The Staff Development Program offers courses online and in the classroom. The purpose is to train and retain employees through educational opportunities.

Tuition Reimbursement

Olmsted County offers tuition reimbursement for college courses of 80% or $3,000 (whichever is less) per year with prior approval from supervisor and Human Resources for job-related courses.

Olmsted County has partnered with Saint Mary's University to offer unique career advancement, degree completion, and professional development opportunities at a discounted rate. To learn more about the partner scholarship and Saint Mary's bachelor's completion, master's, doctoral, or graduate certificate programs visit the Olmsted County partner page.

As a Local Government, Olmsted County is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Act. Go to StudentAid.Gov to learn more about this program and see if you qualify.

Savi Loan Forgiveness

Olmsted County has partnered with Savi, a trusted financial wellness resource to support your student loan journey. Savi has three different support plans - DIY, Essential, and Pro. As an Olmsted County employee, you can receive Savi Essential (typically $70) for free or Savi Pro for $80 (typically $

Credit Union

Employees are invited to join the First Alliance Credit Union. For more information, call the Credit Union at or

Parking/Transit Plan

Parking for Government Center employees is available employee parking lots. The County supports public transportation. Employees who ride the bus to and from work and during work hours are offered subsidized bus passes.

Jury Duty

Employees required to report for jury duty or attend a trial in response to a subpoena will do so without loss of income. Employees will receive their regular pay during their court service.

Salary : $2,400 - $300,000