Communications Intern

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Position Description

Position Title: Communications Intern

Department: Communications

Reports to: Senior Director of Communications, Strategic Communications Manager

Position(s) Supervised: N/A

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Position Summary

The Communications Intern will assist the Senior Communications Director and the Strategic Communications Manager primarily by writing press releases and other public communications, assisting with public events, and conducting research related to WEDC initiatives and events.

Responsibilities

The Communications Intern will spend most of their time in these activities:

• Researching and writing press releases on WEDC initiatives and events
• Working with businesses and agency partners to advance WEDC communications priorities.
• Providing on-site assistance for WEDC events, such as job and grant announcements statewide.
• Assist in developing responses to media inquiries.
• Other administrative and/or project duties as needed.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Current enrollment in a degree program - Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing or a related field.
• Experience or coursework in writing news articles or press releases.
• Interest or experience in economic development policy or related field.
• Previous public relations/marketing/journalism experience - including internships - preferred, but not required.

Skills and Talents:

• Strong writing skills, including the ability to quickly and accurately create content while on deadline.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to proactively make "cold calls" to business partners while researching press releases and to members of the media to solicit coverage of WEDC initiatives and events.
• Ability to be flexible in an environment that changes rapidly.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Ability to prioritize and organize work with strong attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• High level of confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism.

Other Requirements

• Based on the responsibilities of this position, this position may need to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Occasional travel to the main office is expected based on role responsibilities, as well as for collaboration and team-building opportunities, depending on the employee's schedule and business needs.

WEDC DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING STATEMENT

WEDC must be a diverse and inclusive organization reflective of the businesses, communities, and people in Wisconsin and beyond. We believe that diversity drives innovation and commit to create an inclusive, equitable and diverse workplace where our differences are celebrated as drivers of our organization's performance.

TO SUPPORT A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE AT WEDC, WE WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS:

• Increase WEDC's racial diversity, specifically with Black/African American, Native American and Latinx populations;
• Increase LGBTQ representation across WEDC; and
• Increase the diversity of WEDC's leadership.

TO MEET OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION GOALS, WEDC WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:

• Create an intentional approach to recruit minority candidates by using targeted media channels to promote open positions;
• Ensure formal offers are made only after a diverse pool of candidates have been considered at each hiring stage;
• Identify and develop a variety of employee resource groups, including groups for African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, LGBTQ+ and more;
• Post signage to highlight WEDC's commitment to diversity and inclusion; and
• Revisit EEO disclosures in our application process to highlight statements regarding WEDC's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution and EEO/Affirmative Action Employer committed to excellence through diversity. Employment offers are made on the basis of qualifications, and without regard to race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Veteran Declaration

Applicants for employment are invited to participate in affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.
** PROTECTED VETERAN DEFINITION

Protected veteran means a veteran who may be classified as an active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran, disabled veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran or recently separated veteran.

Active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

Armed Forces service medal veteran means any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 FR 1209, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 159).

Disabled veteran means (1) a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (2) a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

Recently separated veteran means a veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service.

* EEOC RACE/ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION CATEGORIES

Hispanic or Latino - A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

White (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands.

Asian (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.

American Indian or Alaska Native (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Two or more races (not Hispanic or Latino) - All persons who identify with more than one of the above races.