The Community Engagement Specialist: Are you good at goobledygook?

I think this is related to journalism, but this new job description, listed on the new MLive Media Group site had to be written by a marketing guru. I had my techno savvy youngest child translate the following job description because I don't speak technobabble and she says what they are seeking is someone to find people to write news for free in each community and to post questions and prompt people to respond to items on the website. What the job description doesn't describe is how much this person will make. The job is full-time but does it come with benefits. Kind of important info for a job applicant, doncha think?

Job Details

ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION

The Community Engagement Specialist will work with editors and content producers to keep consumers and user engagement at the center of all efforts while engaging users directly across all platforms. This position will manage and maintain news hub’s presence in social media and emerging platforms; work with community editor to develop and articulate institutional opinion pieces for web and print; conceive and execute public-facing events or other social opportunities to encourage public interaction with local news hub; and recruit and manage a network of local community reporters in a variety of subject areas.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations or related field required
• Minimum of 3 years experience working in communications, marketing, social media or a similar customer facing role required
• Editorial/Media, Marketing, Customer Service experience, a plus
• Strong project management, multi-tasking & organizational skills
• Excellent writing skills and content creation/curation capabilities
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of online community platforms including social media and online presence
• Ability to effectively communicate information and ideas in written and verbal
  format, and build and maintain relationships
• Team player, with the confidence to take the lead and guide other departments
• Demonstrated capability in capitalizing on high-value topics by engaging audiences in frequency and urgency
• Understanding of the methods and tools used to deliver content across a variety of platforms such as Moveable Type CMS, SCC Budgeting and Archiving System, Smartphones
• Understanding imperatives of multiple platforms – print, mobile, Internet, etc.
• Proven ability to utilize a broad set of tools to tell stories and engage the audience
• Mastery of social media and digital interaction

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties and Responsibilities, work schedules and/or location may change based on evolving business needs

1. Work dynamically with editors and content producers to maximize traffic around posts through interaction and engagement techniques:

• Commenting in stories
• Elevating comments to comment posts
• Watch competing media for link-posting opportunities
• Monitor media – local, mainstream and social -- for trending topics with local impact
• Reader polls

2. Manage and maintain news operation’s presence in social media and emerging platforms, in concert with overall state editorial strategy and protocol.
3. Engage in comment streams as “voice of the organization,” in concert with established engagement protocols and editorial mission.
4. Probe comments for use in opinion pages/blogs or for other situational content purposes and curate conversations that are of community interest.
5. Work with community editor to develop and articulate institutional opinion pieces for web and print; budget and communicate with production center to meet print demands.
6. Maintain engagement statistics for use by local market management and staff, and prepare analytic reports as required by Director of Metrics/Community Engagement.
7. Conceive and executive public-facing events or other social opportunities to encourage public interaction with local news office.
8. Conduct regular staff training sessions on community engagement techniques.
9. Collaborate with community engagement specialists statewide on best-practices techniques, projects, staff training programs and other initiatives.
10. Create engaging, interactive and optimized product offerings, leveraging the relationship between technology and customer data and insight

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

General office environment. Extensive computer use required. Some travel may be required. Ability to work flexible schedules.

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, physical or mental impairment, or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.

There is also a posting for a reporter position in Grand Rapids that is more straight forward. Unlike the above job description this one does not whether the position is full-time.