Media & Communications Officer

Task/Responsibilities

• Support the planning and execution of all local media and public relations activities by organizing press launches, writing press releases, and formulating speeches and scripts for sharing with local stakeholders and industry partners.
• Assist with arranging publicity opportunities such as speaking engagements; support the production of marketing campaigns with press releases; collaborate with the marketing and launch teams to plan and develop marketing material; manage media inquiries, interview requests, and issues.
• Ensure that all press releases, media interviews, and other media assets are shared when required via all media, including online and print media, both internally and externally.
• Assist with developing strategic communication (traditional and digital) and public relations plans to achieve target revenues and arrivals; develop, manage, and execute budgets, work plans, and other managerial and administrative activities.
• Review, analyze, track, research, and provide recommendations for all potential local media ad placements, branding, sponsorships, and press.
• Leverage existing media relations; build relations with thought leaders to increase awareness of BTB and the industry.
• Communicate with industry members, stakeholders, and the community to encourage industry engagement and interaction and generate positive outcomes and resolutions/key actions for the tourism sector’s success.
• Assist with reviewing and analyzing reports submitted by other relevant departments within the BTB to secure marketing intelligence for use in strategy development and implementation.
• Stay up-to-date with trends and assist with generating new ideas to draw the audience’s attention; Maintain a keen understanding of PR and digital communication trends and make appropriate recommendations to support strategy.
• Assist with the planning and execution of the Civic Pride and Belizean Traveller campaigns, providing input to their development; planning and executing initiatives that will enhance the campaigns; garnering stakeholder participation and nurturing a positive relationship with participating stakeholders; and identifying and making recommendations to improve the campaigns’ results.
• Assist with the development, implementation, and execution of BTB’s internal communications strategy and plans, ensuring alignment with BTB’s core values, core messaging, and business priorities.
• Keep the BTB community updated via the BTB Intranet Portal by regularly publishing press releases and notices shared with our external audience.
• Assist with executing all efforts as laid out in the BTB’s Crisis Communications plan for Belize.
• Support BTB’s participation in local third-party and BTB events with media-facing opportunities.
• Perform other job-related duties as may be assigned.

Other: (Personal characteristics that contribute to an individual’s ability to excel on the job, or other important information regarding the position or its requirements.)

• Must be a focused individual and have a strong willingness to learn.
• Must be an honest individual with excellent people skills.
• Be able to respond rapidly to requests.
• Takes initiative and is self-motivated.
• Is a team player.

BTB’s Values: 
Respect:          We respect and trust each other, and we embrace our diversity, talents and experiences.
Integrity:       We act with integrity and are accountable for our actions.
Optimism:      We are optimistic about tourism’s contribution to Belize’s economy and the well-being of its   people, and are confident that, with our partners, we will sustain the industry’s growth.
Courage:         We tirelessly pursue our vision, taking bold action and persevering through challenges

Qualifications: Education / Experience / Skills required of the position.

• Must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, or Journalism plus three years of working experience in the Media and/or Public Relations
• Proven track record designing and executing successful public relations campaigns at both a local and national level
• Strong relationships with both local and national business and industry media outlets
• Should possess the ability to spot problems and challenges in the field and report them immediately
• Should be goal-oriented and capable of working with limited supervision
• Effectively communicate information and ideas in written and verbal format, and build and maintain relationships internally and externally
• Experience in acting as a company spokesperson; comfortable and skilled in both broadcast and print media interviews
• Solid experience with social media including blogs, Facebook, Twitter
• Should have good public relations skills and a personable and assertive personality
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Strategic yet creative thinker, self-starter, cool under pressure, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Must be a focused individual and have a strong willingness to learn
• Must be able to maintain a calm and professional character with every encounter and exercise good judgment in all situations.
• Must be prepared to work in the field and travel locally and internationally
• Takes initiative and is self-motivated
• Is a team player
• Be able to respond rapidly to requests

Preferred as an asset

• Bi-lingual in English and Spanish
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Possession of a valid driver’s license

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: The physical skills and demands and the environmental working conditions required by the job.

This job requires moderate physical demands including constant sitting and constant communicating. Environmental working conditions are normal but include exposure to outside elements when travelling locally.