Job Title: Marketing and Communications Director
Reports To: President, Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried

Organization Overview: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is Vermont’s leading not-for-profit business organization dedicated to advancing our state’s economy. We advocate for businesses, build community, and provide valuable resources statewide. Our enterprise includes the Vermont Chamber of Commerce 501(c)(6) and the Vermont Chamber Foundation 501(c)(3), doing business as The Vermont Futures Project.

Mission Statement: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to advancing the Vermont economy. Trusted by the businesses that make living, working, and thriving in Vermont possible, we prioritize collaboration and uphold the core values that define our state.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Belief Statement: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce believes in supporting a vibrant economy through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to breaking down systemic barriers, promoting acceptance, and ensuring a welcoming business environment. Vermont’s economic growth and prosperity depend on our ability to embrace all people, regardless of race, religion, national origin, geographic location, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Position Overview: The Marketing and Communications Director plays a pivotal role in promoting the Vermont Chamber enterprise by ensuring clear and effective communication, high-quality content, consistent branding, and meaningful interactions with stakeholders. Reporting directly to the President, this full-time, salaried position is responsible for developing, executing, and managing an enterprise-wide marketing and communications strategy that advances our mission and goals.

The successful candidate will collaborate with the leadership team to develop and implement the strategic communications and marketing vision, leading initiatives related to the overall promotion of the Vermont Chamber. This position will be responsible for executing regular communications promoting the work of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce to our members, policy leaders, the press, and the public. We are looking for a team player with strong organizational, communication, and marketing skills who can manage multiple programs simultaneously and understands that a successful business community is important to the economic health of Vermont.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking and Analytical Skills: Demonstrates strong strategic thinking, planning, and execution abilities to develop and implement long-term marketing and
  communications strategies aligned with organizational objectives. Uses analytical skills to
  evaluate market trends and data, informing strategies and measuring success.
• Exceptional Communication Skills: Exhibits exceptional written and verbal communication abilities, including creating compelling content, engaging diverse audiences, and maintaining attention to detail in all aspects of work.
• Collaboration: Possesses strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and with various stakeholders.
• Digital Marketing Expertise: Proficiency in digital marketing platforms, content creation, graphic design, and analytics.
• Project Management: Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Natural Curiosity: Displays a natural curiosity about member business operations, enhancing the ability to tailor communications effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategy Development and Implementation
  • Collaborate with the Chamber leadership team to create and implement a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy that advances the organization’s mission and objectives.
  • Identify key messages and channels to effectively reach target audiences, including members, partners, and the broader community.
  • Lead the execution of the strategy across all platforms and channels, collaborating with the Director of Program Communications.
• Content Creation and Brand Management
  • Create and manage content on Chamber enterprise websites, ensuring it is current, engaging, and optimized for search engines.
  • Develop and maintain a content calendar aligned with our strategic communications goals in collaboration with the Director of Program Communications.
  • Produce content and graphics for Chamber communications as needed.
  • Maintain and enhance the organization’s brand identity, ensuring consistency across all communications and promotional materials.
• Media and Stakeholder Relations
  • Build and maintain relationships with media outlets to enhance visibility and influence.
  • Prepare and distribute news releases, op-eds, statements, and other announcements to gain positive attention for the organization, events, and advocacy work.
  • Develop and implement strategies to engage members, partners, and stakeholders through effective communication and marketing initiatives.
  • Collaborate with the government affairs team to promote legislative initiatives and policy positions by developing and managing regular communications and email alerts for our advocacy efforts.
• Event Promotion
  • Coordinate marketing efforts for events and programs across the Vermont Chamber enterprise by developing promotional campaigns to maximize event participation and impact.
• Analytics and Reporting
  • Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of marketing and communication efforts using key performance indicators.
  • Prepare regular reports for the leadership team to inform decision-making and strategy adjustments.
• Quality Assurance
  • Provide proofreading support and input regarding written materials prepared by staff to ensure clear and consistent messaging.
• Project Management and Special Projects
  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met.
  • Undertake special projects as assigned, contributing to the organization’s overall success.

Education and Experience:

• Preference will be given to candidates with a proven track record in marketing, communications, and graphic design work.
• Demonstrated ability to foster strong interpersonal relationships.
• Knowledge of Microsoft products, databases, and willingness to learn new applications.
• Demonstrated ability to be highly organized with strong attention to detail.

Work Environment and Application:
This position is hybrid-remote with at least one day a week at the Berlin office. This position may require occasional in-state travel and work outside of traditional office hours. Interested candidates should send a cover letter with LinkedIn profile and resume to jobs@vtchamber.com.

Title: Programming Associate
Reports To: Senior Director of Programming
Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried
Location: Berlin, Vermont

Organization Overview: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is a leading not-for-profit business organization dedicated to advancing Vermont’s economy. We advocate for businesses, build community, and provide valuable resources statewide. Our enterprise includes the Vermont Chamber of Commerce 501(c)6 and the Vermont Chamber Foundation 501(c)3 dba The Vermont Futures Project, which aims to create a data-informed Economic Action Plan for the state.

Mission Statement: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to advancing the Vermont economy. Trusted by the businesses that make living, working, and thriving in Vermont possible, we prioritize collaboration and uphold the core values that define our state.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Belief Statement: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce believes in supporting a vibrant economy through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to breaking down systemic barriers, promoting acceptance, and ensuring a welcoming business environment. Vermont’s economic growth and prosperity depend on our ability to embrace all people, regardless of race, religion, national origin, geographic location, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Position Overview: The Programming Associate provides support for the organization’s overall strategy around programming and events, ensuring that all programs and events are executed with the Chamber’s mission and industry specific objectives for members top of mind. This role provides businesses with tremendous value by producing content rich events focused on policy and industry trends. We are looking for a team player with strong organizational skills who can manage many events and programs simultaneously and understands that a successful business community is important to the economic health of Vermont.

The ideal candidate will support the Senior Director of Programming in the following ways:

• Assist with the development of content for events, finding inspiration and ideas from local and national news, emerging trends, and other industry events and tradeshows
• Assist with event promotion and print and digital graphics needs and web content
• Demonstrate an ability to adhere to a budget and meet expected financial targets for attendance, ticket sales, exhibitor booths and sponsorships
• Manage a calendar of events and work toward flawless execution
• Work with event and program sponsors to ensure agreements are fulfilled and executed
• Negotiate contracts with venues, service providers and other vendors as needed
• Manage the registration process and necessary database work to ensure a clear and concise customer experience
• Coordinate staff participation at events
• Manage on-site event logistics and technology and respond efficiently and effectively to challenges that may arise
• Coordinate speaker logistics to ensure content development matches the overall goal of the event
• Assist with the development and execution of all on-site branding of the organization leading up to and during the
  event
• Execute an effective event follow-up strategy to include surveys and other tools for continuous improvement
• Provide specific attention and support to our manufacturing industry sector by coordinating and implementing
  manufacturing industry related programming across the enterprise

Education and Experience:

• Experience with event management and logistics or similar field is preferred
• Experience working in or with the manufacturing sector is preferred
• Exceptional customer service, communication, and writing skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, databases, and willingness to learn new applications is required
• Demonstrated ability to be highly organized with impeccable attention to detail

Work Environment and Application:
This position is hybrid-remote with at least one day a week at the Berlin office. This position requires occasional in-state travel and will require work outside of traditional office hours to execute events. Interested candidates should send a cover letter with LinkedIn profile and resume to jobs@vtchamber.com.

Name: Eleanor (Ellie) Zimmerman 

College: Dartmouth College 

Field of Study: Government 

Anticipated Graduation: June 2027 

Hometown: Stowe, Vermont 

What is your Vermont story?  

My family moved to Vermont from the Boston suburbs when I was eight years old. Although that technically makes me not a “lifelong Vermonter”, I nevertheless feel deeply connected to this state and am so grateful to have grown up here. Childhood in Vermont is unlike anything else, and I believe it shaped my values in unique ways. Growing up, I spent most of my time outside, hiking, biking, swimming, skiing or just exploring and building forts in the woods. Because of this I developed a deep appreciation for and a sense of obligation to place. I came to realize the real power of tight knit small communities. I was always well supported in school, in large part because I was able to be so close with my teachers. In high school I became super involved with the next generation of kids in Stowe through coaching skiing and working at a summer camp. I became really close with these kids over the years and they would even show up to my soccer games to cheer on my team. I feel as though my story captures the essence of what it is like to live in Vermont, the symbiotic relationship between people and their communities, feeling supported and giving back.

What drew you to the work of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce/Vermont Futures Project? Why do you think it is important? 

I chose to study government because I aspire to have a career in which I can support the communities that have always supported me. I believe effective policy is the most powerful way to do that. Because of this, I was very interested in getting into advocacy work this summer. In Vermont, the Chamber is one of the preeminent non-profit organizations serving our state. They have proven to be effective advocates for business in the statehouse and I wanted to gain insights into how they do that and support them in that work. Moreover, the organization’s commitment to helping people live, work and thrive in Vermont aligns strongly with my values of giving back to the community that raised me.

In working for the Chamber, I already feel like I am making an impact. I am directly advocating for policy that supports Vermont business and helping business owners navigate the state’s economic policy to prosper. This work is especially important to me during in a time where many local businesses are still reeling from Covid and the extensive flooding we continue to experience across this state.

What are you hoping to learn more about during the internship and why? How do you envision this summer experience fitting into your long-term aspirations? 

This internship has been an incredible opportunity to gain experience in policy work and build a foundation for a career in public policy. Through my role as a policy research intern, I am learning to use data to drive effective advocacy. I am coming to an in-depth understanding of the policy landscape in the state where I live, and I think that is really important. I am also gaining valuable communications skills, by practicing synthesizing research and using different communication styles for different audiences. Public policy can be confusing and being able to communicate about it effectively to a wide variety of audiences will be key to success in the field.

I love studying government in my classes, but this internship has been a fantastic opportunity to seek out more knowledge about careers in public policy. By being surrounded by experts at work I can start to picture what exactly I want to do in this field. The skills and knowledge about advocacy work I have gained and will continue to gain in this role will set me up to use a career in policy to support the communities I care about.  

Contact Info:  

ezimmerman@vtchamber.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanorczimmerman/