Communications Specialist

San Jose Convention•San Jose, CA

42d•$90,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications Specialist contributes to Visit San Jose’s domestic and international media relations program with the mission to market San Jose as a premier visitor and meetings destination. The role also manages communication strategies for parent organization Team San Jose and partner division, San Jose Theaters. The role, in working with both the Director and VP of Marketing & Communications, provides opportunity to develop strategies that align with department and organizational goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Journalism, Communications, Liberal Arts/Mass Communication/English strongly preferred.
Understanding of media and influencer relations and needs.
Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Proficient in press release distribution systems.
Experience in media tracking and media database systems.
Must be able to travel.
Willing to work outside of typical business hours.
Dependable, highly motivated team player with a great attitude.
Possess strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Must be proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or Google Workplace suite required.
Ability to multi-task, meet multiple deadlines and work independently.
Ability to communicate effectively across various departments.
Ability to work in a changing environment and under tight deadlines.
To perform this job successfully, the employee must be able to complete each essential duty listed above satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Exhibit creativity and resourcefulness.
Organized and detail-oriented.
Ability to prompt AI agents effectively and incorporate efficiently and effectively into day-to-day tasks.
Ability to work extended hours occasionally, nights, weekends as needed

Nice To Haves

PR agency or in-house public relations experience a plus.
Prior travel, tourism or hospitality experience is preferred.
Photography, videography, Adobe Suite and Canva skills a plus.

Responsibilities

Identify and help Visit San Jose build positive working relationships with content creators and journalists. This includes influential travel industry writers and editors from traditional publications and new media outlets (such as digital content creators) to increase editorial coverage for San Jose.
Consistently track status of stories pitched and editorial value of destination stories produced.
Develop monthly measure reports relative to the desired forms of PR measurement.
Actively monitor and promote positive media coverage of San Jose partners.
Develop and maintain fresh content and press releases on an ongoing basis for Visit San Jose’s online press room and media kits.
Field travel writer and media inquiries and help draft responses in a timely and professional manner as a representative of the Team San Jose, Visit San Jose and San Jose Theaters brand and destination.
Assist media in developing and researching story ideas with knowledge of current news and timely destination events.
Oversee media database management, development, and maintenance of targeted media lists.
Collaborate with Visit San Jose’s agencies of record, as well as other organizations such as Visit California, to maintain the destination’s high profile in key markets in the US and internationally.
Research and develop customized itineraries for visiting travel media, locating accommodations, and gaining access to partner attractions, businesses and services as they pertain to the media’s needs and overall benefit of the destination.
Assist in preparing for travel to key destinations to promote San Jose and pitch story ideas to editors of high-profile travel, general consumer, and meeting publications and news outlets.
Contribute, implement and maintain CRM (Simpleview) and CMS platforms as part of Marketing team.
Cultivate positive working relationships with San Jose partners and local city marketing representatives through the presentation and execution of effective media opportunities.
Demonstrate and maintain goodwill and stewardship as a Visit San Jose representative in the best interest of the overall destination.
Contribute to efforts to prepare and distribute news releases, photographs, videos and related information on website and social media as needed.
Stay up to date with current technologies and trends in media landscape, social media, and applications.
Prompt AI agents in research to explore data and analyze information.
Research and create opportunities to build awareness for San Jose as destination.
Assist with event promotion and execution as needed.
Contribute to the writing of VSJ’s digital marketing collateral.
Contribute to organization newsletter, reports and and owned and paid content.