Job Description

Who is Woda Cooper Companies:

Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. is an employee-owned, vertically integrated affordable housing firm with over 730 employees. The company owns and operates more than 350 properties and 16,000 housing units. Consistently ranked among the top affordable housing developers and owners by Affordable Housing Finance, Woda Cooper operates in 16 states across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast, with a development portfolio valued at $1.5 billion. Learn more at .

Public relations: Develop and carryout initiatives to gain positive exposure for company successes, business updates, and development activities in local market news outlets and affordable housing trade media. Example of initiatives:

• Keep abreast of company news via discussions with company leaders, meetings, and announcements.
• Write proactive media advisories, news releases, company statements, and other media communications.
• Maintain positive relationships with key reporters and editors who cover affordable housing.Build and maintain media database in key target markets.
• Post publicity releases on wodagroup.com and distribute timely PR materials via email.
• Coordinate WCCI response when news outlets and reporters request interviews, tours, photos, and other information or assets.
• Prepare WCCI spokespersons for interviews through briefings, talking points, and other background.
• Review online media/news sites for company-related coverage; report mentions to WCCI teams.

Event planning: Facilitate company events, including groundbreakings, grand openings, hard-hat tours and other activities, to highlight WCCI developments and recognize community leaders, supporters, and partners. Related steps:

• Discuss possible events with WCCI principals and Development officers to determine which events to pursue.
• Identify doable date and distribute save-the-date notices to project team, VIPs and partners.
• Request partner logos, quotes, and speakers for event.
• Work with Development, Construction, and Management teams to assure sites and properties are prepared for event.
• Hire vendor for tent, chairs, podium, etc. rentals, catering, decorations, floral and other event supplies and services as needed. Use company PA as possible or arrange for AV services.
• Develop formal invitations and guests list; distribute invitations approximately one month prior to event.
• Develop agenda and detailed podium notes for moderator.
• Produce project poster, podium sign, and handouts to be printed locally.
• Recruit WCCI staff for assistance with preparations and hosting duties.
• Oversee and handle preparations, onsite coordination on day-of event and follow up. -
• Write event-related news advisories and day-of press releases to explain property and provide quotes from speakers, including mayors, county commissioners, state housing agency leaders, investors, lenders and co-developers. Distribute follow-up PR package including photos, news release, etc.Send People Ops PR package for use in company newsletter. Coordinate on-site media interviews at or around event.
• Write thank you letters to all speakers and VIP guests.

Social media: Project positive image and work to maintain favorable dialogue about company on social media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

• Monitor company-related posts, mentions, tags, and comments on social media sites.
• Determine best strategy for mitigating negative comments through blocking, hiding, etc.
• Post company updates and articles to sites two to three times per week.

Crisis management: Assess and develop communications strategies in response to incidents and potential risks that could negatively impact WCCI properties or business.

• As requested, review and monitor incident reports, news stories, management assessments to understand crises and risks.
• Develop strategy for communications response to situation.
• Write company statements as needed to distribute to reporters who request information.

Industry awards recognition: Attain positive exposure for WCCI projects, company performance, and talent via industry awards and recognition.

• Develop nomination materials, survey responses including project overviews
• Review proposed nomination packages with WCCI leaders/team.
• Assemble support materials including photos, news clippings, letters, etc.
• Submit package via awards program site.
• For contests involving voting, such as Affordable Housing Finance’s Readers’ Choice Awards, promote voting among employees and partners.
• Monitor results to ensure representation at ceremony.

Collateral, ads and other communications:

• Create corporate ads for special features, state housing agency conferences, and other paid advertisement opportunities.
• Write annual summary of “Woda Cooper by the Numbers” to document company scope
• Update comprehensive flipbook and state leave-behinds to showcase WCCI properties.
• Work with outside video producer to develop corporate videos as needed. Includes site/subject selection, shooting logistics, interview preparation, and editing.
• Special communications projects as requested by company leadership.

Required education, skills and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, mass communications, marketing, or PR.
• Ten or more years’ experience in public relations, corporate communications or related.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills especially news and feature writing.
• Accomplished using a variety of software and online tools such as Microsoft Office, Outlook, TEAMS, ZOOM, Constant Contact, and social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with varied internal teams and outside stakeholders, including employees, co-developers, municipal staff, elected leaders and staff, state housing agency staff, investors, lenders, and residents.
• Job location is flexible providing easy access for meetings and events across WCCI’s footprint (currently OH, WV, PA, MD, IN, IL, IA, WI, MN, MI, KY, TN, SC, NC, GA, VA, FL, and TX).

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