Communications and Outreach Manager

hireneXus; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

hireneXus is seeking a full-time Outreach & Communications lead for the Black Hawk County, IA area. You will build a brand-new program, own initiatives, and manage a public-facing presence from the ground up — website, social media, and community events.

You'll work onsite with the Solid Waste Administrator, delivering presentations, writing materials, and coordinating with local partners. A driver’s license is required; on-site, occasional evenings/weekends may arise.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years in a marketing, communications, or public outreach role (not entry-level).
• Experience building or launching a communications or outreach program or campaign.
• Track record of writing and distributing content (press releases, articles, social posts) and internal materials.
• Comfortable managing WordPress site and social media accounts; refresh design/content.
• Experience delivering presentations, tours, or events for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop promotional communications, digital campaigns, and content for the website and social media.
• Write, edit, and distribute press releases, public service announcements, and other public communications.
• Maintain and update the Commission website and social media presence; ensure brand consistency.
• Conduct presentations, seminars, and waste audits for businesses and residents; represent at meetings/events.
• Collaborate with government, nonprofit, and private entities to support priorities; recruit volunteers for community programming.
• Write and maintain internal policies, procedures, and SOPs; prepare reports for the Administrator and Commission.

Skills

Marketing experience

Program ownership

Public-facing writing

Website & social media management

Community program delivery

On-site availability

Driver's license (Iowa)

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing/communications or related field

Job description

Full-Time | Landfill Department | Direct to Hire

Location: Black Hawk County, IA (Onsite - no remote option)

Compensation: $80,000-$85,000, based on experience

Hours: Standard business hours, Monday-Friday, with occasional evenings and weekends for community events (to be confirmed with hiring manager)

Reports to: Solid Waste Administrator

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Must-Have:

• Marketing or communications experience: 3-5+ years in a marketing, communications, or public outreach role. This is not an entry-level position - you'll be expected to own your work with minimal oversight from day one.
• Program ownership: Experience building or launching a communications or outreach program or campaign, not just running one someone else already set up. This is a brand-new role, so a lot of what you do here, you'll be creating as you go.
• Public-facing writing: A track record of writing and distributing content such as press releases, articles, and social media posts, along with internal materials like memos, policies, and procedures.
• Website and digital platform management: Comfortable managing and updating a WordPress site and social media accounts, including refreshing design and content.
• Community program delivery: Experience organizing or delivering presentations, tours, or events for a mix of audiences - residents, businesses, and community partners.
• In-office availability: This is not a remote position. You'll be on-site and working closely with the Administrator, especially during the first several months.
• Valid Iowa driver's license: Required to be insured under Commission guidelines.

Nice to Have:

• Experience in waste management, recycling, or environmental services
• Nonprofit sector experience, particularly in an outreach or community-facing role
• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or a related field
• Comfort with occasional public speaking to school-aged audiences (see note below - this is a small, periodic part of the role, not a core teaching duty)

THE OPPORTUNITY

Our client is a public agency serving the residents and businesses of Black Hawk County, Iowa through responsible, sustainable waste management operations. This is a newly created role within a growing, relatively new standalone commission that is still building out its team and internal structure.

You’ll work closely with the Administrator to shape this position from the ground up. The first few months are hands-on: writing policies and procedures, getting the website into shape, and starting to build a public presence in the community. From there, you’ll be given a clear outline of goals and the room to run with it - this role rewards someone who can take direction and then work independently, rather than someone who needs a playbook already in place.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Outreach & Communications (Primary Focus):

• Develop promotional communications, digital campaigns, and content for the website and social media
• Write, edit, and distribute press releases, public service announcements, and other public communications
• Maintain and update the Commission website and social media presence
• Ensure all content and materials reflect the Commission's brand identity

Community Engagement:

• Conduct presentations, seminars, and waste audits for businesses and residents
• Represent the Commission at local, state, and national meetings and events
• Collaborate with government, nonprofit, and private entities in support of Commission priorities
• Recruit and coordinate volunteers for community programming, including household hazardous waste collection events

Documentation & Process:

• Write and maintain internal policies, procedures, and SOPs
• Prepare reports, statistics, and progress updates for the Administrator and Commission
• Create and distribute surveys or other tools to evaluate program effectiveness

Occasional Education Programming:

• Lead a small number of school-based education sessions each year to satisfy a legal requirement - this is a periodic responsibility, not an ongoing teaching or curriculum-development role

WHY THIS ROLE

This is a chance to build something from scratch rather than step into someone else's system. You'll have real ownership over how the Commission shows up publicly, from the website to community events, and a direct line to the Administrator while you get up to speed.

Because the Commission is still growing, there's real room to expand this role's scope and responsibility over time for someone who takes initiative and does strong work. It's also public-facing work that matters: solid waste management is an essential service, and this role is how the community understands and engages with it.