August Departs, with Previously Noted Opportunities and Your (well, someone's) Dream Jobs in the Wine Biz

As August slips off the calendar to rest up for 11 months, we bring you previously noted opportunities closing in the upcoming week, as well as three great opportunities to follow with Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison, Va., one of which has a flexible-in-Virginia location.  Scroll down and dream, and don't your old pals at DCPA+CJ when you snag one of those lovely opportunities, OK?

Programming note: we're taking Labor Day off, and we'll see you again on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Community College of Baltimore – Coordinator, Media Relations – part-time – $23/hr – Catonsville, MD – Sept. 1

Dept. of Justice – Communications Coordinator – $106k-$136k – job ID: JP-14-153 – Sept. 1 

ICCO/Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation –Director of U.S. Foundation Relations – Sept. 1

Nature Conservancy (scroll to find or use advanced search & job #)

• Marketing Specialist (42378) – Phoenix, AZ – Sept. 1
• Philanthropy Coordinator (42384) – Seattle, WA – Sept. 2
• Social Media Coordinator (42386) – temporary/part time – flexible NJ/PA location – Sept. 4
• Executive Assistant (42377) – Sept. 7

Peace Corps – Marketing Strategist – $82k-$120k – job ID: 14-274-NW – Sept. 2

Prince George’s County Public Schools – Public Information Officer (search keyword media) – $109k-$179k- Upper Marlboro, MD – Sept. 2

Frostburg State University – Frostburg, MD

• Vice President for University Advancement – Sept. 2
• Development Officer – Sept. 4

Caterpillar – Senior Communications Representative – Sept. 3 

Embassy of Canada – Policy Officer supporting the province of Ontario – $77k – Sept. 3 

USDA Food & Nutrition Service

• Public Affairs Specialist – $89k-$116k – job ID: FNCSR-14-138-AC – Sept. 3
• Public Affairs Specialist, Bilingual – $89k-$116k – fluency in Spanish required – job ID: FNCSR-14-139-AC – Sept. 3

Fish & Wildlife Service – Public Affairs Specialist – $89k-$116k – job ID: R9-14-1200702-BF – Sept. 4

Center for Civilians in Conflict – Senior Program Officer – fluency in French required – Sept. 5 

Jennings Policy Strategies – Legislative Assistant – Sept. 5

National Nuclear Security Administration – Digital Media Specialist – $52k-$98k – job ID: 14-0104-DEU – Sept. 4

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Deputy to the Chairman for Communications – $193k-$257k – job ID: 2014-EMDEU-0056 – Sept. 5

Global Financial Integrity – Junior Economist – Sept. 5 

Smithsonian Institution – Advancement Assistant, Air & Space Museum (pdf) – Sept. 5 

Richmond Dept. of Parks & Recreation – Public Information Manager – $53k-$88k – Richmond, Va. – Sept. 7

Loudoun County – Public Affairs & Communications Officer – to $135k – Leesburg, Va. – Sept. 7

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And, as promised above, we bring you assorted marketing opportunities with Early Mountain Vineyards,  a winery owned by Jean and Steve Case located in lovely Madison County, Va. – positions include Sales Manager, Marketing Associate, and Marketing Manager, as detailed below.  All of these are full-time opportunities.

To apply for these, send cover letter, resume & salary requirements to jobs@earlymountain.com – Please include title of position sought in subject line of your email.

The requirements listed in descriptions below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to perform this job satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

See more at earlymountain.com

Corporate Sales Manager

Job Location: Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, Richmond, or Washington DC. The position will require travel to interact with potential clients and will also require work on site at the winery in Madison, VA.

Job Category: Event Sales and Management

With on-site events as a core revenue producer of the business, Early Mountain Vineyards is seeking a dynamic and driven sales professional that is event savvy with a track record of positive sales success. To date, our event sales have been very strong on weekends and holidays. We seek an individual that has the skill to maintain this momentum, but also book more events in off-peek periods of time to extend revenue. The ideal candidate will be a creative, entrepreneurial professional with the ability to successfully work across teams and departments to deliver excellent results. Supported by a robust marketing department and reporting to the General Manager, the Corporate Sales Manger will successfully market and sell EMV spaces for business, industry, and consumer events. A dedicated team of on-site staff will help execute these events and the candidate will manage the client experience through each event's successful completion.

The Corporate Sales Manager must be capable of delivering world-class customer service and generate sales in accord with Early Mountain Vineyards hospitality and sales principles. Paramount to their success is representing the winery with enthusiastic professionalism while being gracious, genuine and respectful of guests and employees alike.

Essential duties & responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following; other duties may be assigned:

• Develops and implements creative sales strategies to drive additional event revenue.
• Meets with key clients, maintains relationships, negotiates, and closes deals.
• Makes outbound lead follow up calls to potential and existing customers by telephone and in person to qualify leads and sell services.
• Handles inbound sales lead calls to convert calls into sales. Formulates and implements plans for soliciting business.
• Analyzes and controls expenditures of sales department to conform to budgetary Corporate requirements.
• Manages customer budgets to maximize revenue and meet customer needs.
• Delivers sales presentations that emphasize EMV capabilities to key clients in designated population centers across Virginia.
• Reviews market analyses to determine customer needs, price schedules and promotional planning.
• Works with marketing personnel regarding advertising schedules and ad developments related to corporate event business.
• Represents the company at trade association meetings to promote event business. Including attending trade shows and conventions.
• Coordinates and communicates verbally and in writing with customer (internal and external) regarding event details.
• Prepares periodic sales report showing sales volume, weekly sales reports, and market segment tracking report.
• Compiles lists of prospective customers for use as sales leads, based on information from ad inquires, trade shows, direct mail response, business and trade journals, independent research and other sources.
• Conducts pre- and post-event meetings as required to review/communicate group needs and feedback.
• Interfaces with guests and functions as event coordinator to ensure exceptional hospitality and service levels at events.
• Oversees necessary receipts-related procedures; remains vigilant and consistent with winery inventory and accounting procedures; immediately informs of any discrepancies discovered.
• Proactively identifies opportunities/challenges and suggests methods to improve event operations, efficiency and service levels to customers.
• Opens, closes and secures event venue as required.
• Embraces, communicates and champions work procedures and processes that support company and departmental standards, procedures and objectives.

Education and/or Experience:

• A Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years experience are required.
• Candidates with sales, event, food & beverage, and hospitality career experience are encouraged to apply including catering account executives, hotel sales leaders, and destination marketing professionals.
• Basic wine tasting knowledge and familiarity with the wine industry is a plus.

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills; must be comfortable in front of large and small audiences
• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm
• Strong organizational, problem-solving and analytical skills
• Positive role model and ambassador for Early Mountain Vineyards in the wine industry community
• Professional appearance and demeanor

Other Qualifications, Technology, Software:

• Knowledge of CMS platforms
• Ability to learn point of sale (POS) systems specific to the wine and hospitality
• industry Skilled in the use of MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel
• PC/Mac

Physical Demands: Ability to lift up to 35 pounds (e.g. cases of wine)

Work Environment

• Versatility and flexibility (dress clothes for events and sales appointments; business casual clothes for most days)
• Must be able to work schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and some holidays

Transportation: Must have a valid Virginia driver’s license with a clean record and own vehicle

Marketing Associate

Job Location: Madison, VA and +/- 10% travel

Job Category: Communications & Marketing

With digital communications as a core strategy of the business, Early Mountain Vineyards is seeking a dynamic and driven individual that is proficient in marketing, social media and new media strategies. This position will contribute to Early Mountain Vineyards’ brand presence as well as work to engage both consumers and media in the activities of Early Mountain Vineyards and Virginia wine more broadly. This position will report directly to the Marketing Manager.

Essential duties & responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following; other duties may be assigned:

• Serve as primary communications representative on all social media platforms
• Develop and execute strategies for engaging industry influencers
• Both monitor and engage online conversations about Early Mountain Vineyards across Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, blogs, web, etc.
• Monitor wine-focused social networking sites for conversation and engage consumers to encourage interest in Early Mountain and Virginia wine
• Stay abreast of trends in marketing & social media
• Coordinate with the Marketing Manager to keep EMV Event calendars up-to-date
• Work with third party design teams to coordinate printing of all marketing materials & advertisements (e.g. wedding/events ads, brochures, rack cards, event materials and online graphics) to ensure brand messages are consistent
• Familiarize and follow all laws set for farm wineries by the Virginia ABC
• Work with the executive team to prepare and adhere to budgets
• Work with the Communications team to assist in planning and execution of marketing, public relations and branding objectives
• Work with the Events Team to promote on-site events
• Coordinate and provide on-site support with photo and video shoots
• Assist in organizing and staffing media appointments
• Create and distribute monthly marketing reports and summaries
• Event staffing & ability to work weekends as needed

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelors Degree in marketing, communications or a similar field
• 2-3 years experience in marketing, communications and social media
• Past project coordination and/or hospitality experience is a plus
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-starter that can work independently and juggle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Comprehensive understanding of digital media
• Driven with a strong work ethic and ability to complete tasks on deadline
• Passionate with desire for continuous improvement
• Collaborative, team-oriented approach
• Enthusiasm for and interest in learning more about the wine industry & hospitality

Other Qualifications, Technology, Software

• Google and/or Clicky Analytics
• Social media sites for business (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc)
• Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Photoshop (basic knowledge & interest)
• CMS platforms
• Ability to learn point of sale (POS) systems specific to the wine and hospitality industry
• Skilled in the use of MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel
• PC, Mac

Physical Demands: Ability to lift up to 35 pounds (e.g. cases of wine)

Work Environment: Versatility and flexibility (dress clothes for events; business casual clothes for most days)

Transportation: Must have a valid Virginia driver’s license with a clean record and own vehicle

Marketing Manager

Job Location: Madison, VA and +/- 30% travel

Job Category: Communications & Marketing

Early Mountain Vineyards is seeking a dynamic and driven individual that is proficient in branding, marketing, public relations, event execution and strategy development. The Marketing Manager is a core contributor to the Marketing and Communications team, as well as the on-site Events team. This position will report directly to the General Manager. The Marketing Manager will have at least one direct report (Marketing Associate).
Essential duties & responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following; other duties may be assigned:

• Work with the Communications team to plan and execute marketing, public relations and branding objectives
• Analyze market trends and recommend changes to marketing and business development strategies based on analysis and feedback
• Work with the executive team to establish annual revenue goals including wine club membership acquisition and retention, event revenue and expenses
• Ensure EMV branding remains consistent across all platforms
• Oversee public relations initiatives and manage the relationship with our DC-based communications team and DC-based PR firm
• Create promotional initiatives to meet sales goals
• Procure and purchase staff uniforms, swag and EMV branded materials
• Work with the Marketing Coordinator to create any necessary marketing and promotional documents
• Develop wine club communication and wine club event strategies
• Oversee day-to-day wine club operations and quarterly wine club shipments
• Develop acquisition, retention and “win back” strategies
• Assist in wine club sales training of tasting room associates
• Target appropriate events for participation of our EMV Airstream in our key markets (Northern VA, Charlottesville, Richmond)
• Represent Early Mountain alongside other EMV team members at appropriate events within the industry (wine tastings, dinners, festivals, etc.)
• Work with the events team to plan and execute large-scale winery wide events (4xper year) and other targeted on-site events
• Familiarize and follow all laws set for farm wineries by the Virginia ABC
• Ongoing ability to work weekends as needed

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelors Degree in marketing, communications or a similar field
• 5-7 years experience in marketing, public relations, event planning and/or hospitality management
• Proven track record for developing strong client relationships
• Proven ability to meet or exceed forecasted revenue goals

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-starter that can work independently and juggle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Comprehensive understanding of digital media
• Driven with a strong work ethic and ability to complete tasks on deadline
• Passionate with desire for continuous improvement
• Collaborative, team-oriented approach
• Enthusiasm for and interest in learning more about the wine industry & hospitality
• The ability to coordinate internal team members from different departments

Other Qualifications, Technology, Software

• Knowledge of CMS platforms
• Ability to learn point of sale (POS) systems specific to the wine and hospitality industry
• Skilled in the use of MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel
• PC, Mac

Physical Demands: Ability to lift up to 35 pounds (e.g. cases of wine)

Work Environment: Versatility and flexibility (dress clothes for events; business casual clothes for most days)

Transportation: Must have a valid Virginia driver’s license with a clean record and own vehicle