Content and Media Strategist

Full Job Description

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) is seeking a creative, strategic, and results-driven Content and Media Strategist to elevate Iowa’s brand and showcase all our state has to offer.

In this senior-level role, you’ll lead content and media strategy for IEDA’s tourism, talent attraction efforts, and business attraction efforts—crafting compelling stories that inspire people to visit, live, work and do business in Iowa.

About Us

The Iowa Economic Development Authority is dedicated to making Iowa the choice for people and business by building partnerships, leveraging resources, and strengthening economic and community vitality.

IEDA administers several state and federal programs focused on business and community development to reach its goals of assisting individuals, communities, and businesses.

Whether it is an enterprise or start up, a rural community seeking to preserve its history and highlight its arts and culture, or a community recovering from a disaster, IEDA creates opportunities for Iowans to thrive.

About this Opportunity

The Tourism team plays a vital role in attracting visitors, showcasing Iowa’s unique destinations, and encouraging new residents to discover their future here. As our Content and Media Strategist, you will:

• Develop and implement content strategies that promote Iowa as a top destination for travel, living, and business.
• Oversee editorial planning and content creation across all channels—social media, websites, email newsletters, and print publications.
• Lead ideation sessions and collaborate with internal teams and external partners to produce engaging multimedia stories.
• Build and manage proactive media relations to promote Iowa’s assets.
• Serve as IEDA’s spokesperson for tourism, responding to media and stakeholder inquiries.
• Analyze content performance, optimize distribution, and maintain editorial calendars.
• Travel throughout Iowa and nationally to support marketing efforts and build relationships with stakeholders.

What We Offer

• Impactful Work: Play a key role in shaping Iowa’s image and attracting new visitors, talent, and investment.
• Professional Growth: Opportunities for attending conferences and workshops to promote programs and learn about their impact.
• Collaborative Environment: Work with a passionate team of professionals dedicated to making a difference and helping Iowa grow.

Ideal candidates will have:

• Proven experience in content strategy, media relations, or marketing—preferably in tourism, economic development, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills across multiple platforms.
• Strong project management and collaboration abilities.

• Dedication to uphold our Core Values:

Accountability in Action - We take pride in our work and results.

Innovate Together - We thrive on solving challenges through dynamic collaboration with our teams and partners.
Mission Driven - We place Iowans at the heart of everything we do.

New to the area or looking to relocate to Iowa? Visit ThisIsIowa.com to see how Iowa offers something for everyone- competitively low cost of living, bustling cities and neighborhoods, access to entertainment, opportunities for career growth and unrivaled access to outdoor adventures.

As an employee of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, you are a State of Iowa employee, and you are eligible to enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid Time Off: Enjoy vacation with accruals that rollover on a yearly basis, sick leave with no limits on accrual and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Great Benefits: Excellent Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance options.
• Retirement Plan: IPERS Retirement package and an option for a deferred compensation plan.
• Flexibility: Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care).
• Life Insurance: Free Life Insurance.
• Support: Employee Assistance Programs and Employee Discount Programs.

The Content and Media Strategist position is a non-merit, non-contract position that is classified by the State of Iowa as an Economic Development Specialist 3 and is exempt per FLSA regulations.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority is an EEO/AA Employer

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States.

The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization.

For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

This is a non-merit position. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section. Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification: 

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in research, planning, economics, public relations, business, corporate finance, journalism or marketing, and experience equal to four years of full-time work in interpreting laws, rules and regulations, and/or securing compliance with them; or compiling and evaluating statistical, historical, economic, business, financial, or technical related program data. 

2) A total of eight years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Additional Information

Travel, including overnight travel, may be required for positions in this class. Employees must arrange transportation to and from assigned work areas.