📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Content Marketing Specialist (Hybrid)
🔹 Company: Barr Engineering Co.
🔹 Location: Minneapolis, MN (Hybrid)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing & Communications
🔹 Date Posted: May 2, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Minneapolis or Duluth, MN)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing engaging technical content to highlight Barr's expertise and impact
- Collaborating with engineers, scientists, and technical staff to create project examples
- Managing content-marketing plans based on business priorities
- Improving content development processes through AI and other technologies
- Creating content for various mediums, including thought-leadership articles, social media posts, videos, and internal/external news articles
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong background in technical or science writing, or experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) services sector due to the complex, highly technical nature of Barr's work.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Drafting and editing project examples for barr.com
✅ Coordinating and tracking project example development across the company
✅ Driving process improvements for content development, including through AI
✅ Writing and editing engaging content in a range of formats to support Barr’s content-marketing goals
✅ Maintaining a consistent voice and tone that aligns with Barr’s brand and editorial standards
✅ Collaborating with colleagues to identify priority content needs and develop plans to meet them
✅ Drafting content for publication on barr.com
✅ Learning Barr’s content management system (CMS) to publish finalized materials on barr.com
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of support and lead roles on projects, which is typical within Barr’s collaborative Communications team.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in English, communications, marketing, or a related field
Experience: Five years of related experience writing persuasive content that incorporates technical or complex information
Required Skills:
- Ability to communicate highly technical topics to general audiences
- Superb written communication, editing, proofreading, and interviewing skills
- Attentiveness to details and deadlines
- Strong organizational and project-management skills
- Ability to learn and manage technology solutions that improve efficiency
- Advanced ability to serve as a strategic communications advisor and lead through influence
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Proficiency with MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel software
- Legal authorization to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship from Barr, now or in the future
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in technical, scientific, or AEC writing
- Technical editing experience
- Digital marketing experience
- Experience working in content management systems (e.g., WordPress)
- Experience with Microsoft Office 365 platforms, including SharePoint and Microsoft Teams, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, such as Deltek Vantagepoint
- Knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Prezi, and/or MS Project software
- Advanced document-design and graphic-design skills
- Photography experience
ASSUMPTION: While a Bachelor's degree is required, relevant experience and a strong portfolio may be considered in lieu of a degree for exceptional candidates.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $67,000 - $78,000/year
Benefits:
- Professional development funding
- 401(k) retirement savings plan
- Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) participation
- Cash bonus
- Medical and dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Disability and accidental death insurance
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
- Paid holidays
- Paid time off
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Content Marketing Specialist role with 5-10 years of experience in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Professional Services (Engineering & Environmental Consulting)
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees
Founded: 1966
Company Description:
- Barr provides engineering and environmental consulting services to clients across the Midwest, throughout the Americas, and around the world.
- Employee-owned since 1966, Barr traces its origins to the early 1900s.
- Barr’s project teams work with clients in various industries and organizations, with project sites ranging from mines in South America to wind-power farms in South Dakota.
Company Specialties:
- Engineering and design of structures and processes
- Environmental management and compliance assistance
- Water resources management assistance
- Assessment and remediation of contaminated sites
Company Website: www.barr.com
ASSUMPTION: Barr's extensive experience and employee-ownership structure contribute to a strong company culture focused on employee growth and success.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to Senior
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Communications Manager
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (Minneapolis or Duluth, MN) - 2-3 days per week in the office
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to take on more responsibility and lead projects as experience grows
- Opportunities to work on diverse projects across various industries
- Access to professional development funding and training opportunities
ASSUMPTION: This role offers ample opportunities for career growth and development within Barr's Communications team and the broader organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern, collaborative office spaces in Minneapolis and Duluth, MN
Office Location(s): 4300 MarketPointe Drive, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55435 and 325 South Lake Avenue, Suite 700, Duluth, MN 55802
Geographic Context:
- Minneapolis and Duluth are both located in Minnesota, with Minneapolis being the largest city in the state and a major hub for the Midwest's engineering and technology industries.
- Both cities offer a mix of urban and outdoor living, with easy access to parks, lakes, and cultural attractions.
- Minnesota has a four-season climate, with cold winters and warm summers.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (with flexibility for hybrid work arrangement)
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for a better work-life balance while still fostering collaboration and team-building within the Communications team.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the Communications Manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the Communications Manager and other team members
- Final interview with the Director of Communications
Key Assessment Areas:
- Writing and editing skills
- Project management and organizational skills
- Ability to communicate complex technical information to general audiences
- Cultural fit and alignment with Barr's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Provide examples of your technical writing or editing work, if available
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with content management systems and AI-driven content development
ATS Keywords: Technical Writing, Content Marketing, Project Examples, AI, Collaboration, Communications, Editing, Project Management
ASSUMPTION: Barr's hiring process is designed to assess candidates' skills and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best match for both the candidate and the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress)
- AI-driven content development tools (e.g., Copy.ai, Frase.io)
- Graphic design software (e.g., InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)
- Video production and editing software (e.g., iMovie, Adobe Premiere Pro)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies used may evolve over time as Barr continues to invest in and adopt new technologies to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Integrity
- Expertise
- Collaboration
- Innovation
- Sustainability
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and open to new ideas
- Results-driven and focused on continuous improvement
- Committed to professional development and growth
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you ensure that your writing maintains a consistent voice and tone that aligns with Barr's brand and editorial standards?
- How do you approach learning and managing new technology solutions to improve efficiency in content development?
- How do you balance working independently and collaboratively to meet project deadlines and goals?
ASSUMPTION: Barr values candidates who demonstrate a strong cultural fit with the company's values and work style, as well as a commitment to professional development and growth.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Balancing the need for technical accuracy with the need for engaging, accessible content
- Adapting to a hybrid work arrangement and maintaining effective communication with remote team members
- Keeping up with industry trends and best practices in content marketing and AI-driven content development
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong project management skills, effective communication, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Content Marketing Specialist vs. Technical Writer: Content Marketing Specialists focus more on strategic planning, branding, and audience engagement, while Technical Writers focus on creating clear, concise, and accurate documentation for specific audiences.
- Industry-specific context: Barr's role requires a strong understanding of the engineering and environmental consulting industry, as well as the ability to communicate complex technical information to general audiences.
- Career path comparison: This role offers opportunities for career growth and development within Barr's Communications team and the broader organization, with potential paths including senior content marketing roles, management positions, or specialized technical writing roles.
ASSUMPTION: While this role shares similarities with other content marketing and technical writing positions, its unique focus on the engineering and environmental consulting industry and Barr's specific content needs set it apart.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a series of project examples highlighting Barr's expertise in environmental remediation for barr.com
- Creating a thought-leadership article on the role of AI in content marketing for the engineering and environmental consulting industry
- Producing a video series showcasing Barr's work on a major infrastructure project, including interviews with project team members and stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of content marketing tasks and responsibilities for this role, as well as the opportunity to work on diverse and impactful projects.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader Communications team and Barr's organization as a whole?
- What are the most pressing content marketing priorities for Barr in the next 6-12 months, and how will this role contribute to addressing them?
- How does Barr support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly within the Communications team?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured?
- How does Barr's hybrid work arrangement support work-life balance and collaboration among team members?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the organization, as well as assess the fit between their skills, experiences, and career goals.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role, with a focus on technical writing, editing, and project management
- Prepare examples of your technical writing or editing work, if available, to showcase your skills and abilities
- Be ready to discuss your experience with content management systems and AI-driven content development during the interview process
- Follow up with the Communications Manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
