REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Communications Strategy Advisor

OBJECTIVE STATEMENT

The Communications Strategy Advisor will have overall accountability for the management of an

effective and efficient global communications strategy to maximize the value from USSEC’s recent

investment in a CRM Tool and plans to develop a Content Marketing Process. The Communications

Strategy Advisor will work with the USSEC team and hired contractors to growing the opt-in

database, increasing the views for each piece of content, encouraging an expanded reach for each

piece of content, and ultimately demonstrating how this content is aiding in demand growth for U.S.

soy.

BACKGROUND OF PROJECT

USSEC creates and aggregates large amounts of content. The organization is employing a Content

Marketing strategy in order to ensure that this messaging is reaching current and potential

customers of U.S. Soy. With the design and implementation phases completed in FY16, USSEC will

employ a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool intended to implement a Content

Marketing strategy for the organization as well as the supporting Customer Relationship

Management system that will maintain information about key individuals in the world of U.S. soy.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Communications Strategy Advisor will be responsible for accomplishing the following in FY17.

All designed to promote the use and awareness of U.S. soybeans and products globally.

CRM and content agency leadership

Lead content development of over 60 pieces of unique content

Create an Editorial plan that will govern all content distributed in FY17

Bi-weekly updates to USSEC leadership

Monthly reports to CEO about content metrics

Collaboration with Communications Manager to ensure alignment with organization strategy

Consistent communications with key USSEC internal stakeholders about content fit, timing and angle

Create a content development process and implement

Develop and disseminate outreach data to stakeholders

Oversee event integration process and implementation

Create a plan to address native language content opportunities

Lead content production and distribution strategy from 2016 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange event

Lead content collection strategy and efforts at the 2017 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange

event

Achieve substantial increase in subscribers

Develop next steps for FY18 content needs

TIMELINE

This Scope of Work must be completed by September 30, 2017. The selected contractor will

interact with a team of individuals within USSEC who will be the day-to-day Managers of this effort.

Those individuals will include our:

Domestic Communications Manager (U.S. Soy Content and Soy Family Relations)

Marketing Directors

Regional Directors

Event Planner (Event Participation Lists and Consistent Survey Deployment)

Industry and Membership Relationship Manager (Member information)

U.S. SOYBEAN EXPORT COUNCIL BACKGROUND

We are a dynamic partnership of key stakeholders representing soybean producers, commodity

shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses and agricultural organizations. Through a global

network of international offices and strong support in the U.S., we help build a preference for U.S.

soybeans and soybean products, advocate for the use of soy in feed, aquaculture and human

consumption, promote the benefits of soy use through education and connect industry leaders

through a robust membership program.

USSEC, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, was created in 2005, manages and implements the

United Soybean Board’s (USB) international marketing and global opportunities programs and is

headquartered in St. Louis at 16305 Swingley Ridge Road, Suite 200, Chesterfield, MO 63017-0006.

The international marketing program has country/regional directors in seven foreign offices managing a network of international consultants for the majority of the promotion and marketing

work implemented. USSEC uses USB checkoff dollars and United States Department of Agriculture’s

Foreign Agricultural Service’s (USDA/FAS) dollars to fund its activities.

USSEC has a website, www.ussec.org

REQUIRED INFORMATION

Background information about your firm:

o How long in existence

o Major emphasis of services provided

o Number of staff

o Number of staff expected to work on USSEC contract and staff bios

o Number and size of client organizations

o Firm’s experience in providing similar services to companies in the not-for-profit

sector

Standard billing rate and estimated hours to be spent on the project (daily/hourly)

Out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed at cost with no mark up. Please provide an estimate by category.

Names and contact information for clients that could be used as references

Information about your firm’s unique capabilities, to ensure that the selection of your firm is the best decision we could make.

Experience working with Hubspot

Experience with social media advertising

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

All submitted proposals will be reviewed by USSEC Management. Firm may be asked to clarify their

proposal, if necessary, via a conference call with USSEC Management. The successful Firm will be

selected by October 21, 2016.

In order to submit a proposal to USSEC, Firms should be registered on the United Soybean Board’s

Contractor website. This link can be found on the internet at www.unitedsoybean.org, click tab

“USB Internal,” click tab to left “FOR Contractors.” Click “Here.”

INSTRUCTIONS

Please submit proposal to Lisa Humphreys at lhumphreys@ussec.org by October 21, 2016.