Communications Coordinator

Position Overview

The Communications Coordinator will serve as the key communicator in efforts to boost the exposure of programs and recruitment activities. The successful candidate will attend key events on KU’s local campuses, prepare written and social media marketing materials, oversee video production, assist with recruitment efforts, oversee websites and social media activity, supervise student employees, and assist with the strategic and tactical decisions around marketing and recruitment. The Communications Coordinator will need to be an excellent written and oral communicator as well as have the ability to work with a variety of constituents.

Job Description

• Create news releases and other materials to promote personnel and events in the School.
• Provide an annual report on individual awards, research publication/achievements and School accomplishments.
• Maintain School's website and social media channels; monitoring and updating content regularly to ensure accurate and current information.
• Keep up to date on communication and website trends and technology, maintaining an effective and continuously improving digital footprint for the School.
• Develop and analyze admission materials, recruitment brochures and other communication pieces for academic programs within Journalism and Mass Communications.
• Parentheting with Dean’s office, Concentration Chairs, Faculty and Staff to implement communications plans.
• Acts as subject matter expert on communication/marketing strategies and technologies for School Leaders, Faculty, and Staff, maintaining adherence and leveraging KU branding.
• Collaborate with other KU schools and units as well as external partners of the School; this could include the Office of Public Affairs, KU News, KU Information Technology, KU Endowment Association and KU Alumni Association to implement university-wide public relations, acting as a liaison and representative for the School of Journalism.
• Create and place local and national advertisements, including AEJMC program ads, JEA/NSPA recruiting ads, specialty trade magazine ads, and others in coordination with HR Partner and Administration staff in the School.
• Create and edit visual content, including photographs and graphics, for a variety of outlets.
• Produce and distribute weekly Monday Memo e-newsletter.
• Manage public image areas, including display cases, photo exhibits, ticker, and building signage.
• Handle general e-mail (jschool@ku.edu).
• Cookordinate Fall Scholarship and Alumni Event and special events such as the May graduation ceremony, annual student awards ceremony, and other special events.
• Assist with annual William Allen White Day preparations.
• Produce written materials and social media information as needed for events.
• Cookordinate special events, including special visitors and guest speakers.
• Cookordinate promotional item design and production for school.
• Give tours of school to alumni and visiting professionals.
• Recruit and supervise student employees/interns, coordinating efforts for School tasks, projects, and coverage for events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, communications or related field.
• Three (3) years professional experience in journalism, marketing communications, or public relations.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, multitask, and be self-driven as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years' experience in professional news media experience.
• 7 years' experience in marketing communications/public relations.
• Experience in KU or a higher education communications setting.
• Video shooting and editing experience.
• Project management experience.
• Experience writing, editing and designing/producing online and print publications, including taking, evaluating and processing photographs.
• Experience managing social media channels.
• Experience using Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience working with managing websites.

Additional Candidate Instructions

• A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met.
• Resume or curriculum vitae.
• Contact information for three professional references (including at least one previous or current supervisor).

Contact Information to Applicants

wolgast@ku.edu