Communications Manager

About the role

As a member of the central Student Affairs communications and advancement team, you will lead high-level messaging and storytelling to convey the impact of student experiences outside the classroom and how these add value in pursuit of a college degree. The communications manager will spend most days writing, storytelling, editing, planning communications, and managing media or issues-related needs.

Responsibilities

• Developing executive remarks, talking points, and presentations
• Authoring stories that illustrate the value of Student Affairs as part of the student experience
• Managing media relations, including executive leader preparedness; responses to student, local, and national media; and preparing occasional news releases
• Assisting with crisis and issues-related communications
• Planning, writing, and editing content for the monthly Student Affairs newsletter
• Developing communication plans and strategies associated with Student Affairs initiatives
• Maintaining an archive of remarks, presentations, and points on key issues
• Editing communication materials and messaging
• Supervising one student employee (to be recruited after hiring)
• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures
• Manages the day-to-day operational unit plans to align with strategic initiatives and to meet established objectives
• Develops, implements, and delivers communication materials through various mediums to designated audiences
• Plans and directs unit programs and/or projects to ensure adherence to deadlines and budgets

Qualifications

Required:

• Experience authoring executive-level messaging, scripts, and/or formal remarks
• Experience with public and/or media relations
• Experience with communication planning and execution
• Ability to humanize initiatives with compelling narratives
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to prioritize tasks and perform effectively under tight deadlines
• Superior editing skills with a sharp eye for accuracy, tone, and brand consistency
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional-level experience

Preferred:

• Ability to exercise high discretion and sound judgment when interacting with executive and senior institutional leaders
• Demonstrated experience using plain language principles to translate complex or technical information for general audiences
• Familiarity with current public institution issues, trends, and governance in higher education
• A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience that includes executive messaging, media/public relations, strategic storytelling, and communications planning

Compensation

The starting salary range for this position is $72,500 up to $84,000 for highly experienced candidates. Actual pay within this range will depend on experience and qualifications.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off
• Competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance
• Tax-advantaged savings accounts
• Participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund