Communications Manager II

Position Summary

The successful candidate serves as a central function in translating the Broad Colleges strategic priorities into clear, consistent, and high-impact communications. This position ensures alignment across academic units, advancement, and university communications while driving visibility, reputation, and engagement with key audiences.

This role is a strategic communications function that connects institutional priorities to measurable outcomes, including student engagement, enrollment positioning, research visibility, and donor impact. This includes but is not limited to supporting and developing the colleges content management and communication platforms.

Content Creation/Ideation

• Plans/ writes new content strategies and campaigns, leading them from ideation to publication within the college's owned channels (newsroom, newsletters and social media), the university's owned channels, as well as earned and paid channels in external media outlets.
• Translate keyword research, search intent analysis, and SEO insights into compelling, conversion focused content that increases visibility across search channels.

Public Relations Responsibilities

• Directs public relations efforts for college, plans and implements public relations budget and establishes policies and procedures related to the daily operation of public relations strategy.
• Advises other units on media and public relations issues and designs and presents workshops on news writing, radio usage, newsletters, and marketing strategies.

Support Responsibilities

• Pans, creates, photographs, edits, records or drafts releases and feature materials for media and publications in order to inform the public and University of issues and events.
• Develops specialized communications plans for other units as requested.

Liaison Responsibilities

• Serve as college liaison for MSU University Communications, University Advancement and MSU Alumni Office to collaborate on external media relations and university communication initiatives.
• Foster new relationships and partnerships to enhance collaboration and cross-promotion efforts.

Supervisor Responsibilities

• Works with other support staff in the unit, when formal supervision is assigned to the position, in addition to supervising students.

Minimum Requirements

• Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Journalism, Telecommunications, Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations, or related field;
• Three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in public and media relations; composing, editing and publication production; news, broadcasting, and print media; and/or marketing, advertising, and creative services;
• Graphic design; word processing; desktop publishing; web design; presentation; spreadsheet and/or database software; public presentation or radio production; or computer programming/technology;
• May require management and supervisory experience;
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with and excellence in: social media channels such as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook; social media management tools such as Sprinklr; content management systems such as WordPress; copyediting and proofreading, with knowledge of AP style; and project management software such as Asana.
• Evidence of a commitment to ongoing learning of social media trends and current best practices, with a curiosity to try new things and bring fresh ideas to the table.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with individuals and groups in a diverse environment as well as strong oral, written and digital communication skills; passionate attention to detail; and an ability to lead projects from idea to completion.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.