Communications Specialist

Pay

The annual salary for this position ranges from $45,400 to $62,600. The final offer will be commensurate with the candidate’s relevant experience and qualifications.

About the role

Provides a broad range of communication support for the School of Social Work (SSW) by documenting student, faculty, alumni, and staff achievements through writing news stories and press releases, as well as editing and designing newsletters, the annual magazine, and other publications including fliers, brochures, pamphlets, and information booklets. Develops print content that directly supports student recruitment, retention, and graduation, institutional advancement, community outreach, alumni initiatives, reputation management, marketing, admissions, special events, and other functions.

Responsibilities

• Write news stories, news releases, and feature stories about the achievements, research, activities, events, and other initiatives of students, faculty, alumni, and staff.
• Develop ideas and write and edit news and feature stories following Associated Press Stylebook writing guidelines and industry journalistic reporting standards.
• Serve as the project lead and editor for SSW’s annual magazine, e-newsletter, and annual research and doctoral publications.
• Develop, create, design, and publish e-newsletters, flyers, brochures, pamphlets, advertising placements, and hard copy annual report publications/magazines, along with other materials for the school.
• Ensure SSW publications are designed, published, and distributed on time.
• Serve as the primary project lead in reviewing and editing, developing written descriptive content for the SSW website; write clear and concise content for the SSW webpages; ensure that the content on the SSW website is free from grammatical errors and misinformation; regularly monitor and update written and imagery content for the SSW Web Developer/Web Software Specialist for the school’s website.
• Assist the SSW marketing team in writing and creating engaging content for social media platforms, including taking and posting photos, videos, and other multimedia content.
• Write speeches, talking points, statements, and other remarks for deans and senior leaders.
• Collaborate with SSW leadership, University Institutional Advancement, University Communications/Media Relations, alumni, and others to enhance SSW's community outreach, engagement, and reputation; keep the SSW Media Toolkit updated.
• Assist the communications manager and assistant dean with media training for faculty, staff, and students; identify and collaborate with University Communications to connect faculty with various media outlets, journalists, professional publications, and social work-related blogs for interviews.
• Monitor media and news coverage of the SSW and social work-related issues, providing regular reports and updates to the supervisor.
• Support media relations operations, crisis communications, planning, and both internal and external communications.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in print journalism, digital journalism, communication, public relations, or a related field, and two (2) years of experience in public relations, communication, writing/editing, or a related field, or six (6) years of an equivalent combination for education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using email-marketing software, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro and audio/visual editing equipment and software.
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others to effectively complete communication and marketing projects on time.
• Experience as an editor, co-editor, publisher and writer for a publication, journal or periodical.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience in a higher education environment and interpreting complex academic research to write engaging news and feature stories.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of journalistic writing, editing, reporting, AP Style, communications, public relations, media relations, marketing, and reputation management practices.
• Ability to write, edit, and develop clear, accurate, and engaging news stories, feature articles, press releases, speeches, talking points, and other communications materials.
• Ability to create and manage content for websites, blogs, e-newsletters, magazines, social media, and other digital or print communication channels.
• Proficiency with desktop publishing, graphic design, email marketing, video editing, photo editing, web-based communication tools, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize work, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational, analytical, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and judgment skills.
• Ability to support media inquiries, media relations, media training, crisis communications, and internal and external communications.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, leadership, and external partners while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and responsiveness.

Schedule

Monday through Friday; 8:00 am through 5:00 pm. Requires occasional evening or weekend hours.

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• Position may be designated security-sensitive based on job duties or location.

Benefits

Position is benefit eligible. A comprehensive benefits package is offered.