Communications Strategist

About the Role

Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers. The College of Science and Mathematics provides students with strong foundations in the sciences as well as preparation for careers, citizenship, and a life-long love of learning. We are committed to providing experiences promoting scientific inquiry and discovery and dedicated to creating opportunities for intellectual growth and community involvement.

The Communications Strategist will plan and coordinate communications in multiple media formats to ensure the internal and external face of the College of Science and Mathematics adheres to the highest standards of communication. This position supports all five Strategic Priorities of the university’s Creating a Legacy Like No Other Strategic Plan: Learning, Discovery, Student Success, Community, and Stewardship. The role involves working closely with the Provost’s Academic Communications Director, AU Communications and Marketing, and CSM leadership to maintain a positive public image, promote college and department programs, and publicize student and faculty achievements in alignment with university standards.

Responsibilities

• Communications and Marketing Strategy and Planning: Maintain situational awareness of the College's priorities by attending college and departmental meetings and events. Exercise professional judgment in planning strategies to develop and carry out communications and marketing initiatives to promote the College's programs, student and faculty achievements, etc. Present strategies to the Dean and leadership team.
• Content Development and Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for subject matter experts (department chairs, faculty, deans) to capture, draft, produce, and edit information for various communications outlets (e.g., college/university websites, Jagwire, college newsletter, department webpages, social media). Coordinate and implement communication and marketing meetings. Develop and execute external and internal communications to promote and enhance the profile of the College of Science and Mathematics.
• Photography and Videography: Create, coordinate, and select photography and videography for print and electronic communications. Maintain effective working relationships with communications specialists, editors, graphic designers, photographers, and videographers. Build a library of digital content, testimonials, and written content to support marketing and promotional needs.
• Web Management: Serve as the College’s web publisher, assisting in generating and publishing image, video, and written content to maintain fresh, engaging, and informative web pages and digital billboards. Utilize tools provided by DCM to update content, conduct regular reviews for accuracy, and ensure web governance standards are met.
• Newsletter: Utilize templates provided by DCM to create print and digital issues of the College newsletter by aggregating content from various sources. Use tools like Poppulo, Mailchimp, and listservs to electronically distribute newsletters and other communications. Meet content deadlines based on production schedules.
• Social Media Management: Receive and edit content from subject matter experts for publication via social media. Curate content for social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat) to meet regular posting standards. Utilize tools provided by DCM to update social media content.
• Event Management: Provide assistance in planning, organizing, and carrying out ceremonial and other college events throughout the year. Generate content to advertise and market events and provide post-event coverage to appropriate constituencies.
• Other Duties: Perform additional duties as assigned by the Dean.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and a minimum of three years of direct related communication/marketing experience.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work confidentially, independently, and exercise sound judgment with a high degree of professionalism.
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated excellence in writing for publication, marketing and branding, web design, and maintenance.
• Experience in newsletter/magazine production.
• Skills in photography, videography, and visual design.
• Experience in customer service, visual design, marketing, web design, event planning, and project management.

Skills

• Software Proficiency: PowerPoint, Poppulo, Carousel, Camtasia, newsletter formatting tools, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, PremierePro), Acrobat Pro.
• Web and Social Media: Proficiency with basic web editing/publishing tasks and common social media platforms.
• Technical Knowledge: Working knowledge of databases, operating systems, and spreadsheets.
• Design and Creativity: Creativity, branding, visual design sense, understanding of UX, print design, familiarity with design software, HTML, CSS (cascading style sheets), typography.
• Soft Skills: Superior customer service and project management skills.

Pay

Pay Band: B10

Salary Range: $52,500/annually - $54,080/annually. Salary to be commensurate with qualifications of the selected candidate within the established range (generally minimum-midpoint).

Schedule

Days/Monday-Friday (work outside of normal business hours will likely be required for an exempt-level position).

Benefits

Augusta University offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some half-time (or more) employees, including:

• Health insurance, dental insurance, and life insurance.
• Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan).
• Earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays.
• Tuition Assistance Program for full-time employees employed successfully for more than 6 months.