Strategic Communications Consultant - Office of Strategic Initiatives

Hiring Department Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSIN) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). Job Description The Visual Communications & Design Consultant is a hands-on creative professional responsible for producing high-quality visual and digital communications that supports the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Critical Materials Crossroads (CMC) Engine and the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI). The position is primarily focused on visual campaign development, including PowerPoint presentation design, graphic design, website development and maintenance, and social media content creation. The individual will take provided content, concepts, data, and direction and turn them into polished, professional materials appropriate for internal and external audiences. This position requires strong print and digital production skills, attention to detail, creativity, responsiveness, and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving quickly from request to execution, developing materials independently, incorporating feedback, and delivering finished products that meet university and project standards. ROLES Presentation DesignerGraphic Designer & Visual Content CreatorWebsite Developer & Content ManagerSocial Media Content CreatorDigital Asset & Brand Coordinator Responsibilities Presentation Design & ProductionResponsible for creating, formatting, and improving professional PowerPoint presentations for research, programmatic, executive, stakeholder, and external audiencesGraphic Design, Visual Content & Campaign DevelopmentResponsible for producing graphics, diagrams, infographics, charts, figures, and other visual materials that clearly communicate technical, research, and programmatic information for Critical Materials Crossroads engineering, finance, business, workforce, research and development, and operations teams. Campaign development to encompass multi-channel strategies that include both print and digital outreach from form building and email campaigns to event collateral and channel tracking and maintenanceWebsite Development & MaintenanceResponsible for developing, updating, and maintaining CMC and OSI website pages and digital content to ensure information is current, visually engaging, functional, accessible, and aligned with university standards.Social Media Content DevelopmentResponsible for creating visual and written content for CMC social media channels that highlights programs, research, events, accomplishments, opportunities, and other organizational activities.Brand & Digital Asset ManagementResponsible for consistently applying CMC, NSF, and university branding and maintaining organized templates, graphics, photographs, presentations, and other digital assets.Security & ComplianceResponsible for appropriately handling project information, research materials, photographs, digital assets, and other content in accordance with university requirements.Other Duties as RequiredProvides additional graphic design, presentation, marketing, conference and events, web, social media, and communications production support as organizational needs evolve. DUTIES PowerPoint & Presentation DesignCreate polished PowerPoint presentations from outlines, written content, existing presentations, data, and other source materialsDevelop presentation templates, slide layouts, graphics, diagrams, and visual storytelling elementsRedesign and improve existing presentations for clarity, consistency, readability, and visual impactTranslate complex information into clear visual formats appropriate for technical and nontechnical audiencesCreate charts, process diagrams, timelines, roadmaps, organizational graphics, and other presentation visualsEnsure presentations consistently follow applicable brand and formatting standardsPrepare presentation materials for meetings, conferences, proposals, stakeholder briefings, and other eventsMake timely revisions based on stakeholder feedbackGraphic Design & Visual ContentDesign graphics, infographics, diagrams, figures, posters, one-pagers, flyers, signage, reports, and other communications materialsCreate visual assets for proposals, websites, presentations, social media, events, and external communicationsImprove researcher- or staff-developed graphics so they are visually consistent and presentation-readyDevelop reusable templates and design elements to improve efficiency and consistency.Resize and adapt graphics for multiple digital and print formatsPrepare production-ready files for digital distribution and printingWebsite Development & MaintenanceDevelop and update website pages using approved university platforms and toolsMaintain current website content, graphics, photographs, links, documents, and other digital assetsCreate new webpages and page layouts as program needs evolveFormat web content for readability, usability, and visual consistencySupport improvements to website navigation and user experienceCoordinate website updates, corrections, announcements, events, and other time-sensitive contentEnsure website content meets applicable accessibility and university requirementsPerform routine quality checks to identify outdated content, broken links, formatting issues, and other needed updatesCoordinate with university technical teams when changes require additional system or administrative supportSocial Media & Digital ContentCreate social media graphics, posts, announcements, event promotions, researcher highlights, project updates, and other digital contentDevelop content from information provided by program staff, researchers, leadership, and other stakeholdersAdapt content and graphics for different social media platformsMaintain a consistent visual identity across social media channelsSchedule and publish approved social media contentMaintain a social media content calendar aligned with program activities, events, announcements, and milestonesMonitor basic engagement metrics and use results to inform future contentMaintain organized files of approved photographs, graphics, captions, and other reusable social media assetsProject & Asset ManagementManage multiple concurrent design and communications requestsTrack assigned projects, deadlines, revisions, approvals, and final deliverablesMaintain organized source files and final production filesMaintain presentation, graphic, website, and social media templatesCreate, maintain, and update data collection forms embedded in websites or Emma emails for conferences and eventsArchive completed materials so they can be easily located and reusedCoordinate with stakeholders to obtain necessary content, data, photographs, logos, approvals, and other inputsCommunicate proactively when information or approvals are needed to meet a deadline EXPECTATIONS The Visual Communications & Digital Design Consultant is expected to: Be a hands-on producer. The position is expected to personally create, edit, and deliver presentations, graphics, webpages, social media content, and related materialsWork efficiently from direction and source materials. The individual should be able to receive an objective, content, data, or rough concept and develop a polished product without requiring extensive direction at every stageProduce professional, accurate work. Materials should be visually polished, consistent, proofread, and ready for their intended audienceMeet deadlines. The position must be comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment where priorities may change quickly, particularly around proposals, events, announcements, presentations, and external communicationsManage multiple requests simultaneously. The individual should maintain an organized workflow and communicate clearly regarding deadlines, competing priorities, and required inputsBe responsive to feedback. The individual should incorporate edits efficiently and work through revisions until materials are approvedMaintain brand consistency. All materials should appropriately follow university, program, sponsor, and other applicable branding requirementsUse AI and emerging design tools appropriately. AI-assisted tools may be used to improve productivity and creative development when appropriate, while maintaining accuracy, originality, confidentiality, and compliance with university requirementsMaintain organized digital assets. Working files, final products, templates, photographs, graphics, and other assets should be maintained in an organized and reusable mannerProtect sensitive information. Research, proposal, institutional, and other nonpublic information must be handled appropriately NOTE: This position is grant funded and contingent on continued grant funding. Minimum Qualifications A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance. Preferred Qualifications STRONGLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Digital Media, Web Design, Communications, Marketing, or a related fieldDemonstrated professional experience in graphic design and digital content productionStrong portfolio demonstrating presentation design, graphic design, and digital communications capabilitiesAdvanced proficiency with Microsoft PowerPointMastery of the Adobe Creative SuiteExperience creating graphics, diagrams, infographics, and other visual communicationsExperience developing or maintaining websites using a content management systemMastery of WordPress to support website development and troubleshootingExperience developing content for social media and digital communicationsStrong attention to detail, organization, and file managementAbility to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines Preferred Qualifications Experience developing executive, technical, research, or proposal presentationsExperience creating visual communications for scientific, engineering, financial and business, research, or technology-focused audiencesAdvanced PowerPoint design and data visualization skillsExperience with website content management systems and front-end web designExperience managing organizational social media accounts and content calendarsExperience with social media scheduling and analytics toolsExperience with photography, video editing, animation, or motion graphicsFamiliarity with AI-assisted design and content-development toolsUnderstanding of ADA, Section 508, and WCAG accessibility requirementsExperience developing reusable templates, brand systems, and asset management systemsExperience working in a university, research, government, nonprofit, or similarly complex organization Anticipated Hiring Range The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $53,973 - $69,576 annually. Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements. Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. Grade: GGS 9E University Title: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT To review the University of Missouri’s Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR. Application Deadline Job posting will remain open until filled. Sponsorship Information Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Benefit Eligibility This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement Equal Employment Opportunity The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.