Strategic Communications Consultant, UMKC Institute for Human Development

Job Duties

• Communications Project Support: Provides support to communications project manager supporting specific groups within UMKC’s Institute for Human Development.
• Develops and implements communication strategies for key projects and is instrumental in executing identified communications strategies to ensure they adhere to UMKC and IHD branding standards.
• Communications Expert: Translate complex information into understandable messages according to accessible design, plain language and communications best practices for digital and print communications to keep internal and external audiences engaged, increase awareness and build and maintain the reputation of key projects and assigned areas within IHD among target audiences.
• Content Creation: Write, design, and edit communications materials based on target audiences and select communications channels.
• Develop and manage direct email campaigns, newsletters, public-facing materials that communicate the activities, products and/or services of key projects within IHD.
• Website and Social Media Management: Develop a quarterly social media calendar and manage/update key websites posting content regularly to social media channels and websites on key projects, achievements, and other updates. This includes SEO optimization. Must ensure all communications are accessible and meet WCAG standards.
• Communication Collaboration: Collaborate with communication project leads and program directors to develop and execute communications needs for various projects including PowerPoint presentations, briefing sheets, talking points, and other promotional/instructional communications.
• Project Reporting: Prepare accurate reports using data from the research and communications activities, including quarterly reports on social media and website engagement, and convey these findings in a comprehensible way to sponsors and UMKC-IHD leadership.

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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) or comparable certification from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
• Mature communications consulting skills developed through agency or related experiences
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Basic design skills including work with InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Canva and other design software
• Experience working with digital media, including WordPress, Elementor, Divi, Avada, SharePoint and social media