With Who: University Marketing and Communications (Utah State University)
Location: Logan, UT
Type of Employment: Full-Time
Position Description: The Assistant Director for Strategic Communications under UMAC is responsible for crafting written communications used to support University communications goals and initiatives.
The Assistant Director for Strategic Communications under UMAC works closely with campus partners to ensure consistent messaging to students, employees, parents, and the public on key issues, including safety, sexual misconduct, diversity and inclusion, discrimination and bias, free speech, and mental health. The Assistant Director assists with crisis communications and is responsible for crafting written communications used to support university communications goals and initiatives, including talking points, content for social media and web, video scripts, and news releases, among others.
The Assistant Director reports to the Association Vice President for Strategic Communications. This classification may train and guide student employees or interns.
Responsibilities:
This position supports the University’s goals and objectives by:
- Developing talking points for University leadership to assist with media interviews and internal and external communications.
- Assisting with crisis communications, including content for web and social media.
- This position works with the Director of Emergency Management as needed to provide emergency notifications, safety alerts, and timely warnings.
- Assisting with communications projects for Public Safety, the Office of Equity, SAAVI, and others as needed.
- Working closely with other staff in UMAC and across campus to create consistent messaging about critical issues, including mental health, safety and security, diversity and inclusion, discrimination and bias, free speech, and sexual misconduct.
- Writing print and electronic communications, including news releases, social media, brochures, web articles, or newsletters.
- Establishing relationships with key University stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and students.
- Championing the University’s diversity and inclusion goals and integrating inclusive practices into all work.
- Serving as University spokesperson as need.
- Performing miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Understanding of issues, controversies, and trends affecting higher education.
- Ability to work independently and show good judgment.
- Ability to create, compose, and edit written content.
- Ability to cultivate and maintain strong working relationships with campus partners.
- Knowledge and enthusiasm for crisis communications.
- Ability to summarize and simplify complex issues for general public consumption.
- Proven project management and leadership abilities.
- Organizational and time-management skills.
- Ability to identify technical problems and present solutions.
- Ability to professionally interact with a diverse group of clients and colleagues.
- Knowledge of journalism, marketing, and branding principles and techniques.
- Knowledge of and proven experience using social media tools and platforms and their use in media communications.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines and within established budgets.
- Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, advertising, broadcast journalism, communication, or related field plus eight years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in related field and experience working with college-age students in a position of mentorship, teaching, guidance or leadership.
Apply (or request more information): See the full job posting on the UT Jobs site!
