Department Summary
Student Life is committed to the education and development of the whole student in a diverse campus community. Through our facilities, programs, and services Student Life engages the academic, social and personal growth of our students. We are dedicated to serving students from every school, college, and division and at each degree level, from undergraduate to doctoral and professional. The social justice work of Student Life is embedded through many units across the division. Specifically, the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, The Program on Intergroup Relations, and the Spectrum Center provide education, advocacy, and engagement via the lens of justice. These units are focused on social change through development of self, collaboration with others, and commitment to citizenship. The effort cuts across all Student Life and beyond, engaging and developing key partnerships. The effort is guided by a set of learning outcomes and informed by an integrative learning pedagogy.
Job Summary
As a team, we are hiring a Strategic Communications & Marketing and Design Specialist to lead our multiple units; the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, The Program on Intergroup Relations and the Spectrum Center provide education, advocacy, and engagement via the lens of justice. Our offices hold unique histories rooted in social justice, advocacy, and activism that lives on through our programs and services today. This position is charged with mindfully leading strategic communications and developing marketing and design using traditional and digital media to advance the work and amplify the stories of three units. This position is responsible for supervising/co-supervising a diverse student staff who may have responsibilities like photography, social media engagements, and graphic design.
Strategic Communications (40%)
- Develop, coordinate, and evaluate strategic plans around marketing and branding for each unit using a social justice informed practice.
- Create and maintain standard operating procedures for unit communications processes.
- Identify and implement appropriate processes and platforms to enhance unit communications.
- Provide content expertise and professional coaching on issues related to communications, public relations and social media.
- Write for different audiences (donors, general public, parents, students, general audiences, etc.) and provide unit staff with best practices for professional communication.
- Develop multi-platform communication responses to urgent and emerging issues impacting the campus community in coordination with the unit's leadership.
- Identify, implement, and train units on technological and organizational tools that aid in efficient and effective internal and external communications.
- Liaison with Student Life Marketing and Student Life Technology.
- Provide unit leads with periodic reports of the effectiveness of communications efforts and strategies for improvement.
- Work with Student Life Technology Solutions to develop and manage a CRM dashboard.
- Elevate social justice education across campus and nationally through effective storytelling and promotion.
- Work with units to design and distribute annual reports.
Web and Digital Marketing (40%)
- Coordinate social media strategies, policies, and best practices.
- Provide units with oversight and guidance of social media efforts such as Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, etc.
- Develop, manage, and deliver engaging and useful content for specific unit websites.
- Maintain best practices for the effective use of communications platforms and assist staff in using the platforms (webinars, podcasts, etc.)
- Research, develop, and support platforms for remote engagement including Marketing Cloud, Canvas, Google Sites, Zoom, etc.
- Support video and audio recording/editing needs for celebrations, podcasts, events, and educational training.
Development Stewardship (10%)
- Collect the narratives of alumnx and the impacts of donors to elevate awareness and increase giving.
- Implement strategies to maintain communication between the units’ alumni, staff, faculty and students.
- Coordinate with Student Life Development to develop alumni outreach and response materials.
- Organize Giving Blue Day and other development driven campaigns.
Administration (10%)
- Administrative duties may include, connecting across Institutional and Divisional communication roles on campus.
- Collecting and analyzing data and stay up to date on student trends Working with IT and other partners to gather information as needed about students we serve.
- Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's Degree required in business, communications, information science, or related field.
- Minimum 3-5 years of professional experience communicating to audiences around diverse cultural topics.
Desired Qualifications*
- Expertise in developing and implementing methods of social media and digital communications for a department or organization.
- Experience organizing multiple priorities by developing and leading an intentional agenda for emerging and ongoing needs.
- Experience in integrating these methods into a website and other forms of communication.
- Strong aptitude for learning new technologies and teaching others how to use them.
Additional Information
Position Criteria:
These are the criteria that the hiring team will be evaluating the candidate for:
- Demonstrated self-starter with excellent organizational, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a variety of constituents (staff, faculty, students and diverse groups).
- Written and verbal communication skills (presentations, training, newsletters, social media, etc.).
- Ability to communicate effectively from an inclusive lens with sensitivity to the style of justice oriented units.
- Ability to manage projects from conception to implementation.
- Savvy with social media, website management, video production, and electronic communication platforms.
- Ability to work collaboratively with multiple constituents and work with cross-functional units.
- Ability to lead units in understanding best practices in public relations and communication.
- Understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion as outlined by the university.
Financial/Budgetary Responsibility
Responsible for tracking financial expenses and adhering to budget for this area of work.
Working conditions
Occasional evening and weekend work required.
Physical requirements
The incumbent is required to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time with extensive computer work (typing, editing, research, etc.) Will need to commute to several other sites regularly. Will need to move equipment less than 30lbs.
Direct reports
Students
This role may have reporting obligations under Title IX and Clery.
Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.
Salary may vary depending on qualifications, experience, and education of the selected candidate.
#studentlife
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
$54,100.00 - $64,900.00
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
To Apply, visit: https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/225786/strategic-communications-spe...