POSITION INFORMATION

Requisition Number
154700

Job Title
Communications Strategist - Academic Affairs

Official Title
Communications Strategist

Position Number
00010516

Department
Univ Relations Com & Mktng-Gen - 180000

Location
Denton

Is this an internal posting only?
No

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm, with some evening and weekend work assigned

Department Overview
As the chief communications organization for the University of North Texas, the Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing (URCM) collaborates with internal and external partners to:

* Advance and protect UNT's institutional identity and reputation.
* Reinforce and grow UNT's brand in graphics, images and words.
* Increase UNT's visibility in public and in the higher education marketplace.
* Support UNT's student recruitment, retention and graduation goals.
* Strengthen UNT's relevance and value to key audiences, including alumni, donors, faculty and staff members, and encourage community engagement.

Job Description
The Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing Department (URCM) at the University of North Texas is seeking to hire a Communications Strategist for Academic Affairs to join our team.

This is professional and administrative work overseeing and coordinating printed and electronic materials providing engaging, informative, strategic and creatively packaged content primarily about UNT's academic affairs, scholarship and research, as well as campus life, community outreach and other activities for the university's Academic Affairs. Content should always showcase the university's strongest assets and support UNT's progress in the achievement of its mission and goals.

This individual works independently and as part of work teams in collaboration with other URCM staff members and others across campus to accomplish content creation and dissemination.

Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:
* Works to create strategic content for UNT's Provost and academic affairs initiatives to align and embed messaging in all materials such as websites, emails, brochures, white papers and magazines.
* Consults and coordinates strategic communication and marketing plans, identify and communicate key initiatives to internal and external audiences identified by URCM in partnership with the Office of the Provost.
* Develops an understanding of the needs of the variety of audiences for materials to create audience-targeted content that resonates.
* Creates content that supports the university's academic affairs goals and university initiatives overall while advancing the university's vision and goals, highlights UNT's growth as a student-focused research university and provides an entertaining, engaging and informative experience in all materials (print and digital).
* Protects and promotes the image of the Provost by coordinating a communications strategy and creating a communication plan for all messaging.
* Plans, researches, reports and writes strategic communication in appropriate voice and tone. Coordinates URCM communication efforts to ensure Provost communications is strategic and on target for national research university positioning.
* Assists management in developing and implementing overall marketing strategies, staying current in professional matters.
* Develops relationships with faculty members and helps coach them in telling their best stories to audiences outside the university while maintaining the vision for communications.

The University of North Texas System and its component institutions are committed to equal opportunity and comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of North Texas System and its component institutions do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, and employment practices.

Minimum Qualifications
The successful candidate will possess a Bachelor's Degree in related field and five years of experience in writing and/or editing publications; or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training. The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are required:

* Ability to conceptualize, write and edit strategic, accurate and concise content for university audiences.
* Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, conduct multiple tasks and maintain effective working relationships.
* Ability to coordinate large projects with numerous components over extended periods of time.
* Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
* Ability to visually inspect print and online copy when self-editing or editing the copy of others including experience in creative editing and fact checking techniques.
* Works effectively within a team and effectively works closely with other staff, faculty, and students toward a common goal.
* Extensive knowledge of spelling, grammar, punctuation and Associated Press and Chicago Manual styles.
* Knowledge of writing styles and guidelines for various media formats and ability to create, coordinate and edit copy for each format (print, digital/social media, video, broadcast, etc.).
* Understanding of institutional strategy (or ability to quickly assimilate) and ability to integrate the strategy into modes of communication.
* Ability to supervise and/or coordinate the work of others and responsible for the production of deadline driven high quality product.
* Knowledge of and ability to research industry best practices to assist the division, college or unit in aligning strategies for UNT publications (print and digital) with University strategy and guidelines and effectively edit and improve content for readers based on best practices.
* Ability to coordinate large projects with numerous components over extended periods of time.

Preferred Qualifications
The preferred candidate will possess the following additional qualifications:

* Five to seven years of professional writing experience, (i.e., at a newspaper or in a public relations office), college or university work experience preferred.
* Bachelor's degree, preferably in Journalism or English.
* Experience writing a variety of types of content to create engaging and relevant stories to drive audiences to action
* Knowledge of a variety of public relations skills to develop and place stories in the global, national and regional news media markets, as well as having led the planning and execution of some public relations projects.
* Ability to conceptualize, plan and oversee the creation of major publications such as websites, brochures, magazines, etc.
* Ability to conceptualize, write and edit strategic, accurate and concise content for news releases, features, video, social media and other content wells.
* Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
* Knowledge of how to contact sources and knowledge of and ability to conduct interviews and take accurate notes.
* Knowledge of story placement techniques for acquiring successful news media "scores."
* Extensive knowledge of spelling, grammar, punctuation and Associated Press style.
* Knowledge of writing guidelines for various media (print, online, broadcast, social).

Special Instructions to Applicants
Applicants must submit a resume, a cover letter and a list of three professional references with their online application, as well as a recent, professional writing sample.

Is this a security sensitive position?
Yes

Driving a University Vehicle?
No

Job Open Date
01-17-2019

Job Close Date
Open Until Filled

Pay Rate
$4,333.33

Pay Basis
Monthly

Job Type
Full-time Permanent

Quicklink for Posting
jobs.unt.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=65671

PI107057604