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Senior Writer

Employer
Governors State University
Location
University Park, IL

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Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

Position Details

Position Information

Position TypeCivil ServiceClassification TitleEditorial WriterPosition's Functional TitleSenior WriterPosition Start Date11/16/2019Position End Date (if temporary)Position Summary

Summary/Objective:

Senior Writer and Communication Manager is responsible for planning, gathering, reporting, and managing the writing production and presentation of GSU Newsroom, which houses internal content. The Senior Writer and Communications Manager will be an exceptional writer with strong news judgment, interpersonal skills, and sharp organizational skills.

Essential Responsibilities:

50%-Collaborate with colleagues across the University to conceive and plan content strategies and execute by researching and writing engaging and accurate communications tailored to specific audiences on deadline for multiple mediums, including print, web, social, and digital. All content aligns with advancing the University. Senior Writer is a synthesizer, problem solver, and able to coordinate multiple projects with multiple stakeholders. Serve as primary contact for external vendors for editorial content, including photographers and freelance writers.

30%-Research and interview students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, donors, and other relevant sources. Attend significant events and programs to craft messages in a way that engages stakeholders and builds goodwill toward the University. Assist in establishing faculty and alumni directories. Assist and lead with publications. Take and edit photographs to run across platforms. 

10%-Conduct weekly editorial meetings with team to create, coordinate, and refine content to support the University’s goals and objectives. Maintain awareness of topics and trends throughout higher education and GSU.

5%-Monitor and manage GSU media services and social channels to ensure quality of writing and content represents the University’s standards.

5%-Other duties as assigned.

Other Responsibilities:

Manage work flow, contribute to team projects in both Institutional Advancement and Marketing, able to represent the University and Departments with authenticity, knowledge, and public relations.

Competencies:

• The incumbent will have strong relevant knowledge for Liberal Arts Higher Education, strong journalism background and/or knowledge, the ability to find stories and pull them through to production.

• The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to generate relationships quickly, interview individual(s) of every stakeholder level, and capture information to develop a headline and major stories.

• The individual should have knowledge of and/or the ability to serve as a backup Public Information Officer and be self-efficient in writing and producing stories;

• Demonstrate proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and desktop publishing programs to create effective communication to internal and external constituents, social media engagement, and understands the importance of branding and relationship building.

• Flexible, well-organized, adept in multi-tasking, attentive to detail, highly technically skilled, possess superior writing, editing, and copywriting skills, be articulate, and able to interact effectively and positively with stakeholders of every level.

• Ability to find, interview, and write stories of various lengths and complexity.

Starting Salary Range: $31,336.50 to $50,000.

(This is a non-negotiated position. Salary starts at the base and is determined based on Education and Experience exceeding the minimum qualifications).

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, English, or Marketing. (PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF THE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY TRANSCRIPT, WHICH INCLUDES THE EARNED DEGREE AND CONFERRED GRADUATION DATE).

2. Two (2) years (24 months) of experience writing for a newspaper, magazine, trade publication, news organization or writing in a public relations, research, or business communications environment.

(www.sucss.illinois.gov)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in writing and branding.

• Must be able to appropriately represent the University in all communications and interactions with internal and external constituents.

• Experience in interviewing and writing stories of various lengths and complexity.

• Ability to establish media contacts and create stories, as well as build a great rapport with internal constituents.

• Develop a high level of professionalism and confidentiality for the purpose of building relationships, reputation, revenue generation, and contributing back to the region.

Posting Date10/18/2019Closing Date10/28/2019Open Until FilledNoPosting NumberCS0372PType of SearchExternalQuicklink for Postinghttp://employment.govst.edu/postings/4841Employee IDDepartmentSpecial Instructions to Applicants

This position requires Illinois residency within 180 days of the hire date.

Credentials Assessment Exam Scoring Information:

In order to be considered for this position, applicants are required to provide electronic documentation that verifies that the following minimum qualifications of this Civil Service position have been met:

• online Civil Service application, including dates of employment, applicable full-time and part-time employment (percentage), and specific duties and responsibilities)

• cover letter

• résumé

• college/university transcript **(PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF THE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY TRANSCRIPT, WHICH INCLUDES THE EARNED DEGREE AND CONFERRED GRADUATION DATE).

• list of three professional references

**Please note the following:

• Due to the high volume of applications received, only the college/university transcripts submitted/attached electronically to this posting will be used for the review and the consideration of this vacancy.

• If you are a Veteran, you may be eligible to receive Veteran’s Preference Points on a passing examination score, by submitting proof of eligibility to the Department of Human Resources, such as a copy of your DD214/DD215 form (Department of Defense), NGB22 form (National Guard), or Discharge Orders or DD256 Discharge Certificate (Reserves) by the closing date.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * Do you have a Bachelor's degree?
    • Yes
    • No
  2. * What field of study did you receive your Bachelor's degree in?

    (Open Ended Question)

Required DocumentsRequired Documents
  1. Cover Letter
  2. Resume
  3. Transcripts
  4. List of References
Optional Documents
  1. Veteran’s Preference Points Documentation
  2. Writing/Media Samples
  3. Other
  4. Other2
  5. Other3
  6. Other4
  7. Other5

Organization

Working at Governors State University

Success by Degrees

GSU is an “island of excellence,” according to Dr. Martha J. Kanter, Under Secretary of the United States Department of Education. With bold, new initiatives, 23 bachelor’s, 27 master’s, and five doctoral degree programs, GSU excels at providing the quality education that is essential for success in today’s world.

Success by Opportunity

GSU’s exemplary efforts bring unequalled education opportunities to the region’s diverse population. The university is remarkably inclusive and serves students from a wide range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The student body, like the faculty and staff, reflect a rich blend of ideas, perspectives, talents, and life experiences.

Success by Innovation

GSU, expanding on its commitment to excellence and reflecting the best research on student success, will become a full-service university with the admission of its inaugural freshman class in 2014. The groundbreaking Dual Degree Program encourages community college students to complete both an associate and bachelor’s degree at an affordable tuition rate and with comprehensive academic advising.

Success by Commitment

GSU is committed to serving as the region’s public square and making the community stronger through programs and partnerships in education, healthcare, government, and business. The Center for Performing Arts and Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park integrate arts and education. The university is also fully committed to sustainability through its alternative energy and conservation efforts.

Success by Excellence

GSU, the only public university in the Chicago Southland region, is a national model in providing education pathways that lead its graduates to lives rich in purpose, commitment, and contribution.

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