Director of Communications
- Employer
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
View more
- Administrative Jobs
- Institutional & Business Affairs, Communications & Marketing, Community & Government Relations
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
Permanent Staff (SHRA)
Is this an internal only recruitment?:No
Position Title:Public Comm Specialist - Advanced
Working Title:Director of Communications
Position Number:00059852
Vacancy ID:P012290
Budgeted Hiring Range:$60,000-$75,000
Pay Band Information:To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.
Salary Grade Equivalent:GN12
Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited:Full-Time Permanent
Hours per week:40
Work Schedule:M-F, 8AM-5PM
Department Name and Number:Grad School-390100
Date First Posted:01/15/2021
Closing Date:01/22/2021
Position Location:Chapel Hill, NC
Position Posting Category:Public Relations/Communications/Marketing
Department Description:The Graduate School of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides leadership to envision, shape and support the highest quality education for a diverse community of graduate students whose contributions will have global impact.
Through research, teaching and public service, graduate education generates knowledge and innovative solutions that address critical societal needs. Graduate students and alumni improve lives through their leadership, professional expertise and civic engagement in North Carolina and beyond.
The Graduate School of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill encompasses 80-plus programs offering more than 160 different graduate degrees. Graduate students and professional students make up about 37 percent of Carolina’s total number of enrolled students. There is a great deal of diversity among our graduate students, with more than 13 percent coming from underrepresented groups: African-American, Hispanic, and American Indian. Another 14 percent are international students. The Graduate School provides graduate students with fellowships, tuition support, travel awards, and research supplements. Many of our fellowships are interdisciplinary in focus.
The Graduate School supports graduate students in every program across the Carolina campus, serving students from admission through graduation. We provide services to graduate students including seminars and classes in pedagogy, leadership, communication, grant writing, and other professional development.
Equal Opportunity Employer:The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.
Position Description:The Graduate School is seeking an innovative individual to serve as the Director of Communications. This position serves as the point person for the full range of communications responsibilities within the department. The Director of Communications plans and maintains a strategic communications plan for the unit which includes serving as media relations contact for internal and external media outlets, managing the brand and image of The Graduate School, developing, writing, and editing stories, news, posts, and press releases. This position has key responsibility for implementing public information efforts to ensure a positive image of graduate students and graduate education of the University, The Graduate School, and its programs. This position provides internal communications support including developing and implementing various communications processes, policies and materials to facilitate excellent information sharing among Graduate School staff, students, faculty and alumni. This position organizes efforts across the School, reviewing and editing materials for content, accuracy, and relevance. This position assists with The Graduate School’s overall donor stewardship efforts and strategy. This requires knowledge of marketing and communications principles and the ability to write creatively with a specific target audience in mind. This also includes producing stewardship reports and letters, graphic design, and image management.
The Director of Communications is a leadership position that will work autonomously and requires professional experience using social media as part of an institutional communications strategy to reach and engage with target audiences. The selected candidate should have a diverse technical skillset related to print and digital communications and production. This position must demonstrate an understanding of best practices of graphic design, photography, and video production. This position must also understand digital accessibility and its best practices.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Essential Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:•Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
•Commitment to a collegial, equitable, and inclusive workplace
•Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
•High level of independent decision-making.
•At least 3-5 years’ experience working in a higher education setting.
•Graduate degree in communications or communications-related discipline.
•Demonstrated ability to effectively design and implement communications strategies and goals in a higher education or non-profit setting.
•Proven editorial skills including story development, copyediting, fact checking, and proofreading.
•Awareness of evolving best practices specific to higher education communications.
•Ability to engage and partner with leadership, faculty, staff, student, and other stakeholders.
•Experience managing internal communications and advising staff on internal communications best practices.
•Diverse technical skillset related to print and digital communication and production.
•Professional experience using social media as part of an institutional communications strategy to reach and engage with target audiences.
•Demonstrated understanding of best practices of graphic design, photography, and video production.
•Understanding of digital accessibility and commitment to digital accessibility best practices.
•Strong leadership skills, ability to work autonomously, and to seek support and direction as appropriate.
Evening work occasionally, Weekend work occasionally
Stimulus/ARRA Funded:No
Organization
The nation’s first public university is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina and throughout the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students.
Here, in one of America's most beautiful college settings, we offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. Come explore what UNC-Chapel Hill has to offer you.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,117
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,894
Total Student Enrollment: 30,011
Founded: 1789, as the first state university in the United States
Type of Institution: Public, four-year
Undergraduate Admission: 15,961
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,039
Total Student Enrollment: 26,000
Faculty: 3,000
Percentage of faculty who hold Ph.D.s or the highest degrees in their field: 94 percent
Faculty/student ratio: 1/14
Location: UNC is located in the heart of Chapel Hill, the best college town in America! It's a friendly town of about 40,000 in the geographical center of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is at the western point of the Research Triangle, an area of about one million people, comprised of Chapel Hill, the cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Research Triangle Park, home of many corporate offices and scientific research centers. Carolina is about 30 miles from the state capital, Raleigh, and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Chapel Hill's main street, Franklin Street, borders the campus and offers shops, coffee houses, cafés, movie theaters and houses of worship. The town has a historic district, museum, library, parks, malls, and many recreational facilities.
Origins of Carolina's students: 82 percent of UNC's freshmen are from North Carolina and 18 percent are from out-of-state. Our students come from 42 different states and our international students represent 37 countries.
Size of freshman class: Approximately 3,400
Class size: Barely five percent of undergraduate classes contain more than 100 students; two-thirds of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students. Forty-one percent have fewer than 20 students, including First Year Seminars, in which first-year students work closely with professors.
Sports and athletic programs: UNC is an NCAA Division I school with 28 varsity teams. Carolina is the proud home of the Dean Smith Center, Kenan Stadium, Carmichael Auditorium, Koury Natatorium, and many other fine athletic facilities. Students join more than 60 intramural and club sports, which include baseball, bowling, crew, golf, lacrosse, rock climbing, rugby, tae kwon do, and ultimate frisbee. The Student Recreation Center offers weight training, aerobics, stair machines, and all the equipment you would expect to find at a great health club! Carolina offers a newly renovated outdoor pool and indoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and the longest zipline in America!
Number of residence halls: Incoming undergraduates will live in one of Carolina's 29 residence halls, which are wired for Internet access and cable television. housing.unc.edu
Scholarships and financial aid: About 40 percent of UNC-Chapel Hill students receive scholarships and/or some form of financial aid. studentaid.unc.edu
Special research institutes: Institute for Research in Social Science, Institute of Outdoor Drama, Morehead Planetarium, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, Institute of Government, Institute of African American Research.
Career services: On-campus counseling, job fairs, résumé writing service, internships, placement services. www.unc.edu/depts/career
Technological facilities: Students find multiple uses for Carolina's state-of-the-art technological resources. They can access Carolina's computer services through Academic Technology and Networks, which manages academic computing, e-mail, microcomputing labs, interactive media presentation, video and classroom support, and a help desk. The MetaLab oversees the development of SunSITE, one of the world's busiest digital library and electronic publishing projects.
Students may open e-mail accounts, and many use campus computer resources to construct personal Web pages. Students in residence halls have hardwired network connections to the Internet and cable television in their rooms. At the ATN Training center, students may take classes on software packages and utilities. Computer labs are available for student use all over campus.
Carolina Computing Initiative: Beginning with the freshman class of 2000, undergraduates must purchase laptop computers. The University has arranged for IBM to offer computers at excellent prices. Students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cost savings, higher quality compatible equipment, and better technical support through CCI. www.unc.edu/cci
The Study Abroad program allows students to live and learn in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Africa, and the Americas. www.unc.edu/depts/abroad
The Honors Program offers special seminars, research programs, and the chance to design your own independent studies. www.unc.edu/depts/honors
Carolina students spend time in public service through student organizations, the Campus Y, the Carolina Center for Public Service, and courses that incorporate community service.
UNC's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a national collegiate honor society, is the oldest in North Carolina, dating from 1904. There are many other honorary societies at Carolina.
UNC offers ROTC programs in all branches of national military service.
Through the First Year Seminars program, first year students will understand what it means to study at a premier research university. They will learn from faculty members and share in their research in seminars of no more than 20 students.
Life outside the classroom: More than 370 clubs, teams, and student organizations offer something for everyone! You can choose from among musical and dramatic performing groups, publications, ethnic and religious clubs, the Campus Y and other service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and pre- professional organizations. Whatever your interests, you will find others at Carolina who share them! www.unc.edu/depts/union/student/listintr.htm
Get job alerts
Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.
Create alert