Communications Specialist II - 530645

Pay Grade/Pay Range: Minimum: $48,600 - Midpoint: $60,800 (Salaried E7)

Department/Organization: 212701 - Special Education

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

Note to Applicants: Position is eligible for hybrid work subject to University policy.

Job Summary: The Communications Specialist II writes and edits communications for a college, division, and/or the University. Develops and implements plans, activities, and tactics to support the goals of assigned areas. Coordinates the production of materials and resources through a variety of platforms, including digital and physical mediums.

Additional Department Summary: The University of Alabama, College of Education, Department of Special Education invites applications for a Communications Coordinator to lead external and internal communications for Project LIFT: Literacy Improvement through Focused Tutoring, an $11.2 million, five-year Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Mid-Phase grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Project LIFT is scaling Friends on the Block (FOTB), an evidence-based early literacy intervention, to 75 primarily rural Alabama elementary schools. The project supports K–2 struggling readers, including students with disabilities, and includes a rigorous randomized controlled trial independently evaluated by Oregon Research Institute (ORI). Dissemination and visibility are core federal deliverables of Project LIFT committed in the approved grant narrative.

This position leads all Project LIFT communications, including digital, social, print, and stakeholder-facing, from Year 1 through project completion. Collaborates with the College of Education's communications staff and UA's Office of Strategic Communications to ensure all content aligns with UA brand standards and MarComm guidelines.

Continuation in this position is contingent upon the availability of funding.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of experience in journalism, public relations, marketing, and/or communications; OR master's degree and some experience in journalism, public relations, marketing, and/or communications.

Additional Required Department Minimum Qualifications: Must have valid U.S. driver's license. Must be at least 19 years of age at time of hire and have an acceptable Motor Vehicle Report that is in compliance with University policies. Applicants under the age of 21 will have some driving restrictions.

Skills and Knowledge: Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail in written communications. Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt voice, tone, and complexity for a variety of audiences, from practitioners and school leaders to families and policymakers. Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with ability to work effectively with researchers, school leaders, educators, district administrators, and community partners. Knowledge of UA brand standards, MarComm guidelines, and the UA Office of Strategic Communications processes. Knowledge of evidence-based literacy practices, the science of reading, high-impact tutoring, or Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Ability to work independently, manage multiple deadlines simultaneously, and prioritize competing communications demands in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder project environment. Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and comfort with cloud-based collaboration tools (UA Box, SharePoint, or OneDrive). Ability to maintain the confidentiality of participant information and ensure that all communications involving study participants comply with IRB, FERPA, and federal human subjects protection requirements. Demonstrated commitment to serving students with disabilities and students in high-need, rural school communities.

Preferred Qualifications: Master's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, English, education, or a related field. Experience in communications, marketing, or public relations for a university, research project, education nonprofit, or school district. Experience writing and editing content for public audiences across multiple channels, including digital, social media, and print. Experience developing communications for a federally funded education, health, or social science research project (e.g., IES, EIR, OSEP, NIH, NSF). Experience with graphic design tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar) for creating infographics, fact sheets, social media graphics, and presentation visuals. Experience planning and managing webinars or virtual events, including platform setup (Zoom, Teams, or similar), promotion, and follow-up distribution. Familiarity with web analytics platforms (Google Analytics or similar) and social media analytics tools and with email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or similar) for newsletter development and distribution. Experience with video editing or podcast production tools (iMovie, Adobe Premiere, Audacity, etc.). Familiarity with the Alabama educational context, rural school communities, the Alabama Literacy Act, or early literacy policy. Experience in K-12 education, reading instruction, special education, or educational research. Experience managing social media accounts (LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or similar platforms) for an organization, program, or initiative, including content creation, scheduling, monitoring, and engagement. Experience managing or contributing to a website using a content management system (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace, Drupal, or similar).

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.

The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.