Communications Content Specialist

Vanderbilt University • Nashville, TN

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications Team at Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Science (A&S) is seeking a skilled Communications Content Specialist to create engaging and informative written content to help promote and elevate the visibility of the college to both internal and external audiences. Reporting to the A&S Chief Communications Officer, this individual serves primarily as a writer and requires a strong background in written communications, a passion for storytelling, and a strategic eye for identifying and creating compelling content. The individual will plan, coordinate, and produce a wide range of written content across A&S’s many areas of focus, spanning the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The position is responsible for writing news articles, feature profiles, research highlights, announcements, web content, social media posts, and other content, to be distributed on the A&S website, newsletter, social media platforms, and other channels. The Communications Content Specialist will work with various stakeholders across the college and the university, including faculty, students, alumni, and staff. The individual will look for new and engaging ways to convey the stories of the A&S community and communicate the impact that A&S is having on the world. The individual will manage projects from start to finish, including identifying and sourcing stories, conducting background research as needed, scheduling and conducting interviews, writing and editing content, securing approvals, and disseminating content. The individual will be a key member of the A&S Communications Team in the Dean’s Office. This role is hybrid, with some days working in the office and some days working remotely.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree and at least 2-4 years of experience in marketing, communications, public relations, reporting, or related field.
• Outstanding written communication skills. Experience creating engaging content for a range of audiences for use across a variety of platforms.
• Proven ability to tell a compelling story that engages audiences.
• Excellent grammar, punctuation, spelling, and attention to detail.
• Prior experience as a content writer, with a portfolio showcasing a diverse range of writing samples.
• Proven ability to distill complex scientific research into digestible, understandable content.
• Outstanding verbal communication skills. Ability to ask insightful questions to ensure content is accurate and engaging.
• Deep curiosity and a thirst to learn about a wide range of topics, from anthropology to Asian studies, to astronomy, to many others.
• Strong project management, organizational, and time management skills.
• Ability to successfully manage different projects and juggle multiple assignments, stakeholders, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to adjust flexibly to changes in priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact successfully with a diverse group of stakeholders with different needs and priorities.
• Willingness to jump in wherever needed with a solutions-oriented mindset.

Nice To Haves

• Web content management systems and basic HTML.
• Email marketing platforms (e.g., Emma, MailChimp, Constant Contact, etc.).
• Project management tools, such as AirTable.

Responsibilities

• Write a high volume of content in the form of news stories, feature profiles, social media posts, and other formats, including interviewing, writing, and editing for different platforms (web, social, email marketing, etc.).
• Work with various stakeholders (including faculty, staff, students, alumni, Vanderbilt central Communications and Marketing team, Vanderbilt Development and Alumni Relations, Vanderbilt Admissions, and others) to identify, source, and write A&S stories that promote the college’s mission and demonstrate the college’s impact.
• Ensure that content aligns with both A&S’s and the university’s branding and messaging strategy and effectively promotes and elevates the visibility of the college.
• Identify and resize imagery for written content.
• Post content to the website.
• Create and disseminate a monthly e-newsletter, including identifying and writing content, doing design and layout, and distributing through an email marketing platform.
• Regularly monitor e-newsletter analytics, develop reports on performance, present outcomes, and make recommendations on how to improve efforts.
• Write and disseminate marketing and informational emails to inform the community of important updates and to promote offerings.
• Identify and source stories that align with the college’s mission and brand.
• Partner with team members to identify opportunities for multi-media content, such as videos or visuals that accompany written pieces.
• Provide backup support to other team members as needed.
• Assist with website content updates.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level