Communications Specialist - Department of Social and Cultural Analysis

The University of Texas at Austin • Austin, UT

14h • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Social and Cultural Analysis within the College of Liberal Arts is seeking a Communications Specialist. This role is responsible for developing and implementing communications, marketing, and outreach strategies to enhance the department's visibility, engagement, and fundraising efforts. The specialist will manage branding, digital content, media relations, and community partnerships to effectively promote the department's programs, activities, and impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• At least five years experience in online marketing and communications, product/program management experience, and managing content on a large website.
• At least five years experience journalistic writing experience for digital channels.
• At least five years experience with information architecture, content creation, and content strategy.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in higher education or other complex nonprofit entities.
• Strong writing and editing abilities

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate communications and promotional strategies to increase program participation and event attendance.
• Design and distribute promotional materials.
• Develop content for websites, social media channels, and other communication mediums, including print and electronic collateral and marketing campaigns.
• Produce recurring unit newsletters highlighting the people and work of the department; curate and expand contact lists and leverage them for email campaigns.
• Coordinate the review, revision, and distribution of communications materials; serve as copyeditor and quality assurance for communications submitted by members of the unit.
• Work on special communication deliverables, such as policy briefs, speeches, talking points, event scripts, reports, and presentations.
• Coordinate and maintain podcasts and other external communications as assigned.
• Oversee implementation of the unit's brand strategy and work with leadership on brand initiatives.
• Effectively work with faculty and administrative leaders.
• Act as the unit's public relations liaison to build community partnerships with external organizations and relationships within the University.
• Serve as liaison to the College of Liberal Arts Public Affairs Office to coordinate announcements and highlight events via college and university channels.
• In coordination with the College of Liberal Arts Public Affairs Office, field media inquiries, create media responses, manage media interviews, and occasionally act as spokesperson for the unit.
• Manage media lists and contacts.
• Implement strategies to increase participation and recruitment in programs.
• Evaluate outreach activities, survey participants, analyze results, and determine whether objectives are met or if improvements are needed.
• Identify and cultivate external relationships to support unit development priorities and elevate the unit's fundraising capacity.
• Create and coordinate unit development initiatives and donor-specific projects.
• Work with college-level development contacts and unit leadership to support major giving strategy and fundraising efforts.
• Assist with UT annual fundraising initiatives as assigned.
• Manage and oversee the department's website and social media platforms.
• Create, update, and manage the departmental website, including creating and managing all internal request forms.
• Manage faculty and staff lists on the website and update the COLA database with faculty information.
• Attend workshops and conference to keep up-to-date with university guidelines and policies.
• Other related functions as assigned.

Benefits

• Impressive benefits package (details at https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards)
• Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) retirement plan eligibility (if position is at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length)

What This Job Offers

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