Communications Specialist

Arizona State University • Isla Vista, CA

1d • $64,000 - $70,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (CISA) Dean’s Office is seeking a dynamic Communications Specialist to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications and in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications team, you will serve as skilled storyteller and editor of an array of communications projects for internal and external constituents and across media platforms. Writing projects may include, but are not limited to, news articles, copywriting, feature stories, press releases and pitches, including: research and human-interest stories; profiles of people and programs; e-newsletters; writing for web pages and social media; communications to current and prospective students and their families, alumni, donors and partners; materials related to academic offerings and proposed curricula; scripts or talking points for presentations, meetings and videos; and communications to promote events. In this role, you will work independently and collaboratively to gather information to produce communications explaining and strategically promoting all facets of CISA. While this position reports to the Director of Marketing and Communications, it works in close partnership with the Senior Communications Specialist to optimize communications for CISA. Arizona State University offers a comprehensive benefits package to enhance your total compensation. This package includes flexible work schedules, low-cost health and life benefits, a wellness program for preventative health education and screenings, tuition waiver for benefits-eligible staff members, as well as tuition reduction for their spouses and dependents, a disability and leaves program for income protection, employee assistance for free and confidential behavioral health services, volunteer and professional development release time, disability resources and retirement program designed to promote long-term savings and provide income upon retirement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in interviewing people and conducting research to write longform and short form prose across channels for a brand in higher education, exercising a high degree of judgment and diplomacy.
• Ability to translate complex academic concepts within a variety of fields into prose that uses the appropriate voice and language to meet the needs of an audience or channel.
• Experience copywriting and editing in Associated Press Style with evidence of the ability to craft engaging, accurate and brand-aligned content for a variety of channels with SEO and accessibility in mind.
• Experience in successfully establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with diverse collaborators and constituents.
• Demonstrated knowledge of public relations and media relations principles to create press releases and pitches, manage media requests, and monitor coverage, using a system like Cision or Muck Rack.
• Demonstrated eye for detail and highly developed organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks against tight deadlines.
• Experience producing communications in systems such as Mail Chimp or Salesforce Marketing Cloud to reach target audiences effectively.
• Demonstrated knowledge and adoption of interactive tools and technologies for collaboration and project management, (e.g. Wrike, Slack, Asana).
• Experience with relevant software and platforms such as Adobe Creative Suite for photo optimization and design, (e.g. Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator); Google Slides and other Google Suite applications; Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Dropbox; Canto or Iconik.
• Basic understanding and use of human-centered AI integration into communications work.
• Experience in managing competing priorities and working with a sense of urgency to meet deadlines.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate as part of the CISA Marketing and Communications team to increase awareness and visibility of the college’s distinctive programs, expertise and people, especially as we work to grow enrollment across all three campuses where CISA is located.
• Write news articles, feature stories, marketing copy and pitches including, but not limited to: research and human-interest stories, profiles of people and programs, content for e-newsletters, writing for webpages and social media, communications to current and prospective students and their families, alumni, donors, colleagues, materials related to academic offerings and proposed curricula: scripts or talking points for presentations, meetings and videos, communications to promote events.
• Participate in strategic communications planning with the marketing and communications team.
• Demonstrate strong writing skills in AP style, editing content produced by others for grammar, as well as to help maintain ASU brand and CISA messaging.
• Synthesizes insights from a wide range of intellectual and cultural resources to support and enhance storytelling.
• Identify news, culture and consumer trends that intersect with college-related research, activities, and expertise to craft story pitches or to incorporate into brand communications.
• Develop and discuss themes and objectives for assignments, target audiences, and desired outcomes to ensure content meets strategic communication goals.
• Produce marketing and communications content that is engaging, thoughtful, inclusive and representative of the college and adheres to ASU brand standards across media channels, fostering a positive connection to the brand.
• Build relationships with other ASU communicators, ASU Enterprise Brand Strategy and Management and others on ASU campuses and in the community to extend local, national and global reach.
• Demonstrate sound public relations best practices in writing press releases, press briefs, media pitches and calendar listings.
• Track and create reports on press coverage on a regular basis.
• Demonstrate discretion and maintain confidentiality with communications of a sensitive nature.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Benefits

• flexible work schedules
• low-cost health and life benefits
• a wellness program for preventative health education and screenings
• tuition waiver for benefits-eligible staff members, as well as tuition reduction for their spouses and dependents
• a disability and leaves program for income protection
• employee assistance for free and confidential behavioral health services
• volunteer and professional development release time
• disability resources and retirement program designed to promote long-term savings and provide income upon retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees