(Hybrid) Events and Communications Coordinator - Department of Physics and Astronomy

West Virginia University

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology (GWAC) is one of the premiere research centers at West Virginia University (WVU). Consisting of 10 faculty, eight postdocs, and roughly 15 graduate students, GWAC is actively engaged in a number of high-profile astrophysics experiments at the state, national and international level. The purpose of this position is to assist with the planning and coordination of GWAC events and to manage Center communications. The incumbent will liaise with Center faculty and report directly to the Director but is expected to manage some independent tasks. Responsibilities require judgment, resourcefulness and originality, but diverse guides and precedents are usually available to apply or adapt to the circumstances. Work effort has considerable impact on client services, program and project image, with potential legal liabilities.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• A minimum of six (6) months of experience in event planning and communications.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills applicable to broad audiences (students, teachers, faculty, etc.)
• Skilled at creating correspondence, reports, proposals, mailings, charts, graphs, forms, presentations, and memorandum.
• Strong organization and multi-tasking skills and high attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Strong graphic design skills.
• Knowledge of office methods, procedures, practices, and protocol.
• Use of Gmail, Google docs, Macintosh computers in daily operations.
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer utilizing various word processing packages such as Word, Excel, Power Point, etc. for reports, graphs, mailings and presentation development.
• Ability to learn administrative and organizational policies and procedures.
• Ability to simultaneously coordinate many different tasks, determine relative importance of each, set deadlines, and complete projects in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to apply initiative in performing work on a variety of subjects, programs, or projects.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of educational best practices and school systems.
• Visual/Digital content development experience.
• Understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and advertise events, for example research workings, education and outreach projects with teachers and youth, and summer programs. Some coordination will involve working and communication with other institutions.
• Be able to learn basic astronomy concepts and communicate those as an assistant through hands-on activities at outreach events.
• Arrange both domestic and international travel for Center members and visitors.
• Maintain and enhance the Center website and social media accounts, including event announcements and news articles and updates about our programs.
• Develop posters, flyers, etc. to advertise Center programs.
• Thoughtfully contribute to the writing of documents and Center-related proposals, ex: budget justifications, policies for mentoring students, and coordination of outreach and communication elements.
• Work in coordination with WVU’s Office of Communications and Marketing and University Relations to ensure that WVU guidelines are being followed in the following areas: web (WVU best practices, accessibility, technical issues); design (accessibility, use of approved vendors, branding); and communications (event promotion on- and off-campus, branding, social media guidelines, media relations). Undergo training in these areas.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks.
• Wellness programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time