Graduate School Communications Manager

University of Wisconsin Madison•Madison, WI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Graduate School Communications Manager reports to the Assistant Dean for Professional Development and Communications and guides the development, execution, and continuous improvement of a proactive communications strategy to elevate the visibility and impact of graduate education and postdoctoral training across UW–Madison. The role uses writing, web strategy, analytics, email marketing, and targeted outreach to amplify existing offerings, track audience engagement, and keep stakeholders and campus partners informed and supported. The position calls for a collaborative communications professional able to plan independently, manage complex projects, and lead unit-level communications initiatives across a large, decentralized organization. The manager works with internal Graduate School teams and distributed campus partners, and plans and delivers communications across various media and audiences. The Graduate School provides institutional leadership for graduate education, serving more than 11,000 graduate students, 800 postdocs, and over 260 master’s, specialist, and doctoral degree programs. The Office of Professional Development and Communications coordinates and promotes learning opportunities and communicates the values and identity of the university’s graduate education mission. This is an ongoing, full-time, hybrid position, with at least three on-site workdays per week and flexibility for one to two remote workdays per week. The expected starting salary is $68,000; actual pay depends on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Requirements

At least 2 years of professional experience providing communication support, working independently and within team settings.
Strong written communication skills and keen attention to audience, accuracy, accessibility, and clarity.
Ability to write in a variety of professional styles, including web copy, email marketing, and announcements.
Experience with website strategy and user-centered design principles using content management systems such as WordPress.
Experience developing and executing targeted email campaigns, newsletters, or other mass communications using email marketing tools such as Eloqua.
Experience managing end-to-end communications projects, including establishing timelines, coordinating cross-functional contributors, and tracking deliverables.
Ability to analyze web and email metrics, such as Google Analytics and email platform reports, to evaluate engagement and refine outreach strategies.
Ability to build collaborative working relationships with colleagues, subject matter experts, and distributed institutional partners.
Proactive planning and project management skills, including anticipating communications needs well in advance.
Bachelor’s degree required; candidates with any relevant background and training are encouraged to apply.

Nice To Haves

Focus in a communication-related field.
Experience and/or interest in writing feature stories about graduate and postdoc work and accomplishments.
Experience working within higher education and familiarity with graduate master’s and doctoral education.
Experience with digital layout, design, and/or video editing tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva.
Experience developing advance editorial calendars and project workflows for multi-channel initiatives.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day operational unit plans to align with strategic initiatives and meet established objectives.
Collaborate with internal Graduate School teams and distributed campus partners to align communications timelines, foster shared ownership, and support cross-institutional initiatives.
Identify, propose, and implement new or revised unit operational policies and procedures.
Plan and direct unit programs and projects to ensure adherence to deadlines and budgets.
Plan, write, and edit content for internal and external stakeholders.
Develop, implement, and deliver communication materials through various mediums to designated audiences.
Guide the development, execution, and continuous improvement of a proactive communications strategy.
Amplify existing offerings, track audience engagement, and ensure stakeholders and campus partners are informed and supported.