Internal Communications Strategist (Communications Generalist)

VP COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING (UA-VPCM-IUINA)

The Office of the Vice President for Communications and Marketing is the central Communications and Marketing unit at Indiana University (IU) and includes the University Events and Conferences teams. Our insights and technology-driven teams serve as strategic consultants throughout the university, with a central mission to advance the university's reputation as a driver of student success, transformational research and creativity, and impact within the State of Indiana, nationally and globally, while creating experiences that lead to a lifelong love for IU. University Communications leads university-wide communications efforts with workstreams ranging from internal communication to issues management, media relations, research communication and storytelling, social media, state impact communication and executive communication.

Indiana University seeks an experienced communications strategist to serve strategic priorities of the university within the Office of University Communications and Marketing. As a member of the internal communications team, this role will help advance the university's mission by developing communications strategies and writing content that aims to inform and explain university-wide changes and updates, as well as news and announcements that impact the staff, faculty and students of Indiana University. Their writing will help shape and promote university priorities.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Collaborates closely with leaders and communicators across the university and colleagues within UCM to help inform and explain how leadership decisions impact staff, faculty and students, as well as provide context for said decisions.
• Responsible for ensuring the university's campus communities are aware of progress being made on key university initiatives.
• Developing communications plans, writing stories and content to inform and explain how leadership decisions impact staff, faculty and students, as well as provide context for decisions and awareness of progress on university initiatives.
• Cultivating relationships with key campus partners.
• Coordinating with leadership and communications partners across the university on the development of communications plan and content.
• Collaborating with other internal, storytelling, marketing and social colleagues to support larger UCM projects and priorities.
• Crafting content that will help promote the university's priorities on all campuses.
  
  

General Responsibilities

• Independently creates basic and complex communications for print and e-distribution on behalf of department or large multi-faceted department and in support of departmental goals and objectives; communications may be interdepartmental; staff, faculty, or student-focused; or external.
• Responds to inquiries and requests and explains policies, procedures, and context of communications.
• Manages relationships with various internal and external stakeholders and creates communications coverage for relevant initiatives, events, and programs.
• Prepares communications timelines and shares progress of communications toward relevant deadlines with manager, team members, and other relevant constituents.
• Regularly monitors relevant social media and news sites; researches relevant subject matter to increase knowledge in area(s) of specialty.
• Utilizes various communications software programs and delivers communications in multiple formats to a variety of audiences.
• Monitors industry trends and best practices and makes process and operational recommendations to manager.
• May provide guidance to lower-level Communications Generalists.
  
  

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English, public relations, or related field
  
  

Required

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 5 years in relevant field
  
  

Skills

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
• Possesses a high degree of initiative
• Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents
  
  

Preferred

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment, while keeping leadership informed and seeking appropriate input before acting
• Ability to exercise discretion when handling confidential communication and information
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Demonstrates ability to craft clear and effective messages for multiple, distinct audiences across a variety of platforms
• Ability to simultaneously handle multiple priorities
• Experience within higher education or demonstrated familiarity with the higher education landscape
• Experience writing for an academic institution or a science/media organization
• Experience collaborating with faculty on communications efforts
  
  

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Bloomington, Indiana or Indianapolis, Indiana

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
  
  

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Career Level: Advanced

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Marketing & Communications

Job Family: Communications Generalist

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.

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