Communications Specialist

Communications Specialist

Public Affairs

Reed College seeks an organized and driven person to be our next Communications Specialist. The Communications Specialist is an integral part of the Public Affairs team of marketing professionals, writers and editors, print and web designers, and media relations professionals. This is an exciting position — you’ll work with fascinating people from diverse offices and departments on a wide range of projects. This position reports to the Director of Editorial Services and works closely with college partners.

Reed College offers an exceptional benefits package, including comprehensive medical and dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with 10% employer contribution (after one year of service), educational assistance for employees and their children, 22 days of paid vacation, paid holidays, half-day Fridays in the summer, and many other campus amenities. This is a full-time, exempt role with work hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a one-hour unpaid lunch. Starting salary for this position is $48,000 to $51,900 per year.

Reed College employment opportunities are in person and on campus. Therefore we do not offer remote positions.

Who You Are

• You have exceptionally strong writing and editing skills. You have two years professional copywriting experience in fields such as marketing, social media, blogs, etc. and at least one year of social media management on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• You prefer simplicity and can translate dense content into plain language.
  
• You know that feedback is invaluable and you seek it out. Even feedback on your writing is important to you, and you’re comfortable receiving it.
  
• You are exceptionally well-organized. You always have a plan, and you always meet your deadlines.
• In addition to always having a plan, you always have empathy for your co-collaborators. People like working with you because you’re organized yet flexible.
  
• You sweat the details. You enjoy being the person on the team who manages the minutiae.
  
• You take initiative and work independently, but you like being part of a team. You don’t hesitate to roll up your sleeves and pitch in, even when it’s not your job.
  
• You are personally committed to equity and it shows in your work. You are self-aware and comfortable working on teams with varying gender, racial, socio-economic, ability, sexual orientation, and cultural identities.
  
• You’ve learned how to use an unfamiliar application in the last three years (e.g., Basecamp, Airtable, Google Docs, Mailchimp), and you found it to be pretty intuitive.
  
• You like being busy and having a long and interesting To Do list. You can work on multiple projects simultaneously and balance overlapping deliverables.
  
• You don’t mind when the plan changes, especially if the plan changes for the better.

What You’ll Do

• Write and Edit: You will be responsible for writing and disseminating the weekly Campus News newsletter to the campus community, the monthly Reedie News newsletter to alumni and current students, and blog posts and other editorial content for the Reed audience.
  
• Create and post: You will be in charge of all of Reed College’s main social media accounts, creating content, scheduling posts, and working with campus partners to coordinate campaigns and shared messages.
  
• Copyedit: Edit work for clarity and other issues as needed.
  
• Communicate: Meet with campus partners, gather newsletter items and social media content, provide status updates on projects, and handle general administrative duties as required.
  
• Follow a process: Follow procedures related to proofreading, copyediting, version control, and approvals.

Application Instructions

Click below to apply. You will be directed to Interfolio to create a free account and begin your application. A resume and cover letter are required. You can submit these documents in any format, but pdf works best. In your cover letter please address the following:

• What draws you to work at an institution of higher education?
• How has your experience prepared you to contribute to the mission of a liberal arts college?

Please also include two to three work sample(s) (e.g. blog post, newsletter, social media content, or communications campaign) that demonstrate your writing and communication ability.

Applications will be considered as they are submitted so you are encouraged to apply early. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Reed College replies to every candidate. We will confirm that your application is received, and if you are not selected, we will let you know as soon as possible.

Apply for this job

Reed College is committed to building a culturally inclusive community and a work environment that respects and inspires every person. Your unique skills, work history, cultural contributions, and lived experiences are essential to building this community. Members of historically marginalized groups including women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), those with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have served in the military, and members of other underrepresented communities are invited to apply.