Marketing & Communications Specialist

Overview

The Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) Marketing and Communications Specialist is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive online and social media strategy to enhance the visibility and reputation of the department. This role involves creating engaging content, managing social media platforms, fostering community engagement, and collaborating with faculty, staff, and students. This position is telework eligible within the state of Utah.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities :

Content Creation & Management : - Develop engaging social media content (text, images, video) for various platforms (Instagram, Facebook, HDFS blog, etc.).- Develop and manage HDFS website content and integration with social media.- Stay abreast of social media trends and best practices.- Schedule and publish regular social media posts.- Monitor social media comments and conversations and respond promptly.

Community Engagement : - Promote HDFS events, student activities, and research opportunities.- Feature alumni and student success stories.- Foster connections between HDFS and the broader community.

Department Branding & Visibility : - Collaborate with stakeholders to develop content that aligns with departmental and university branding guidelines.- Design and create promotional materials for undergraduate and graduate student recruitment.- Generate reports on social media performance metrics (reach, engagement, website traffic, etc.) and use data to refine strategies.

Collaboration : - Work closely with HDFS faculty, staff, and students to gather content ideas and plan initiatives.- Attend departmental and CEHS PR team meetings.

Big-Picture Contributions : - Communicate the value of HDFS at Utah State University.- Foster alumni and donor relations.- Increase undergraduate and graduate student recruitment.

Additional Responsibilities : - Assist with building and circulating a department newsletter, as well as maintaining the department blog to ensure consistent communication and engagement with stakeholders.- Support the creation and maintenance of HDFS department websites.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications :

• Knowledge of major social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Facebook).
• Strong written and communication skills.
• Detail-oriented and able to meet deadlines.
• Familiarity with digital media and content creation, including photo and video, and the ability to use basic photo editing software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva).
• Experience with website content management systems (e.g., Modern Campus CMS) and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Commitment to upholding Utah State University's Social Media Standards (https : / / www.usu.edu / brand / standards / social-media / ).
• This role requires significant on-site presence for effective collaboration with students and faculty. Some flexibility in work hours is needed, including occasional evening and weekend availability to support department events. Some telework may be possible.

Preferred Qualifications :

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach :

Advertised Salary

Min. $15.00 per Hour, negotiable base on experience

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and / or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions. This position requires moderate physical effort.

College / Department Highlights

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services is home to eight departments and is committed to providing the best learning opportunities and educational research in the state of Utah. Our programs are strengthened by an on-campus elementary laboratory school and five stand-alone centers, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence. The college offers clinical services to the community across the human lifespan and provide students with real-world service and research opportunities.

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (https : / / cehs.usu.edu / hdfs) is in the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services (https : / / cehs.usu.edu). Departmental degrees offered include :

The department has 30 faculty members, over 300 undergraduate majors, and over 80 graduate students.  The department is committed to optimizing the lives of individuals, families, and communities through excellence in research, teaching, and extension. Our nationally recognized faculty lead research, instructional, and outreach efforts in the areas of marriage and family relations, human development from infancy to later life, early childhood education, family financial management, and marriage and family therapy. In the last fiscal year, the department generated $9.5M in research, service, and outreach expenditures. Units within the department include the Adele and Dale Young Child Development Laboratory, which provides service for children and families, research, and training pre-professionals; the Dolores Doré Eccles Center for Early Care and Education provides high quality day care services and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children; the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic (MFT) provides therapy services to individuals, couples, and families; and Housing and Financial Counseling (HFC) services, which provides programs for first time home buyers, reverse mortgages, and debt management. The department is a proud partner of Cooperative Extension at Utah State University. Our faculty provide a variety of evidence-based family life education programs across the state. Signature program areas include stepfamily education, healthy relationships, and parenting.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu.

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and / or USU’s non-discrimination policies :

Executive Director of the Office of Equity  Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator  Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address : 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https : / / equity.usu.edu / , or contact :

U.S. Department of Education,  Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

Salary : $10 - $15