Communications Manager, Office of Communications and Marketing

PAY GRADE: 31E

Context Of The Job

The Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM) has University-wide responsibility for communications among multiple stakeholders, both internally (faculty, staff and students), as well as externally to prospective students, alumni, parents and other special constituent groups beyond the campus, including print, broadcast, social and digital media. OCM serves as the major strategic communications leader and dissemination point for information about the University.

Reporting to UD’s Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM), with a dotted line to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education/Dean of the Honors College, the Communications Manager develops, guides and implements the strategic direction of the communications landscape for the College and the components of Undergraduate Education, with a focus on digital communications and marketing. The Communications Manager oversees content management for the College across multiple areas, including web, social media, email, and other UD content delivery systems. The Communications Manager will also create and optimize websites and other content in support of the Undergraduate Education team, which leads efforts related to the academic success and support of undergraduate students across all disciplines at UD.

The Communications Manager will develop and implement communications plans and establish divisional workflows for coordination and dissemination of messaging to target audiences, including prospective and current students; parents and families; faculty members and academic administrators; alumni; the Honors College dean’s advisory council; and representatives of government, industry and other institutions around the world. The position coordinates with other campus communicators to ensure consistency in messaging and efficacy in delivery modes.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic Communications

• Interfaces regularly with unit leadership to develop communications and outreach plans, including defining the message, determining methods to communicate the message effectively to internal and external audiences, and evaluating the effectiveness of implemented strategies to adjust and revise as required for sustained improvement.
• Develops and maintains an annual planning calendar for unique communication actions and materials, including web pages, print media, email, social media, and other unique promotions, that inform current and prospective students and UD community audiences.
• Serves as consultant and editor for branding and voice in college materials to external audiences, including presentations, websites, and reports.
• Applies UD design, brand identity, digital and editorial standards to communications initiatives. Stays current on all relevant UD policies related to external communications, branding, and marketing. Ensures consistency across brand identity, messaging, and strategic communications positioning for the University.
• Collaborates with OCM team members and campus communicators for content generation and production for UDaily, UD Magazine and other university publications.
  
  

Digital Communications

• Oversees divisional digital, social media and email newsletter strategies to ensure best practices and follow trends on usage by college constituents (students, parents, alumni, friends).
• Creates, maintains and optimizes websites and web content for the Honors College and associated units in the Undergraduate Education portfolio in partnership with OCM’s digital team.
• Creates email communication, including weekly student email newsletters and periodic email newsletters to faculty, administrators, and the college’s external advisory council.
• Creates copy for online resources and websites tailored to the appropriate audiences.
• Creates content calendars and curates posts on different digital platforms to promote the primary messages of the college as well as programming and events.
• Oversees the creation of digital message content on the monitors in Honors residences and other relevant spaces.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, English, public relations, journalism or related field and at least five years of job-related experience. Higher education experience is preferred.
• Experience developing comprehensive content strategies and producing tailored messaging for various audiences.
• Ability to use independent judgment to gather, manage and impart information to various internal and external audiences.
• Strong organization and planning skills, and effective project management skills.
• Solid understanding of good user experience and digital media literacy.
• Advanced proficiency with web content management systems, particularly Adobe Experience Manager and/or WordPress.
• Advanced knowledge and experience with e-communication and social media as a marketing tool.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft and Google software suites, and various other web, graphic design, video and publishing software tools.
• Outstanding oral, written, presentation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate orally and in writing with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to work independently, with attention to detail, and handle multiple tasks.