Communication and Marketing Specialist-Wisconsin Reading Center

Job Details

Salary:
***Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.***

Job Category:Academic Staff

Employment Type:Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile:Communications Specialist

Job Summary:

The key responsibilities of this position include:

• Website & Digital Presence- Lead content strategy, communication plan, and ongoing updates for the WRC website; ensure services, capabilities, metrics, and contact pathways are current and sponsor‑friendly. Create content for LinkedIn, social media platforms and websites.
• Sponsor Content Development- Create and manage sponsor‑facing materials: capability decks, one‑pagers, proposal language, and FAQ. Draft success stories and publication spotlights. Help with design, web and printing materials for sponsors.
• Email, Social and Conference Support- Build a compliant email/news update cadence for sponsors and collaborators (product updates, milestones, publications, conference highlights). Help coordinate in-services for staff quarterly.
• Internal Communication- Create templates and how‑to guides (e.g., sponsor onboarding communications, service request intake, turnaround time expectations).

Travel Expectations

It is required that employees come to Madison, WI. It will be the employee's responsibility to cover expenses for this trip.

Working Conditions

There could be occasional night and weekend events.

This role owns the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications—website, email/news, conference presence, social, and success stories—tailored to clinical research audiences (industry sponsors, CROs, PIs, and academic collaborators). The Specialist partners closely with scientific, operations, and finance leads to translate complex research outputs into clear, compliant, audience‑appropriate messages that differentiate WRC and highlight quality, and outcomes.

• This position is full or part-time, 50%-100%.
• This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
• This position has the possibility to be extended or converted to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Writes, edits, and publishes content for various communication projects and marketing platforms to align with strategic initiatives and established communication campaigns
• Communicates with stakeholders to verify requests and identify editorial resources
• Plans editorial content according to established goals and objects
• Provides project management and execution of communications programs, initiatives, and tactical plans
• Monitors reach and effectiveness of communication campaigns, projects, and initiatives

Department:

School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Wisconsin Reading Center.

The Wisconsin Reading Center (WRC) is a core retinal image reading lab within the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS). The WRC was founded on the enduring principles of intellectual honesty, quality, relevance, innovation, and staff satisfaction. Incepted in 1970 to support the seminal NIH-funded trials of laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy (DR), the WRC has broadened its scope to the evaluation of many retinal diseases, including dry AMD, atrophic AMD, neovascular AMD, DME, retinal vein occlusion, posterior uveitis, inherited retinal disease, AIDS-related ocular disease, and cataract.

Why Join Us?

This position offers hybrid work with the requirement to be on-site 50% of the time to include events, photographer, videography and in-service meetings. We provide flexible work schedules, comprehensive benefits, and professional development. Our team is passionate about making a positive impact on eye disease, and we are looking for individuals who share that commitment.

Compensation:

The starting salary/hourly wage for the position is $48,107.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of work experience in communications, marketing, or related field.
• Minimum of 1 year professional writing experience.
• Experience managing web content, preferably using WordPress or similar platform, with a focus on digital accessibility.
• Demonstrated skill with photography and/or videography, including basic photo and video editing.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in healthcare, academic research or working with clinical trials.
• Experience supporting business development or sponsor communications in clinical research, biotech, med‑device, CRO, or academic medical settings.
• Experience with Canva, adobe, PowerPoint, teams, and/or Smartsheet’s.
• Familiarity with InDesign or other graphic design programs.

Education:

Bachelors Degree Preferred.