"Communication Specialist"

Job Details

Salary:
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Job Category: Academic Staff

Employment Type: Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile: Communications Specialist

Job Summary:

The Departments of Botany and Integrative Biology in the College of Letters & Science are coming together to form the new Department of Biology, creating an exceptional opportunity for a Communications Specialist to play a foundational role in shaping and sharing the identity of this new department.

In this new position, the Communications Specialist will work collaboratively with the Department Chair, faculty, staff, and campus partners to develop and implement strategic communications to promote the department’s mission, priorities, and achievements. This position will play a central role in communicating about the formation and growth of the new department, strengthening alumni engagement, and sharing compelling stories of research, teaching, students, alumni, and impact. In this pivotal moment, the Communications Specialist will help craft the messaging to shape how internal and external audiences view the Department of Biology.

In this role, the Communications Specialist can expect to:

• Plan and execute editorial content according to established goals and objectives
• Develops new ideas and strategies for showcasing Biology, and provide project management and execution of communication programs, initiatives, and tactical plans
• Work closely with the multiple communities of Biology in the department to develop ideas for storytelling
• Write, edit, and publish content for various communication projects and marketing platforms to align with strategic initiatives and established communication campaigns
• Monitor reach and effectiveness of communication campaigns, projects, and initiatives
• Communicate with stakeholders to verify requests and identify editorial resources
• Interact with alumni, advancement officers, donors, faculty, and staff to cultivate and maintain relationships that promote the growth of the teaching and research mission of the department, paying close attention to the priorities and needs of the department
• Potential to supervise student communication intern(s)

The ideal candidate is a strategic, innovative and creative communicator who can think critically about different audiences and craft targeted, effective messages across a variety of platforms, including emerging social media platforms. They will be comfortable managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and taking initiative in a dynamic and evolving environment. This role requires the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, balancing day‑to‑day execution with big‑picture thinking.

The anticipated hybrid work schedule will be up to two days remote, with three days onsite after an initial training period.

The initial term of this appointment is 2 years, with the possibility of being extended based on funding.

The new Department of Biology represents the combined efforts and talents of the current integrative biology and botany departments, which also include the Wisconsin State Herbarium, Botany Garden and Greenhouse, UW Zoological Museum, and Newcomb Imaging Center. The Departments of Botany (https://botany.wisc.edu/) and Integrative Biology (https://integrativebiology.wisc.edu/) are highly ranked and leaders in their fields, with expertise ranging from cells to ecosystems. Our departments are multidisciplinary and highly collaborative. We are committed to providing the best training and education in the field of Biology for UW–Madison undergraduate and graduate students and are home to introductory biology gateway courses and 5 undergraduate majors (Botany, Conservation Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Zoology) housed in the College of Letters & Science.

Key Job Responsibilities:

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

Department:

College of Letters & Science | Department of Biology

Compensation:

The typical starting salary for this position is $59,000 - $68,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Only those with extensive relevant experience will be placed around the high end of that range. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays and paid time off; competitive insurances and saving accounts; and retirement benefits.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 1 year of experience in written storytelling, social media content development, and platforms management
• Experience working with traditional and digital media and using digital communication tools
• Experience with web and social media platforms and management of related analytics
• Proficiency in Adobe Suite or equivalent graphic design platform (such as Canva)
• Proficiency with MS Office applications, Google Workspace, and WordPress
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to develop strategy, messaging, and positioning for communications and advancement
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technology tools and platforms

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of professional full-time experience performing communication activities
• Experience in project management with multiple projects, clients, and vendors
• Website development and management experience
• Communications experience including outreach, stakeholder development, and engagement
• Experience within higher education

Education:

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in communications, journalism, or related field

How to Apply:

Click the "Apply" button to start the application process.

You will be prompted to upload the following documents:

• Resume 
• Cover Letter
• Personal portfolio consisting of at least two writing samples (e.g., feature article, website content, or press release) and one design sample (e.g., webpage, newsletter, or social media post) created by the applicant

Applicants should attach a cover letter and resume detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referenced above. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine which qualified applicants will advance in the recruitment process. Please note, there is only one attachment field. You must upload all your documents referenced above in the attachment field.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Contact Information:

Julie Lindsey, jzlindsey@wisc.edu