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Position Title:Communications Manager
Job Category:Academic Staff
Employment Type:Regular
Job Profile:Communications Manager
Job Duties:
Reporting directly to the Assistant Chancellor for University Relations and Strategic Communications, the Communications Manager serves as a lead day-to-day owner of UW–Oshkosh’s newsroom and media relations operation. This position combines strong news judgment, exceptional writing and editing skills, proactive media relations, and public-information expertise to tell the University’s story accurately, strategically, and in a timely manner. The Communications Manager manages the UWO Today/newsroom pipeline, develops and advances story opportunities aligned with University priorities, writes and edits a variety of institutional communications, coordinates contributors and deadlines, and maintains high standards for accuracy, clarity, and institutional voice.
The position serves as a primary day-to-day contact for media inquiries and builds productive relationships with local, regional, and statewide media. The Communications Manager proactively pitches University stories, experts, research, programs, and community impact and prepares media statements, talking points, background materials, and interview preparation. The position also coordinates newsroom and media needs with social, photography, video, creative, and digital colleagues to maximize opportunities for integrated and reusable content across University communications.
The position also supports the University Relations function by helping coordinate the University’s engagement with government, business, civic, nonprofit, and community partners. This may include supporting University and government events, coordinating partnership meetings and institutional visits, assisting with chambers of commerce and University-led alliances, maintaining timely follow-up and two-way communication, and helping advance collaborative opportunities and shared initiatives. The Communications Manager identifies opportunities to extend this work through earned media, storytelling, and coordinated content across University platforms.
The Communications Manager provides day-to-day direction, editing, and coaching to communications staff, student employees, and interns as appropriate and contributes to the development of newsroom, media relations, and writing standards, templates, and resources. The position also supports issues and crisis communications through fact gathering, message development, media coordination, and monitoring, serving as backup crisis communications support as assigned. Routine editorial and media relations matters are handled independently within established University priorities, while crisis, legal, personnel, safety, and high-profile reputational matters are appropriately coordinated and escalated to University leadership and partners.
This position also serves as the University’s designated Public Records Custodian, leading and administering responses to requests under the Wisconsin Public Records Law. Responsibilities include coordinating records searches across the University, reviewing responsive records, determining disclosure, redaction, withholding, and fees, communicating with requesters, and maintaining documentation of the response process. Working closely with University leadership, legal counsel, information technology, human resources, and other stakeholders, the position also provides leadership, consultation, and training to ensure timely, consistent, and legally compliant public-records practices.
The duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive and may be adjusted or expanded as organizational needs evolve.
Hybrid remote work may be available after the successful completion of the initial training period. Please note that the remote work policy is subject to change at the discretion of the school or university.
Universities of Wisconsin also offers an extremely competitive benefits package for 2026 that includes:
Position Title:Communications Manager
Job Category:Academic Staff
Employment Type:Regular
Job Profile:Communications Manager
Job Duties:
Reporting directly to the Assistant Chancellor for University Relations and Strategic Communications, the Communications Manager serves as a lead day-to-day owner of UW–Oshkosh’s newsroom and media relations operation. This position combines strong news judgment, exceptional writing and editing skills, proactive media relations, and public-information expertise to tell the University’s story accurately, strategically, and in a timely manner. The Communications Manager manages the UWO Today/newsroom pipeline, develops and advances story opportunities aligned with University priorities, writes and edits a variety of institutional communications, coordinates contributors and deadlines, and maintains high standards for accuracy, clarity, and institutional voice.
The position serves as a primary day-to-day contact for media inquiries and builds productive relationships with local, regional, and statewide media. The Communications Manager proactively pitches University stories, experts, research, programs, and community impact and prepares media statements, talking points, background materials, and interview preparation. The position also coordinates newsroom and media needs with social, photography, video, creative, and digital colleagues to maximize opportunities for integrated and reusable content across University communications.
The position also supports the University Relations function by helping coordinate the University’s engagement with government, business, civic, nonprofit, and community partners. This may include supporting University and government events, coordinating partnership meetings and institutional visits, assisting with chambers of commerce and University-led alliances, maintaining timely follow-up and two-way communication, and helping advance collaborative opportunities and shared initiatives. The Communications Manager identifies opportunities to extend this work through earned media, storytelling, and coordinated content across University platforms.
The Communications Manager provides day-to-day direction, editing, and coaching to communications staff, student employees, and interns as appropriate and contributes to the development of newsroom, media relations, and writing standards, templates, and resources. The position also supports issues and crisis communications through fact gathering, message development, media coordination, and monitoring, serving as backup crisis communications support as assigned. Routine editorial and media relations matters are handled independently within established University priorities, while crisis, legal, personnel, safety, and high-profile reputational matters are appropriately coordinated and escalated to University leadership and partners.
This position also serves as the University’s designated Public Records Custodian, leading and administering responses to requests under the Wisconsin Public Records Law. Responsibilities include coordinating records searches across the University, reviewing responsive records, determining disclosure, redaction, withholding, and fees, communicating with requesters, and maintaining documentation of the response process. Working closely with University leadership, legal counsel, information technology, human resources, and other stakeholders, the position also provides leadership, consultation, and training to ensure timely, consistent, and legally compliant public-records practices.
The duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive and may be adjusted or expanded as organizational needs evolve.
Hybrid remote work may be available after the successful completion of the initial training period. Please note that the remote work policy is subject to change at the discretion of the school or university.
Universities of Wisconsin also offers an extremely competitive benefits package for 2026 that includes:
- Health plans, currently starting at $45 per month.
- 176 hours of vacation per year (prorated for start date).
- 36 hours of personal holiday, and 9 legal holidays (prorated for start date).
- 176 Hours of sick leave for first 18 months. After this period, employees can earn up to 96 hours per fiscal year. Accumulates without limit and does not expire.