"Marketing Content Writer"

Job Details

Marketing Content Writer

The employee in this position develops and implements marketing and public relations efforts for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) within the Office of Communications (DARCOMM). The DARCOMM team of 15-20 staff members is responsible for producing all communications and marketing materials to support the university’s alumni engagement, fundraising, and career development efforts. This employee takes the lead on content creation for many materials, including (but not limited to) copy and content for websites, news releases, emails, social media, blogs, scripts, university publications, and direct mail. This employee is responsible for conducting research and interviews in the development of these materials, producing on-brand and accurate final deliverables, and partners with designers, videographers, other writers, and web developers (both in-house and hired) to review work for quality and accuracy.

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 1-2 years of work experience in marketing, communications, or public relations.
• Experience in a role that requires frequent/heavy writing, whether for media, social, web or print materials.
• Experience in media relations, digital advertising, email marketing and/or social marketing.
• Ability to manage 20+ writing assignments with varying deadlines at any given time.
• Knowledge of AP Style writing.
• An understanding of and experience with search engine optimization writing.
• Experience with graphic design and/or knowledge of design programs.
• Experience with building, editing, and proofing blogs and pages in web development programs like WordPress.
• Experience in higher education and/or fundraising.
• Experience in a public relations or marketing agency.
• Experience in project management or developing project timelines.
• Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Eager to learn, pursue new/unconventional communications tactics and expand writing skills and repertoire.
• Ability to navigate complex projects and ensure they are completed on deadline.
• Ability to collaborate with others and enlist buy-in from different groups.
• Exemplary communications skills (both written and verbal).
• Organizational skills and ability to multitask.
• Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service.
• Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct.

Additional Division Expectations

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

• Some after-hours work and/or traveling may be involved
• Work in a standard office environment
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, video calls, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
• Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

Duties/Responsibilities

(60%) Deliver on-brand written content in pursuit of unit, division, and university goals.

• Develop high-quality content that includes (but is not limited to) copy for: news releases, websites, emails, social media, blogs, scripts, university publications, and direct mail.
• Collaborate with DARCOMM colleagues (Creative, Digital, Communications) to enhance content with appropriate visuals.
• Ensure all content and final products:
  • Follow AP Style and use correct/consistent grammar
  • Are factually correct
  • Positively reflect the UGA brand
  • Support DAR/UGA goals
• Master the UGA brand voice and tone, as well as any other sub-brands such as those developed for alumni, fundraising, parent giving, Mentor Program, etc.
• Customize content to channels (web, email, social, print, events, advertising, etc.) and ensure content is written in UGA brand voice/tone and at length for those channels.
• Develop relationships across the division and campus to enhance research when needed.
• Gain knowledge from constituent database to develop accurate and thorough profiles on alumni, donors, students, and friends of the university. Enhance with online and campus research.
• Interview story subjects to gain background knowledge, quotes, and other information, and follow up with them later for reviews and approvals of content.
• Craft persuasive language to show target audiences the importance of and impact of their engaging with the university.
• Ensure content is reviewed, approved, and shared with appropriate internal and external audiences.
• Understand timelines and adhere to deadlines. Keep colleagues informed about projects on a regular basis by following DARCOMM’s workflow processes and leveraging the team’s project management system.
• Help prioritize projects to ensure DARCOMM is focused on the most strategically important work. Identify assignments that overlap and could benefit from collaboration to ensure efficient work across the DARCOMM team.
• Collaborate with and seek input from creative, communications and digital colleagues.

(15%) Participate in marketing meetings and strategy discussions that focus on content development.

• Enhance concepting process in the role of creative writer.
• Join appropriate meetings to lend a strategic eye to what content should be developed to achieve target unit, division, and UGA goals.
• Collaborate with DARCOMM and campus colleagues to determine effective content needs for a variety of projects.

(10%) Proofread materials developed by others in the Office of Communications and the division.

• Ensure DARCOMM is consistently putting forth excellent work that is both high-quality and accurate.

(10%) Maintain a database of potential story ideas and profiles.

• Organize potential story and profile ideas that may come from members of the DARCOMM team, campus colleagues, or internal/external media channels.
• Share story ideas with other members of the DARCOMM team who could benefit from and/or are seeking story ideas for a variety of projects.

(5%) Stay up to date with AP Style and other writing tools that can support all writers in the DAR Office of Communications.

• Stay informed of any changes to AP Style and leverage this style in all content being developed for UGA.
• Monitor content trends in media channels and with input from DARCOMM colleagues to ensure final deliverables are as effective as possible.
• Share any interesting/helpful information about trends or writing with colleagues as appropriate.

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the Division of Development and Alumni Relations

The Division of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia advances the goals, objectives, and priorities of the university by generating private financial support, building, and maintaining relationships with alumni and donors, and assisting students with career development opportunities.

About the Development and Alumni Relations' Office of Communications

We serve as an in-house marketing agency for the Development & Alumni Relations division (DAR) at the University of Georgia. Twice a year, we plan. The rest of the time, we design mailers, build websites, write, film, photograph, tweet, and a lot more. Collaboration is how we do our best work. White-boarding and idea-bouncing get us going. Data and analytics teach us how to do better next time. We love to learn from one another. We often partner with the Marketing & Communications division to help further the UGA brand. We streamline and dot-connect. And always do our best to consider our audiences’ perspectives. We are always searching for new ways–more creative ways–to reach our alumni and donors. To help our division achieve its mission and help every DAR unit achieve its goals.

EEO Policy Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.