Job Description:

Department:

SPH - Communications-460130

Career Area :

Public Relations/Communications/Marketing

Posting Open Date:

10/09/2024

Application Deadline:

10/22/2024

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Position Type:

Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Working Title:

Communications Specialist

Appointment Type:

EHRA Non-Faculty

Position Number:

20067538

Vacancy ID:

NF0008577

Full Time/Part Time:

Full-Time Permanent

FTE:

1

Hours per week:

40

Position Location:

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range:

$56,900 - $76,500

Proposed Start Date:

11/11/2024

Be a Tar Heel!:

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as
one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of
professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy
exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a
comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

Our Office of Communications provides services in media relations, writing, social media, design, photography and video. We also provide consultation for marketing and branding internal and external communications.

Position Summary:

The Public Communications Specialist supports the communications mission of the Gillings School of Global Public Health. We are ranked as the top public school of public health in the U.S., and #2 overall. The goal of this position - and the Gillings School's communications team - is to implement communications and marketing strategy aimed at supporting this reputation and ranking, with a special focus on (1) our high impact research and (2) our high quality academic programs. This team also has a goal of supporting internal communications within the Gillings School, including executive communications.

Executive Communications: This position is responsible for a wide range of duties in support of internal and external communications on behalf of the school's dean and Dean's Office, developing deliverables that reach Gillings faculty, staff and students as well as alumni, donors, public health leaders and prominent scientists and researchers from other universities, and strategic partners from business and industry.


Strategy, Impact and Reputation Management: The Communications Specialist will design and execute an integrated, comprehensive communications plan that elevates schoolwide strategic initiatives (in public health practice, research, academics, and global health) across our information platforms. As part of this work, this individual will independently - and in partnership with the Gillings communications and marketing team - develop the plan and sets of persuasive and compelling deliverables that meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders, including writing and/or editing articles, news releases, and announcements and memos to be issued from the school, posted on the SPH website, and/or printed in the annual magazine and other publications. This individual also will develop and manage content for key SPH webpages. To do so, the Communications Specialist must liaise effectively across committees, work groups, and individuals involved with these initiatives.


As part of these efforts, the Communications Specialist will initiate and implement a key strategy for reputation management; e.g., this person will develop and manage a new schoolwide committee (the Nominations Committee). This committee will strategically identify Gillings faculty, staff, and students who have made a significant public health impact and then identify prestigious awards for which they would be competitive. The Communications Specialist will then guide development of persuasive nominations, liaising with key stakeholders across the Gillings School and beyond. This position will then market awards achievements internally and externally across web, social media, executive communications, memos to alumni and donors, etc.


General Communications: The person in this position will partner with other team members in the Gillings communications and marketing unit to sustain a unified approach to the Gillings School brand guidelines across the school and university. This includes fully operationalizing the school's guidelines for voice, copy, and image standards, using AP style, Adobe Creative Suite, and WordPress to do so. The individual will also reflect in copy and content the mission, objectives and goals of Gillings School Communications and the Gillings School, with a special focus on how the mission relates to executive communications as well as strategy and impact.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

The individual in this role must HAVE:


A strong track record as an outstanding writer who is able to (a) communicate complex information to both general and academic audiences; and (b) to synthesize, summarize and distill large amounts of disparate information and data for the widest range of audiences.


Experience with liaising and partnering with a broad range of people from within the university and beyond, including senior leaders for other organizations, donors, and others.


Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, and WordPress.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

BA in journalism, communications, English or a related field with 5 years or more experience working in the field is strongly preferred.

Preferred candidate would have at least three years of compensated writing/editing experience for an educational institution, with skill in understanding how to make a persuasive case in writing for internal and external audiences; the ability to handle several projects at once; and the flexibility to change priorities as needed.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:

Not Applicable.

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