Communications Coordinator

23816BR

Social Welfare

Position Overview

The Communications Coordinator/Recruiter assists in communications, promotional activities, and student recruiting for the School of Social Welfare in executing the overall strategic communications plan for the School of Social Welfare. This is a regular, full-time (1.0 FTE), benefits eligible, unclassified position.

The KU School of Social Welfare is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment for students, faculty, and staff. We also encourage our school community members to engage in service to the larger community to advance social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. The successful candidate will have a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.  

As a nationally accredited School of Social Welfare within a comprehensive, premier research university we continually strive to innovate, transform, and educate through quality education, research advancement, and community engagement. The main campus of the KU School of Social Welfare is in Lawrence and offers BSW, MSW, and PhD degree programs. We plan to offer a DSW degree in the future. The KU Edwards Campus is in Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City, and offers BSW and MSW courses. The MSW program is also offered at our partnership site, Pittsburg State University.

This position reports to the Marketing and Communications Director.

The School of Social Welfare is also hiring for another communications position.  If interested please find that job description at https://employment.KU.edu/staff/23815BR

Job Description

Communications Content Development and Distribution (50%) 

• Write, edit and produce news and promotional collateral for various internal and external audiences and for print and digital publications and platforms, such as the KU School of Social e-newsletter, news releases produced by the school or university, print collateral, direct mail, social media organic and paid posts, web content, and video production. Content generation may include shooting and editing photography and video and designing print and electronic materials.
• Investigate and develop news and feature stories by conducting interviews and performing additional research as needed.
• Assist with planning and generating content for the school’s social media platforms, including researching, creating, editing, posting and cross-promoting content.
• Manage production of publications both internally and externally, including developing content for promotional use in all formats, communicating/scheduling with printers, freelance writers, other School and KU units, and others. Provide support at School events.
• Manage content on the school’s website, serving as a contact for updates across the site, maintaining news feeds and events calendars, and ensuring overall accuracy, consistency and brand-alignment.
• Maintain a communications calendar for social media content, news releases, and website updates.
• Supervise student hourly employees to manage supportive tasks.

Student Recruiting and School Promotion (45%)

• Identify qualified prospective student leads and cultivate relationships from inquiry through enrollment.
• Meet in person with prospective students and respond to all email/phone inquiries.
• Serve as primary point of contact for community/state agencies and Higher Ed institutions wanting information regarding Social Welfare programs.
• Implement recruitment strategies for appropriate student populations – BSW, MSW, PhD, DSW, minority and other underrepresented populations – designed by the School’s Marketing and Communications Director by managing, tracking and reporting prospect movement through prospect database and other recruitment database programs or tactics. Work with the School’s Marketing and Communications Director to adjust strategies and tactics as needed. Provide evaluation and assessment of recruitment plan and recruitment efforts.
• Participate in on-campus and off-campus recruitment efforts including KU Office of Admissions visit days, site visits to schools with BSW programs, college fairs, and conferences, coordinate and host online and in-person information sessions and manage prospective student visits and appointments.
• Coordinate all orientation sessions for new MSW, PhD, and DSW students and make presentations at programs as needed.
• Coordinate with the KU Academic Success staff to follow and support efforts to retain students as they move through the School programming.

Other (5%)

• Assumes additional responsibilities as assigned by the Marketing and Communications Director.

Position Requirements

Position is hybrid – a combination of on-site and remote work as deemed by supervisor. 

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, communications, or relevant field, plus minimum of one year related professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Evidence of strong writing skills.

Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

Demonstrates commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Experience at managing multiple detail-oriented projects on tight deadlines.

Strong computer skills, preferably with experience with Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, web content management systems, and social media platforms.

Experience with digital marketing strategies, CRM and CMS systems, and analyzing marketing data.

Experience developing, reporting or writing feature stories and news coverage for various audiences.

Contact Information to Applicants

Elenor Crangle
Business Director
ecrangle@ku.edu

Additional Candidate Instruction

Complete and submit the online application and include a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred qualifications of the position, resume, a list of three professional references and a writing sample. If available, you can also include a design sample, but this is not required for a complete application.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application review begins Monday, November 21st, 2022. To ensure consideration, please apply prior to this date.

Advertised Salary Range

Minimum $41,299

Application Review Begins

21-Nov-2022

Anticipated Start Date

01-Dec-2022

Primary Campus

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

Employee Class

U-Unclassified Professional Staff

Work Schedule

Standard M-F between 8-5

Job Family

Public Affairs-KUL

Work Location Assignment

Hybrid

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Director of the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).