Communications Specialist

Job Posting Title:

Communications Specialist

—-

Hiring Department:

Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors

—-

Position Open To:

All Applicants

—-

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

—-

FLSA Status:

Exempt

—-

Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

—-

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

—-

Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

—-

Job Details:

General Notes

The IC2 (“Innovation, Creativity, and Capital”) Institute is an independent research unit at UT Austin reporting to the Vice President for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Endeavors. Its founder, George Kozmetsky, had a vision that understood the value of combining academic research with real-world practice and innovation.  IC2 is known to many as a prominent catalyst in Austin’s rise as an innovation hub and a magnet for what Richard Florida referred to as the “creative class.”  Over the years IC2 has applied a rigorous lens to study a mix of social phenomena including innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship among immigrants and African Americans, and economic development and resiliency in small communities. Today, its focus remains on understanding how to develop knowledge, ecosystems, and partnerships that catalyze economic development, social transformation, and human ingenuity, but with a new strategic direction toward research and projects that build what we call the “well-being economy.”  

One of the great societal challenges today is the widespread manifestation of structural inequality.  Whether it is the ever-evolving digital and data divides, health inequities, isolation of poor and rural populations, or the racial wealth gap, the forms of structural inequality are all around us. IC2 is developing an action-oriented agenda that will identify some of the key pillars for a well-being economy.  IC2 is committed to contributing to substantive research, innovation, and strategic partnerships that advance equity in social, economic, and health systems.  The challenge we embrace is not ours alone.  As a result, we look forward to pursuing this work with faculty and students from all disciplines, public and private sector partners, and community leaders. 

Purpose

The IC2 Communications Specialist is responsible for advancing communications efforts and support for the IC2 Institute for a variety of audiences. The role is responsible for daily communications functions,  including website updates, social media calendar and posts, and the creation of unique and strategic content across multiple platforms.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and execute a content strategy and calendar of original content for web and social media based on thorough understanding of the Institute’s ongoing projects, planned initiatives, and relevant news. Use strong writing skills to create compelling content to grow awareness and understanding of the Institute’s impact, programs and successes.  

• Edit content for web and social media provided by Institute staff and business unit contributors that supports and aligns with communications strategy. 

• Make frequent updates to web and social media channels.

• Create compelling visual and multimedia communications using software such as the Adobe Creative Suite and Canva.

• Develop templates for Institute reports and presentations and distribute.

• Create and distribute bi-annual newsletters including timely and relevant news, announcements, stories, and spotlights to inform and engage Institute stakeholders.

• Manage and maintain subscribers and contacts in MailChimp and utilize software tools to distribute newsletters regularly.    

• Maintain up to date knowledge of best practices for communication/messaging.

• Monitor citations of Institute or associated activities in outside media and post as appropriate to social media.  

• Build and maintain stakeholder communications.

• Hire and manage student workers and outside vendors creating any communication and design work.   

• Manage and engage with local media/press/work with University Marketing and Communication (UMAC) and OVPR Communication Teams. Serve as point of contact with UMAC and co-create content and communication the institute’s ongoing impact.   

• Schedule video campaigns with videographer and maintain the video library, publications, research, and reports on the web.  

Additional Responsibilities may include:  

• Evaluate and adjust strategy based on web analytics, media monitoring, and input from leadership, and on varying time-sensitive goals.    

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in related field of study or equivalent relevant professional experience. Two (2) to four (4) years of professional experience in content creation; excellent writing and communications skills (e.g., sentence structure, grammar, varied vocabulary, spelling, style). Demonstrated ability to write content for a variety of channels and audiences. Experience managing editorial calendars and developing a content pipeline. Strong copyediting and proofreading skills and attention to detail. Some experience working with social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Good (presentation) interpersonal skills; ability to communicate effectively with all levels of professionals. Good time management skills to handle multiple assignments and prioritize work appropriately.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

Five (5) years of professional experience in content creation.. Previous experience using WordPress or similar content management system for websites. Previous experience using content management tool such as Asana, Hive, Trello, or similar. Previous experience using email marketing platforms such as MailChimp or similar.

Salary Range

$50,000 – $60,000

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Prolonged screen time

• Use of manual dexterity

Work Shift

• M-F, 8 am – 5 pm

• Remote hybrid with three days a week in-person hours at IC2 Institute (contingent)

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

—-

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

—-

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

—-

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

—-

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer , complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

—-

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

—-

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

—-

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

—-

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031 .

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the 2021 report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe, Suite UTA 2.206, Austin, TX 78701.