Communications & Outreach Specialist at University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $52K/yr – $69K/yr

University of Minnesota

Communications & Outreach Specialist

Minneapolis, MN (Hybrid)

$52K/yr – $69K/yrMid LevelFull time

Posted 2 months ago

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Job Summary

Own external communications and stakeholder engagement to extend UMASH reach through partner collaborations, events, and accessible outreach content.

Manage outreach partnerships, co-branded materials, and cross-promotional initiatives with agricultural and public health networks.
Translate complex research into plain-language content and coordinate external communications across social, web, and media channels.
Support event planning and leadership facilitation to connect farmers, Extension networks, and community partners.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Cultivate and maintain relationships with partner organizations to support joint outreach efforts, collaborative newsletter contributions, co-branded materials, and cross-promotional opportunities that advance UMASH's reach.
Coordinate with leadership on planning and facilitation of key public stakeholder engagement events, advisory board meetings, and center meetings. Attend conferences, community events, and professional meetings to represent UMASH and promote resources.
Provide logistical support for detailed event planning, including scheduling, meeting space, catering, technology needs, and the production and dissemination of marketing programs and materials. Key activities include gathering center collaborators for up to quarterly in person Center meetings and supporting the planning of the Wellness Pavillion at Minnesota Farmfest.
Assist leadership with meeting facilitation, technical support, notetaking, and follow-up activities.
Serve as an ambassador for UMASH in agricultural and public health spaces, building relationships with farmers, farm organizations, community groups, Extension networks, and other partners.
Support the creation and production of external-facing materials such as press releases, email newsletters, research briefs, spotlight stories, social media campaigns, and promotional resources for partner and public audiences and identify new and creative approaches for effective and impactful external communications, marketing campaigns, resource development, and design concepts.
Write, review, and edit communications materials for accuracy, clarity, and audience appropriateness, including website content and email communications.
Translate technical research findings from the Center into accessible, plain-language content for a broad range of audiences, including funders, academic partners, agricultural community members, industry partners, and the general public.
Manage key areas of external digital communication, including social listening and media channels, audience segmentation, copywriting, plain language standards, and digital media channel management. May involve basic design work in Canva and similar platforms.
Support routine website updates and email communications and newsletters for dissemination via Mailchimp and other platforms.

Requirements

BA/BS plus at least two years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience equal to at least six years.
Adaptability and collaboration skills, ability and passion to work with a diverse team of interested parties (agricultural communities, Extension, Agribusiness, and Government Agencies) and thriving in a dynamic, community-engaged environment.
Digital skills, including experience planning and implementing social media engagement and familiarity with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office or other similar software. Willingness to learn platforms like Canva, Asana, and Air Inc.
Organizational skills, demonstrated organizational skills to balance multiple projects simultaneously, coordinating workflow and priorities.
Communication skills, including effective writing, proofreading, and editing for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace.

Nice_to_have

- Bilingual with fluency in Spanish preferred
- Specialized knowledge about agriculture, agricultural health, farming communities, environmental issues, public health, and/or occupational safety.
- Experience with event planning, public relations, and/or coordinating with external partner organizations in community, nonprofit, and/or public health settings.

Benefits

- Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
- Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
- Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
- Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
- University HSA contributions
- Disability and employer-paid life insurance
- Employee wellbeing program
- Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
- Financial counseling services

University of Minnesota

One of the nation’s largest schools, the University of Minnesota offers baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in virtually every field—from medicine to business, law to liberal arts, and science and engineering to architecture. The University of Minnesota system is made up of five campuses in Minnesota including Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul). University of Minnesota Extension provides outreach and education services to Minnesota's communities through science-based knowledge, expertise and training.The University of Minnesota was recognized by Forbes in 2018 in the Best Employer, Best Employer for Diversity, and Best Employer for New Grads categories.

Founded in 2007

Minnesota, USA

28K employees (535 in marketing)

z.umn.edu/9gi