Responsibilities

• The Communications Specialist provides professional communications services requiring an in-depth knowledge of one or more communications specialties. This position translates organizational goals and priorities into strategic communications and media deliverables that support the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) and its units.
• As a central communications position, this role supports multiple areas throughout DSA and manages projects from initial concept through completion.
• The position has a primary focus on graphic design, photography, social media videography, social media account management, special event support, special projects, and illustrative work.
• The Communications Specialist collaborates with internal clients, senior leadership, communications and marketing professionals, student employees, and other stakeholders to develop engaging and effective communications.
• The position works under limited supervision and is expected to make moderately complex decisions independently while referring unprecedented or highly complex issues to the Director of Communications and Marketing or other appropriate leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, marketing, graphic design, journalism, or a related field and years of related professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Meet with internal clients to review project requests, develop project plans, and see a project through to completion.
• Develop social media plan for DSA social media accounts, implement plan, track analytics and use analytics to inform content schedule.
• Work with Director on special events, attend events as a representative of team, and ensure events run smoothly.
• Work closely and in a developmental manner with student staff to complete projects and assignments while helping students grow their communications skills.
• Work with Director on all central communications and marketing priorities such as the annual report, creation of one pagers and special reports, development of requested materials from the executive leadership team, and other projects as received and assigned.
• Develop and implement effective communication strategies.
• Manage internal communications (social media, blogs, memos, newsletters etc.)
• Draft content for online media or university website.
• Organize initiatives and plan events or press conferences.

Preferred

• Experience working within a university, Division of Student Affairs, higher education, nonprofit, or comparable organization.
• Experience developing communications and marketing materials for multiple internal clients or organizational units.
• Experience with graphic design, photography, videography, and social media content creation.
• Experience managing organizational social media accounts and using analytics to inform content strategy.
• Experience managing multiple communications projects from concept through completion.
• Experience working with and/or mentoring student employees.
• Experience developing reports, annual reports, presentations, one-pagers, and executive-level communications materials.

Benefits

• All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.