Communications and Outreach Manager

Boulder, CO (Hybrid)

$82K/yr – $90K/yrMid Level5+ years expFull time

Posted 1 day ago

Job Summary

Owns the full lifecycle of university communications, from multimedia storytelling and content strategy to audience-centered campaigns and inclusive practices, while partnering with leadership to translate priorities into compelling narratives, and continuously iterating across channels; also supports leadership communications and cross-unit collaboration.

  • Lead multimedia storytelling and content strategy across video, photography, social, web, podcasts, email, and print.
  • Collaborate with campus partners to translate strategic priorities into clear, accessible narratives and ensure coordinated cross-channel delivery.
  • Support leadership and executive communications and contribute to the evolving university communications enterprise through new tools and approaches.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • 50%: Multimedia Storytelling and Content Strategy - Develop and produce a broad range of high-quality communications, including video, photography, social media, web and digital content, podcasts and other emerging formats, email campaigns, print materials, infographics, executive communication, and other creative assets. - Find opportunities to repurpose and extend content across platforms and audiences. Translate University Priorities into Compelling Narratives - Partner with university leaders, communicators, faculty, staff, students, and campus units to understand strategic goals and translate complex initiatives into clear, accessible, and engaging stories. - Help shape narratives that demonstrate the university’s impact, distinguish its strengths, and connect institutional priorities to the experiences of its communities. Think Strategically Across Channels and Audiences - Develop audience-centered communications approaches and content calendars that consider purpose, timing, voice, platform, accessibility, cultural context, and desired outcomes. - Help ensure communications are coordinated across channels and contribute to a cohesive university narrative. Serve as a Creative and Strategic Partner - Bring an entrepreneurial, problem-solving approach to communications projects, helping campus partners move from ideas and opportunities to effective campaigns, stories, and experiences. - Recommend innovative approaches, technologies, platforms, and storytelling formats that strengthen the university’s communications capabilities. Measure, Learn, and Optimize - Use audience insights, analytics, social and digital performance data, and other measures to assess communications effectiveness. - Translate data and emerging trends into recommendations that improve content, engagement, reach, and impact. Advance Inclusive and Culturally Responsive Communications - Demonstrate cultural awareness and competence in developing communications for diverse audiences. - Champion accessibility, inclusive storytelling, and communications practices that reflect the breadth of the university community. Contribute to an Evolving University Communications Enterprise - Stay current with emerging technologies, platforms, storytelling practices, artificial intelligence, digital media trends, and changing audience behaviors. - Experiment thoughtfully with new tools and approaches while maintaining standards for accuracy, ethics, accessibility, privacy, and institutional reputation.
  • 30%: Partner with the Office of Leadership Support and Programming - Dedicate approximately 30% of the position to supporting LSP priorities and participating as an active member of the LSP team. - Responsibilities may include many of the functions noted above, which include: - Strategic communication and marketing. - Executive communication. - Leadership storytelling. - Multimedia content development. - Event promotion. - Occasional speech-writing for the senior vice chancellor of LSP.
  • 10%: Support Leadership and Executive Communication - Provide communication and content support to senior university leaders, including messaging, talking points, digital content, multimedia storytelling, and occasional speech-writing. - Exercise sound judgment and discretion when working with confidential, sensitive, or high-profile information.
  • 10%: Other Duties As Assigned To potentially include, but not limited to: - Participation in the campus joint information center during major emergencies. - Event support. - Serving on committees and task forces, as determined by the Senior Director for Communication and SRC leadership.

Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in graphic design, journalism, marketing, public relations, advertising or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis.
  • 5 years of relevant experience in a public relations or strategic communications role; reporting or editing for a media organization; institutional communications for a college, university or public agency/entity; or communications experience in the private or nonprofit sectors.
  • What You Will Need
  • - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information in a clear and concise manner.
  • - Cultural awareness. Possess a deep and flexible cultural awareness of self and others-- in perceptions, values, beliefs, behaviors and practices -- and behaviorally shifts as appropriate.
  • - Adaptive communication. Contextualizes' equity commitments for varied audiences without abandoning the substance of the work.
  • - Interpersonal relationship skills. Honors and incorporates diverse viewpoints, brings conflicts into the open and approaches them as opportunities for growth, and involves appropriate parties to find common ground or acceptable alternatives.
  • - Project management experience, including the ability to set and meet set timelines, track project progress and communicate scheduling challenges.
  • - Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment and respond well to feedback.
  • - Strong organizational, prioritization and time management skills.

Preferred

  • 10+ years of relevant experience in a public relations or strategic communications role; reporting or editing for a media organization; institutional communications for a college, university or public agency/entity; or communications experience in the private or nonprofit sectors.
  • Master's degree (or equivalent experience) in communication, journalism, marketing, advertising, public relations or a related field.
  • Marketing and communications experience in a higher education environment.
  • Experience in email marketing.
  • Experience working in an academic environment, community organization or nonprofit.
  • Graphic design background.
  • Proven expertise with Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, including Illustrator, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro and InDesign.
  • Knowledge of Web Express, ability to write HTML and/or experience using Drupal or a similar website content management system.

Benefits

  • Benefits At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.
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University of Colorado Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder is Colorado’s leading public research university, transforming lives since 1876.As the state's flagship university and one of only 38 U.S. public research institutions in the Association of American Universities (AAU), CU Boulder has proudly served Coloradans since the state's founding.Home to five Nobel Laureates since 1989 and the only university to send space instruments to every planet in the solar system, CU Boulder provides a strong return on investment by aligning efforts to achieve research and creative excellence, global sustainability impact and the success of all students, faculty and staff.

Founded in 2019
Boulder, Colorado, USA
16K employees (694 in marketing)

Salaries

Posted range

$82K/yr – $90K/yr

Taken straight from the job posting.

See all University of Colorado Boulder salaries

Funding

Total Funding
$29.2M
Last Raise
$1.4M
Grant, 2 years ago

Funding History

  • Oct 2023
    Grant • $1.4M
  • Jun 2022
    Grant • $25K
  • Sep 2021
    Grant • $22M

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
7.5M
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$576.6K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
43.1%
Direct
49.8%
Referral
6%
Social
0.6%
Paid
0.5%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~15.6K

Recent News

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Communications and Outreach Manager

University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO · Hybrid