Graduate School Communications Manager

Responsibilities

• Manages the day-to-day operational unit plans to align with strategic initiatives and to meet established objectives (30%)
• Collaborates proactively with internal Graduate School teams and distributed campus partners to align communications timelines, foster shared ownership, and support cross-institutional initiatives. (20%)
• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures (5%)
• Plans and directs unit programs and/or projects to ensure adherence to deadlines and budgets (5%)
• Plans, writes, and edits content for various internal and external stakeholders (20%)
• Develops, implements, and delivers communication materials through various mediums to designated audiences (20%)

Requirements

• At least 2 years of professional experience providing communication support, working both independently and within team settings.
• Strong written communication skills, with keen attention to audience, accuracy, accessibility, and clarity. Demonstrated ability to write in a variety of professional styles, including drafting web copy, email marketing, and announcements.
• Experience with website strategy and user-centered design principles using content management systems (e.g., WordPress).
• Experience developing and executing targeted email campaigns, newsletters, or other mass communication using email marketing tools (e.g., Eloqua).
• Experience managing end-to-end communications projects, including establishing timelines, coordinating cross-functional contributors, and tracking deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze web and email metrics (e.g., Google Analytics, email platform reports) to evaluate engagement and refine outreach strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships with colleagues, subject matter experts, and distributed institutional partners.
• Demonstrated ability to take a proactive approach to planning and project management, anticipating upcoming communications needs well in advance.
• Bachelor’s degree required; focus in a communication-related field is preferred but candidates with any relevant background and training are encouraged to apply.

Preferred

• Experience and/or interest in writing feature stories about graduate and postdoc work and accomplishments.
• Experience working within higher education and familiarity with graduate (master’s and doctoral) education.
• Experience with digital layout, design, and/or video editing tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva).
• Experience developing advance editorial calendars and project workflows for multi-channel initiatives.

Benefits

• This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Review the benefits summary for more information.