Communications Strategist

Title: Communications Strategist

Employee Classification: Communications Strategist

Campus: University of North Texas

Division: UNT-Univ Brand Strategy & Comm

SubDivision-Department: UNT-Univ Brand Strategy & Comm

Department: UNT-Univ Brand Strategy & Comm-Gen-180000

Job Location: Denton

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience

FTE: 1.000000

Retirement Eligibility: TRS Eligible

About Us - Values Overview

Department Summary

As the chief communications organization for the University of North Texas, the Division of University Brand Strategy and Communications (UBSC) collaborates with internal and external partners to:
• Advance and protect UNT’s institutional identity and reputation.
• Reinforce and grow UNT’s brand in graphics, images and words.
• Increase UNT’s visibility in public and in the higher education marketplace.
• Support UNT’s student recruitment, retention and graduation goals.
• Strengthen UNT’s relevance and value to key audiences, including alumni, donors, faculty and staff members, and encourage community engagement.

Position Overview

Understand UNTs mission, strategic themes and goals, and illustrates them in print and digital publications, email campaigns, web content and social media, and works in collaboration with the Senior Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing to support growth of the university's goals to increase recruitment, retention and graduation rates, and to generate support for the university.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related field and five years of experience in writing and/or editing publications; or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to conceptualize, write and edit strategic content for university audiences. Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, conduct multiple tasks and maintain effective working relationships. Ability to coordinate large projects with numerous components. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to visually inspect print and digital copy including experience in creative editing and fact checking techniques. Works effectively within a team. Effectively works closely with staff, faculty and students toward a common goal. Extensive knowledge of spelling, grammar, punctuation and Associated Press and Chicago Manual styles. Knowledge of writing styles and guidelines for various media formats and ability to create, coordinate and edit copy for each format (print, digital/social media, video, broadcast, etc.). Understanding of institutional strategy (or ability to quickly assimilate) and ability to integrate strategy into modes of communication. Ability to supervise and/or coordinate the work of others. Knowledge of and ability to research industry best practices to assist in aligning strategies for publications with University strategy and guidelines and effectively edit and improve content for readers based on best practices.

Preferred Qualifications

The preferred candidate will possess the following additional qualifications: At least five years experience in Marketing, Advertising, and/or Communications Strategy. Previous work in Higher Education or Non-Profit Marketing a plus. Success evaluating and launching new tools with a developed strategies that take into account audiences specific to UNT and industry best practices. Ability to understand and apply compelling storytelling techniques to content creation to ensure various types of content resonate with targeted audiences. Ability to conceptualize, write and edit strategic, accurate and concise content for various internal and external university audiences for print and digital channels. Familiarity with Salesforce a plus. Ability to monitor UNT social media channels some nights and weekends on limited basis.

Required License/Registration/Certifications

Job Duties

• Strategizes and oversees UNTs graduate student communications plans in the Division of University Brand Strategy and Communications to best support student recruitment by helping identify, research, develop and implement messaging and collaterals (digital and print) aimed at engaging prospective graduate students. 
• Leads UBSC's academic program marketing campaigns aimed at highlighting UNT's program offerings, other credentials of value, benefits of a UNT degree and value of earning an undergraduate and graduate degree. 
• Oversees communication planning and implementation efforts while collaborating with key division and university stakeholders to achieve success on high priority, university-wide initiatives in the graduate student and/or academic program marketing areas. 
• Stays abreast of industry research and best practices in communicating with prospective students and actively reviews current materials and practices to incorporate new approaches into student communications to best engage that audience 
• Serves as a member of the UBSC Social Media Team helping to monitor accounts through regularly assigned shifts and during crises as needed. Engages with the university community as a social media monitor, providing responsive customer service and escalating issues when necessary. 
• Works with division team to evaluate and manage proposed student communications from other areas on campus and to help funnel them to the best university vehicle in an effort to ensure quality communications to students in the most effective delivery vehicle 
• Serves as an account executive for an assigned division or college to build relationships and provide consultation on how to best promote their programs and initiatives to targeted audiences and develops annual strategic integrated communication plan(s) for assigned area 
• Writes engaging and persuasive copy for appropriately tailored audience/microaudiences and for assigned channels (digital or print) 
• Meets deadlines and keeps supervisor informed. 
• Ensures SmartSheet projects are entered and tasks are up to date on a timely basis to highlight the work of the unit and allow other team members to respond to tasks as assigned. 

Physical Requirements

Communicating with others to exchange information.

Environmental Hazards

No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm

Driving University Vehicle

No

Security Sensitive

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted. 

Benefits

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit –and takes actions to prevent – discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking), and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices, and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities. UNT System Administration promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. System Administration also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist, or participate in a related investigation or proceeding.