Undergraduate Strategic Communication Intern

OVERVIEW

JOB TITLE: Undergraduate Strategic Communication Intern

LOCATION: St. Paul

PAY RATE: $16.50 per/hour

HOURS: up to 10 hours per week as schedule permits

JOB SUMMARY

The Undergraduate Strategic Communication Intern will join the Data, Analytics, and Governance (DAG) team, the university's internal data and analytics team within ITS. We are building Tommie Lake, a central home for data from systems across the university that will make reliable data and analytics easier to access for people throughout St. Thomas. We deliver strong technical work and have an opportunity to share its value more clearly and consistently. If you are looking to add "can communicate technical information to non-technical audiences" to your resume, this is the position for you!

In this role, you will create, lead, and own a communication plan that explains what our team does, where Tommie Lake is headed, and why it matters. Our audiences range from ITS colleagues who want technical detail, to university leaders who want the big picture, to staff who simply want to know how this affects their work. We're looking for someone who can understand the unique needs of each group and develop creative, effective ways to engage them. Your work will include designing an internal informational website, building an ongoing messaging plan, and producing content in whatever formats work best. You will also have the opportunity to explore areas of technical communication that interest you.

This position is 5 to 10 hours per week, Monday through Friday, mostly during the business day and scheduled around your classes. The position is fully remote. We would communicate over Teams and Zoom primarily. It will begin in J-term or spring 2027 (depending on your availability), with the intention that the student continues through the 2027-2028 academic year. Summer 2027 work may also be available. Please still apply if you will graduate before the 2027-2028 academic year! We are looking for the best candidate, not necessarily the one that will have the most availability. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Meet with team members and stakeholders to learn about Tommie Lake and identify key audiences and what each needs to know
• Develop, lead, and own a strategic communication plan with goals, audiences, key messages, channels, and a timeline
• Design, build, and maintain an internal informational website on OneStThomas about Tommie Lake
• Translate technical concepts into clear, plain-language content such as FAQs, glossaries, and explainers
• Create regular project updates in a variety of formats (for example, newsletters, emails, Teams posts, OneStThomas posts, infographics, short videos, or slide decks)
• Apply accessibility best practices so content works for people with a range of abilities and needs
• Gather audience feedback and use it to refine messaging over time
• Help prepare presentations and materials for meetings and demos as needed
• Write and update Knowledge Base articles on data-related topics
• Attend occasional team meetings to understand our processes
• Additional duties as assigned

Projects may be tailored to the student's interests. The student will be trained on all necessary systems and information.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

• Communicating with diverse audiences: Tailor messages for people with different roles, interests, and technical backgrounds, a skill valued in nearly every career.
• Explaining complex ideas simply: Turn technical topics into clear, accessible content, useful in any role that bridges experts and non-experts.
• Audience research and strategic planning: Learn what stakeholders need and build a plan around it, the same process used in communications, user experience, and product roles.
• Content creation and digital accessibility: Build a website and accessible content in multiple formats, giving you portfolio pieces to show future employers.
• Independent project management: Manage priorities and deadlines in a remote setting, preparing you for self-directed work.
• Professional experience in technology and data: Work alongside IT and data professionals and learn how organizations manage and use data.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application: Submit your resume along with responses to a few short questions. Screening interview: Selected applicants will be invited to a short screening interview over Zoom, where we'll ask about your experiences and how you approach your work. Final interview: Finalists will receive a short scenario a few days before their final interview. You'll be asked to share an initial plan for how you would approach communicating about Tommie Lake, talk through your ideas with us, and answer a few additional interview questions. This will also be over Zoom.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for student employment, St. Thomas students must be degree seeking at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. Students must be actively enrolled at least part-time in courses for credit. For further information on eligibility please see the Student Employee Toolkit on One StThomas.

The University of St. Thomas is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including

disability and protected veteran status.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in any major. Students studying communication, marketing, journalism, or English are especially encouraged to apply, as are students in technical fields with strong communication skills.
• No technical background is required, but you should be curious about technology and data and eager to learn.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to adjust tone and level of detail for different audiences
• Creativity and initiative in proposing and trying new ideas
• Excitement and responsibility for creating and leading a plan you develop
• Ability to manage several projects at once and work independently in a remote setting
• Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 tools such as Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint
• Professional communication skills across email, videoconferencing, and other online tools

Preferred:

• Experience creating web content, graphics, or video (for example, with Canva or similar tools)
• Familiarity with digital accessibility practices
• A portfolio or samples of writing or design work

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANDIDATES