Web Communications Specialist

Job Type Full-time Description

Job ID

AF9627-4004-1887

Position Classification

FT Administrator

Position Summary

The Web & Communications Specialist is a dynamic and creative professional responsible for internal and external marketing and communications, brand visibility and showcasing the distinctive value to students, families, alumni, and industry and community the college to which the staff member is assigned. The position blends exceptional professional writing skills, strategic communications, social media marketing, and student recruitment support to attract and engage prospective undergraduate and graduate students. This individual develops and executes writing, content and media relations projects, digital campaigns, manages content across platforms, and ensures cohesive messaging aligned with marketing and communications goals for UDM.

Specifically, the Web & Communications Specialist writes, edits, designs, research, develops and publishes professional level feature stories, press releases, website content, collateral marketing and communications materials, and other content for electronic communications, websites, print collateral and multi-media projects including video. The specialist will work under the direct supervision of the University's Marketing & Communications Department (MarCom) and report to the associate vice president of Marketing & Communications and director of Communications to support the needs of the college or school to which individual will be assigned. Tactical leads in MarCom will also serve as support for the specialist. This individual will also have dotted line reporting and work closely with the college dean to support the day-to-day operations of the college. The Web & Communications specialist will also perform editing duties as assigned and track the effectiveness of electronic communications, media penetration, marketing campaign performance and return-on-investment via data analytics. MarCom will assign the staff member to a specific academic unit/college upon hiring and receive training and support for all tactical operations from MarCom.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Research, interview and draft professional-grade, error-free feature articles for magazines, marketing and communications collateral content and press releases for media distribution in support of the college to which staff member is assigned. This includes identification of potential story ideas with general public consumption value, generation of copy, and assisting in University strategy for media relations release and distribution to support college to which staff member is assigned.
2. Write, edit and develop a variety of digital communication products for UDM websites, including content and formatting for digital publications, academic unit websites, digital portals and other assets as assigned. This includes comprehensive, multi-tiered writing projects, associated website content and marketing content as assigned by MarCom and assigned college.
3. Assist in reviewing press releases, stories, collateral and website content for assigned academic college/department and when available, across the University. This includes assistance in shepherding releases through the MarCom approval process, assistance with public relations and media relations, including generation of press releases and media pitches, generation of media distribution reports, as well as visibility reports from PR Newswire for MarCom and assigned college.
4. Lead the college's multi-platform social media presence across all relevant platforms in accordance with UDM approved social media guidelines and standards. This includes regularly posting, monitoring of engagement, responding to comments/messages, and other efforts to grow the college's digital audience. Platforms include Facebook, TikTok, X, You Tube, LinkedIn, Instagram and Snapchat. This includes assisting in developing strategy and management of video content for websites, assigned in consultation with MarCom and as aligned with college/school marketing and communications needs. In addition and under the supervision of MarCom and in alignment with college goals, build and manage student content teams to assist in content creation and distribution.
5. Assists in developing/redesign/maintenance and management of college and program marketing webpages as directed by MarCom and college/school leadership for various academic programs, including copy, photos, video, statistics and infographics for assigned academic college/department. This includes working with internal University and college partners to identify and assess communication needs for website updates and online content, based on established strategic objectives. Additionally, working with MarCom to ensure that colleges/department websites meet applicable WCAC accessibility requirements and federal mandates.
6. Ensure college's alignment with UDM brand standards as well as consistency in use of UDM brand and college sub-identities.
7. Assist with marketing campaign development for assigned college under direction of MarCom and in consultation with University Advancement leadership.
8. Assist in obtaining data analytics for board reporting and other reporting requirements for the University as a whole, MarCom and the college.
9. Support the day-to-day operations of assigned college under the supervision of the dean.
10. Participate in strategic short- and long-term planning in collaboration with MarCom and college to which staff member is assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, digital media studies or related field with 3-6 years of professional experience in feature writing/journalism, editing, web content strategy and development, business communications, digital media studies and social media.
2. Exceptional writing and editing experience, including press releases, website content and expertise with Associated Press style.
3. Videography and photography skills.
4. Experience or aptitude to learn content management tools such as Cascade CMS, Ellucian CMS, or similar tools.
5. Experience with Microsoft Office, OneDrive and video and photography editing software.
6. Experience with social media campaigns, strategy development and management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Strong writing, editing, photography, videography and media relations skills as demonstrated by portfolio of published work and testing results.
2. Strong time-management skills with ability to manage multiple tasks at one time.
3. Ability to manage multiple tight deadlines with coolness and emotional balance.
4. Ability and professional confidence to deal professionally with non-expert stakeholders.
5. Knowledge of XHTML and CSS is helpful.
6. Ability to use or learn how to use AI tools to help enhance writing and content projects.
7. Familiarity with Google Analytics or similar very helpful; familiarity with Mac platforms helpful. Note that department uses a mix of Mac and Windows platforms.
8. Familiarity with digital accessibility laws, requirements and how to implement and remediate for them is a plus.

Physical Requirements

Job may require lifting light weight objects (1 to 10 pounds) with no repetitive bending or stooping. Occasionally lift average weight objects (1 to 10 pounds).

Work Environment

Regular exposure to favorable conditions such as those found in a normal office.

Salary/Pay Information

Mid to high $50s annually (*Recently updated)

Anticipated Schedule

Monday to Friday 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM

Additional Information

All candidates will be required to display a professional portfolio that illustrates their work products, take a writing assessment test and to pass test before moving to the next stage of the hiring process.

Employee Benefits

At the University of Detroit Mercy, we continually strive to provide a high-quality, comprehensive benefits package to our valued employees. We offer our employees the following benefits:

Medical -

o Three health plans to choose from with a large national provider network

Dental -

o UDM's School of Dentistry FREE to you and your dependents

o Option to purchase additional dental plan through UNUM

Vision -

o Exams and lenses every 12 months

Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts offered.

Employee Assistance Program -

o Provided to everyone in your household.

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability.

Life and AD&D -

o One times base salary up to a hundred thousand dollars.

Option to purchase additional life insurance, accident insurance, and/or critical illness insurance

Tuition Remission Benefit for you, your spouse, and children.

Retirement Plan -

o UDM provides matches up to 8%

Michigan's largest, most comprehensive private University, University of Detroit Mercy is an independent Catholic institution of higher education sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and Society of Jesus. Detroit Mercy seeks qualified candidates who will contribute to the University's mission, diversity, and excellence of its academic community. University of Detroit Mercy is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer with a diverse student body and welcomes persons of all backgrounds.


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About University of Detroit Mercy

The University of Detroit Mercy has one goal - to help our students realize their dreams and ambitions. We fulfill that goal by offering challenging academic programs taught by talented, committed professors and supplemented by hands-on research, co-op, and internship opportunities.

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