A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Information and Technology Services (ITS) organization is seeking a motivated and creative communicator to join its Marketing Communications team. The successful candidate will closely collaborate with ITS teams, university communication professionals, and subject matter experts to support marketing and communications projects and initiatives across ITS. The successful candidate must be self-motivated, flexible, and able to easily adapt to changing needs.

The Communications Specialist will support campus outreach, internal communications, and operational communications including support of targeted email and social media, as well as other ITS projects and services. This position will also contribute to creative marketing campaigns, script-writing/video story-boarding, and the planning and hosting of successful campus outreach events. Individuals in this role complete duties and responsibilities under the guidance and direction of senior personnel and management, including developing, writing, and editing original work products for online and print publications that adhere to U-M and organizational formats, style, language, and branding standards. This position will report to the Assistant Director of Communications.

WHO WE ARE

ITS supports U-M faculty, researchers, staff, and students in their use of technology to teach, learn, research, and work, and be leaders in their fields. We are dedicated to creating cohesive digital experiences and enabling university wide innovations by:

• Elevating the customer experience by providing proactive, laser focused customer service
• Providing appropriate IT security and privacy in an open university society, while enabling innovation
• Supporting data-informed decision making
• Delivering intuitive research computing solutions
• Building a world-class, transformational network and reliable administrative systems

In addition, we value those that proactively solve challenges, work with a sense of urgency, and seek a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

 ITS’s mission is to be trusted enablers of technology for the U-M community. ITS works together to provide cohesive digital experiences and seamless support to the U-M community. To learn more, visit: https://its.umich.edu.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Marketing, Communications, or Public Relations) or an equivalent of education and experience.
• Minimum of three years of directly-related professional work experience, including creating and implementing communication plans.
• Demonstrated knowledge of fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures of public relations/communications and online communications.
• Demonstrated ability to write for a variety of vehicles both print and online (targeted email, Web, social media, slide presentations, feature articles, news releases) using clear and concise language.
• Strong attention to detail and editing skills. Experience with reviewing and providing feedback on communication work products of others.
• Demonstrated ability to and enthusiasm for learning new hardware and software applications to adapt to evolving trends in IT and public relations, marketing, and communication.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to follow through on commitments and complete multiple tasks within established and changing deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of HTML and basic website development.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Proficient with a mass email application, Microsoft Office Suite and/or Google applications, particularly word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation tool.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of at least two social media channels, and familiarity with trends in social media

• Experience working in a higher education culture and structure.
• Understanding of and experience with information technology.
• Demonstrated results developing communication campaigns.
• Experience with data collection and assessment via web metrics, surveys, or other applications.
• Experience with Drupal web functionality and content management.
• Experience with event planning and coordination.
• Experience with video production, including writing scripts for promotional videos and creating storyboards.
• Experience with a variety of social media channels and writing techniques within a marketing context.
• Experience working with graphic artists, photographers, and printers.

This position may work with and/or support systems that maintain or process sensitive institutional data as defined by university policy. Successful candidates must comply with federal, state and local law and/or university policies or agreements that require the university to implement specific privacy and security safeguards including, but not limited to: ITAR, EAR, HIPAA and FISMA. Responsible for protecting data and information from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration or unauthorized deletion; and, following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of data, etc. as stated in a computer access agreement.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Punctual, regular, and consistent attendance is required.
• Normal amount of sitting.
• Average mobility to move around an office environment.
• Able to conduct a normal amount of work at a computer.
• Will require travel to various locations on and off campus (when it is safe to do so, post-pandemic).
• May require on-call availability and rotation outside of normal working hours.
• Responsible for protecting data and information from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion; and, following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of data, etc. as stated in a computer access agreement which the incumbent signs.
• Note: ITS, like much of the university, is currently working remotely due to the pandemic. This position will require the individual to work from home (with a provided computer) until the organization returns to campus.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The University of Michigan Information and Technology Services seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the University and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives and ways of knowing and learning.

Comprehensive Benefits

The University of Michigan Benefits Office is committed to offering a high-quality benefits package to support faculty, staff and their families. Learn more about our 2:1 retirement matching, healthcare plans with nationwide coverage including prescription drug coverage, three dental plans, a vision plan, flexible spending account, well-being programs, long-term disability, automatic life insurance, general legal services, three early childhood centers, time away from work and work-life programs to promote balance. Learn more at https://hr.umich.edu/benefits-wellness

GO BLUE!

• The University of Michigan is ranked the No. 3 public university in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report’s annual report of the nation’s best undergraduate colleges and universities.
• The University of Michigan is ranked No. 6 on Kiplinger’s list of Best Values in Public Colleges, again making U-M one of the nation’s best values in higher education for in-state students. The ranking highlights colleges and universities that combine outstanding education with economic value.
• For the third straight year, the University of Michigan maintained its position as the 15th top university in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings.
• The University of Michigan maintained its ranking as the top U.S. public university in the QS World University Rankings for 2019-20 and ranked 21st among all institutions on the list, moving down one spot from last year in the ranking released Tuesday, 06/18/2019.

The statements included in this description are intended to reflect the general nature and level of work assigned to this classification and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.