Department: Trienens Institute Salary/Grade: EXS/6
Job Summary:
**Please submit cover letter and resume with application. **
The Sr. Communications Coordinator provides project leadership for communications initiatives, such as writing and editing print and web articles for the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy. Manages specific communications projects, such as social media and newsletter production, and ensures that projects meet deadlines. Leads editorial projects, including assisting with publications and execution of internal and external communications for the Institute. Leads daily management of social media accounts and supervises student work study in this area. Trains, mentors the student work study on social media, photos, and other projects as needed.
This position will create written and web communications, print and digital publications, administer the websites of the Trienens Institute and its centers and programs, and associated social media accounts, as well as support the marketing strategy for the Master of Science in Energy and Sustainability program, and other associated programs as assigned.This position requires a high degree of independence, discretion handling confidential information, attention to detail, organizations skills, excellent communication (written and verbal), and ability to follow up on meetings and plan next steps in collaboration with Trienens Institute leadership and staff.
This is a term position ending on 8/31/2029.Opportunity for renewal will be based on performance and available funding.
Please Note: Attends events as needed to ensure their smooth functioning. Occasionally, events might necessitate working outside of normal working hours, in the evening, and on weekends. Manages social media accounts on select weekends. Occasional lifting of heavy objects weighing more than 10 pounds.
Specific Responsibilities:
�Contribute to the development of effective communications and branding strategies and manage projects in alignment with editorial priorities and communication strategy:
oUses news judgement to select and pitch content based on recent academic papers/publications, and events.
oInitiates and conducts interviews with faculty and others, writes and edits analytic, informational, and/or feature web and print articles.
oObtains approvals for copy and reviews and posts final article.
oSelects, manages, and creates editorial and design pieces for publicationsmedia releases, brochures, reports, working papers, conference materials, internal communication, flyers, etc.
oSets and manages deadlines to ensure that content is produced in accordance with overall deadlines and respects current copyright and libel laws.
oEnsures that content is free of spelling and grammatical errors, follows AP and in-house style, and meets the Institutes high standards for accuracy and factual rigor.
oIdentifies accompanying images, graphics, and hyperlinks; and sources/produces the related content.
oIdentifies and adapts existing content to other digital media and print formats.
oSelects, analyzes, and reports on appropriate analytics to measure project success and creates associated reports.
oIdentifies opportunities for content partnership with other units/organizations.
�Reaches out to and coordinates with other units/departments/organizations as needed to produce marketing and communications materials.
�Supervises social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) on a daily basis; trains and mentors the student work study on social media accounts.
oPlans and manages the social media calendar, objectives and strategy, messaging, writing posts, sourcing or creating the visual images for these posts, aligning to the Institutes overall product and marketing plan.
oMonitors peer social media accounts for updates.
oTracks analytics through each account and offers recommendations for improving account activity.
oStays abreast of the latest trends and incorporates best practices and new tools into social media accounts as needed.
oTailors content to a particular channel.
oGrows engagement, reach, and impact through proactive campaigns and management.
�Design flyers and other promotional materials for events, academic opportunities, and other programs.
�Administer the websites of the Trienens Institute and its centers and programs
�Selects research for and renders complicated academic concepts as infographics by designing visually appealing charts and graphs for infographics, policy research briefs, and other formats.
oNecessitates basic statistical understanding and an ability to manipulate data in programs such as Excel.
oAble to follow existing design standards and create new templates and style guides.
�Collaborates with the Communications Team on major events planning and organization in accordance with assigned deadlines. Attends events as needed to ensure their smooth functioning. Occasionally, events might necessitate working outside of normal working hours, in the evening, and on weekends.
�Trains and mentors the students work studyon how to:
oIdentify subjects for photos and take digital photos of a variety of people and events, using Photoshop and Google Photos to edit/manage them.
oConduct image searches.
oObtain copyright and audiovisual release forms as needed.
oManage hired photographers.
oAugment and maintain the Institutes photo database by ensuring proper storage and quick retrieval of images and other media files.
�Hires and supervises student workers (14 each year) on a day-to-day basis (scheduling, training, workflow, etc.) and provides work direction.
Miscellaneous
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
�Bachelors degree in journalism, communications with a social science minor; or a Bachelors in a social science field (political science, sociology, etc.) with a journalism or communications minor; or a Bachelors degree in a related field, with the equivalent combination of education, training and experience from which similar skills can be acquired.
�2-3 years of experience writing for a publication and/or website (experience can also be part of an internship or part-time position) and experience in running social media platforms for a nonprofit or organization. Includes experience with primary ownership of content planning, creation, and maintenance.
�Prior experience in managing a small team of at least 2 people.
Northwestern University is a major private research university with 12 academic divisions located on three campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Education City in Doha, Qatar. We have approximately 2,500 full-time faculty members, 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and over 5,700 full and part-time staff. Northwestern University combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment. It provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth.