Director of Communications (5887U) - 59473 About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.

Departmental Overview

Berkeley Social Welfare is one of the nation's leading social work graduate programs. As part of the world's top ranked public university, the School of Social Welfare is producing new knowledge for the common good and training the next generation of social work thought leaders dedicated to serving society's most vulnerable members. Known for combining rigorous scholarship with outstanding education, the School of Social Welfare offers MSW and PhD programs as well as an undergraduate major. Since 1944, the School has prepared nearly 12,000 social work professionals for leadership positions in the public and nonprofit human service sectors. Berkeley Social Welfare graduates are dedicated to meeting the growing needs of marginalized, underserved and other vulnerable populations.

The Communications Director leads the design and implementation of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary communications program. This program engages day-to-day communications operations across key audiences and stakeholders while maintaining a strategic vision for Berkeley Social Welfare brand and identity management. Key priorities include high impact promotion of Berkeley Social Welfare's accomplishments through available communications pathways, especially the School's website and on social media; broader positioning of the school in the broader national social work landscape; and hands-on project collaboration with the Dean and other School teams, such as student services and admissions, alumni engagement, and advancement.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 10/09/2023.

Responsibilities

Produces a variety of communication pieces in a variety of venues including written, visual, digital and electronic communications.

• Creates, develops, implements, and manages a multifaceted internal and external communications program, including evaluation of communications efforts.
• Implements strategies that effectively market and interpret the School to its multiple constituencies (media, prospective students, opinion leaders, donors, policymakers, alumni and other stakeholders).
• Responsible for the delivery of written communications, such as newsletters, magazines, profiles, web and social media content, for the School in coordination with other stakeholders, utilizing vendor or staff support when appropriate.
• Conceives, coordinates and/or develops and produces interest stories that enhance the public's understanding and appreciation of the division and its societal contributions.
• Develops and coordinates visual assets for social, web, and print uses, including, but not limited to: photography needs, graphic design, media releases, presentations, and leadership talking points.
• Promotes articles/news/scholarship to key audiences.
• Oversees and executes daily and regular communication content, activities, and projects, as well as regular analysis of divisional communication goals.
• Responsible for social media, HTML-based email campaigns and other electronic communications as well as high-quality print collaterals.
• Works closely with other campus communications experts, external vendors, and manages staff/students' work in completing the projects, including visual, written (printed) and electronic products.

Identifies specific communications needs and develops the content and process for organizational improvements. For example, implementing social media management tools or developing toolkits and intake forms for stakeholders around the School.

• Anticipates potential areas of interest or concern and develops communications strategies to successfully and effectively address these areas to the media and various audiences.
• Closely monitors all media channels and responds to messages and/or alerts appropriate team members of news or potential issues relating to the Division in a timely manner.
• Provides regular updates/reports on status of communication efforts using applicable data analytics tools.
• Monitors website, social media, and print communications strategies of peer schools of social work/welfare with the goal of identifying opportunities for collaborative messaging.
• Serves as the initial point of contact for regional and national media.
• Identifies and implements strategies for creating greater visibility at the state and national level, including the development of relationships with key influencers and stakeholders.
• As part of a broader brand and identity strategy, creates opportunities for top-shelf media appearances, writing opportunities, and speaking engagements for the Dean of the School and other faculty and staff, and ensures that effective media training is provided.

Provides advice and counsel to School administration on all aspects of communications, including strategic planning, effective messaging, branding, and problem resolution.

• Occasional consultation and execution in crisis and change communications.
• Provides communications counsel, oversees marketing and social media, and supports other initiatives to help build the School's 'brand' while ensuring that all communications efforts align with campus wide efforts.

Ensures production of high-quality products that effectively deliver the desired message within budget and time constraints.

• Requires working closely with vendors such as designers, printers, photographers, web developers, and writers.
• Manages and acts as main contact for website content, including conducting research and contributing original articles; soliciting information from various stakeholders to ensure content accuracy; and editing content contributions to ensure an inclusive and cohesive voice.
• Facilitates ongoing content revisions to the website.

Serves as School's Information Technology Accessibility Lead:

• Ensures all new websites are accessible and remediate existing inaccessible websites.
• Enrolls all websites in SiteImprove (AI audit software) and report annually.
• Ensures all video content has accurate captioning, and all podcasts have accurate transcripts.
• Creates accessible new PDFs, presentations (ppt, slides, keynote), google docs, word, etc. and remediate existing inaccessible content.
• Purchases/Licenses accessible platforms, applications and content.

Works with School and campus leaders to build a brand for the School that aligns with the larger Berkeley brand and creates tools for positioning the School strategically with its audiences and stakeholders.

• Participates in regular meetings with the Division's leadership and campus PR and communication groups.
• Works with School leadership to create, develop, and implement comprehensive long- and short-term strategic communications plans and complex communications projects that can be large in scope and with long timelines
• Works directly with the UC Berkeley Division of Equity and Inclusion and/or Social Welfare students to develop and disseminate relevant aligned DEIBJ recognition of events (eg., cultural holidays; historical events) and messaging for the School of Social Welfare.
• Works closely with the External Relations team on fundraising campaigns and alumni and donor communications.
• Works with other internal stakeholders such as Student Services, Administrative Operations, faculty, and research groups to ensure consistent messaging and branding.
• Participates in communication working groups comprising peer schools of social welfare, relevant learned societies (SSWR, NASW), accreditation units (CSWE), and relevant philanthropic organizations (WT Grant Foundation).
• Leads event publicity and promotion, including developing invitations, brochures and PR/media relations.
• Maintains photo and video library for print and website.
• Direct responsibility for the video recording and editing of keystone School events.
• Requires occasional evening and weekend work.

Manages and mentors a small team of communications professionals including a half-time graphic designer, a full-time recruitment/marketing specialist, and student employees with diverse expertise, such as writing, design and production, web and digital management, photography, and content marketing.

Other duties as assigned.



Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of all aspects of communications, including strategic planning for various media venues, technical aspects and requirements of various venues, and most appropriate and effective applications.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of technical applications to direct professional technical staff, and personally perform technical work, including content strategy, writing, and editing; website and other digital media; design concepts and execution; social media; content marketing, and other applications.
• Experience working for higher education, nonprofit, or media/journalism with advanced skills in understanding and effectively utilizing all news/media mediums including broadcast news, the internet, social media and emerging technologies.
• Strong knowledge of issues in higher education as well as current location concerns and issues.
• Advanced skills to create, develop, and implement long and short-term strategic communication plans.
• Advanced skills to advise and consult management on all aspects of communications, ranging from developing effective communication strategies to appropriately responding to inquiries regarding sensitive or complex issues or information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; high degree of emotional intelligence; political acumen; demonstrated ability to work effectively with and build consensus among diverse populations, including faculty; demonstrated expertise building collaborations.
• Thorough knowledge of and/or can quickly learn campus protocols and channels for communication internally and externally.
• Self-driven, highly organized, and advanced time management skills required.
• Ability to understand complex concepts and communicate them simply verbally and in writing and clearly adhering to appropriate brand tone and values.
• Strong attention to detail with excellent editing and proofreading skills.
• Demonstrated excellence in problem identification and resolution, sound judgment and decision-making, critical thinking/analysis, risk management, negotiation, creative problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, objectivity, sensitivity, discretion, professionalism, and exercise good judgment and tact.
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and video conferencing platforms with the ability to learn new computer programs and software systems.
• Applicable software proficiency to execute job responsibilities with intermediate knowledge of graphic design platforms such as Canva, Photoshop, inDesign.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ), and ability to apply and integrate core concepts of DEIBJ into everyday practice.
• Experience building cohesive, high-performing teams through excellent management.
• Able to travel up to 5% time and work occasional evenings/weekends for special events.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Salary & Benefits

This is a 1yr, full-time (40 hours/week), contract appointment, eligible for UC benefits with the possibility of extension with continued funding. This is a monthly paid, exempt position.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $95,300.00 - $140,000.00. The full pay scale range for this position classification is $95,300.00 - $178,100.00 (grade 24).

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity.
• This position is eligible for up to 40% remote work.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, please see the University of California Discrimination, Harassment, and Affirmative Action in the Workplace policy.



To apply, visit https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucb/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=21&JobOpeningId=59473&PostingSeq=1









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