Req#: 223716
Department: WASHINGTON SEA GRANT
Job Location: Seattle Campus
Posting Date: 06/14/2023
Closing Info: Open Until Filled
Salary: 75% of $6000 – $6667 per month
Shift: First Shift
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
Washington Sea Grant (WSG) has an exciting opportunity for a Communications Specialist who will provide coordination and support on a broad array of communications projects. Including administrative and production support to the communications team on day-to-day operations, coordinating assigned projects for a variety of internal and external partners, and producing supporting communications products. This position reports directly to the WSG Assistant Director for Communications. The Communications Specialist is an integral member of WSG’s communications team, producing content for web, video and social media, tracking print and digital production requests, ensuring that communications projects are moving smoothly through production from start to finish, and helping the team monitor and meet deadlines. This position requires the ability to be highly organized, problem solve, initiate timely responses and exercise sound judgment in developing tactful and diplomatic support. The position also requires interacting with student employees, and others in the University and the National Sea Grant network.
WSG is housed within the UW College of the Environment and is a unique unit with federally designated responsibilities for all of Washington to support ocean-related research, education, outreach, and communications. WSG serves the state and the region by engaging the public in activities that promote ecosystem health, educating students of all ages, and encouraging science-based solutions to marine issues. The role of the Communications Specialist is integral to this activity. WSG maintains a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by valuing diverse perspectives, and enhancing cultural understanding. This commitment is guided by the Washington Sea Grant 10-year Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Roadmap, a living document endorsed by the full leadership and staff that established an ambitious set of goals for the organization. WSG operationalizes its goals using a multi-pronged approach such that DEI is woven through the fabric of all staff work. Many of the strategic goals in the DEI Roadmap are pertinent to WSG’s communications activities and involve incorporating DEI more thoroughly into communications products and maintaining an office culture that is welcoming and inclusive. The Communications Specialist will play a role in ensuring that these areas of transformation are consistently represented in products produced by communications.
The Communications Specialist provides content development and production assistance and regularly engages in proactive communication with a wide range of staff to ensure effective implementation of WSG communications products, interacting with staff, student employees, University and the National Sea Grant network employees. This is a 75% FTE position.
RESPONSIBILITIES
PROJECT COORDINATION
• Track print and digital production requests through Asana, ensuring that communications projects are moving smoothly through production from start to finish, including development of detailed timelines for more complex projects
• Engage with WSG outreach staff and partners on communications project development and implementation
• Oversee and coordinate website development
• Place and coordinate advertising
• Prepare quarterly and annual social media and website analytics reports
• Prepare audience surveys and related communications campaign summary reports
• Prepare and submit publications to the Sea Grant collection in the NOAA Library
PRODUCTION COORDINATION
• Maintain WSG website in collaboration with College website team, including troubleshooting when website issues arise
• Assist with production needs, such as layout production, Mailchimp emails and photography
• Create videos and story maps highlighting WSG research and outreach projects
• Coordinate accessibility of all digital content
• Coordinate production orders and printing for outreach materials and swag; maintain an inventory
• Provide background research on a variety of topics
• Prepare materials for and attend outreach events, as assigned
CONTENT COORDINATION
• Oversee and coordinate social media activity
• Write content for WSG blog, web pages and events in WordPress or equivalent.
• Monitor and update existing website content
• Proofread and prepare text for publications
• Other projects as assigned
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s Degree in business management, communications, journalism, or other related field and 4-5 years minimum relevant work experience
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
· Editing, proofing and writing experience
· Interest and some experience digital, print and video production
· Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (particularly Excel), Google Share Drives, video editing formats, and Adobe products
DESIRED:
· Ability to work independently and as part of a team, manage priorities and make independent decisions
· Strong customer service skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a variety of constituencies
· Strong research and documentation skills
· Familiarity with digital accessibility
· Experience with Mac computers and software, WordPress (or a similar Content Management System), HTML, and CSS
· Proven ability to manage multiple projects, with excellent follow-through and attention to detail
· Ability to assess and prioritize support requests and troubleshoot issues
· Basic familiarity with writing style guides
· Experience or interest in marine or environmental work a plus
· Commitment to the mission and goals of Washington Sea Grant
· Flexible attitude with interest in learning new skills
Application Process
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your “My Jobs” page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
For more information and to apply: https://uwhires.admin.washington.edu/eng/candidates/default.cfm?szCategory=jobprofile&szOrderID=223716&szCandidateID=0&szSearchWords=&szReturnToSearch=1