Communications Manager

Communications Manager

Location: Office of Public Affairs
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 607456
Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Workplace Culture

NAU aims to be the nation's preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.



Special Information

• This position is a hybrid position which allows the incumbent to complete their work at both an NAU site, campus, or facility and at a non-centralized site with or without accommodation.
• This position is open to remote work however the incumbent must have the ability to report to the Flagstaff Mountain campus within 2 hours on a variable basis.

Job Description

NAU Communications is responsible for internal and external communications for all of Northern Arizona University, including our flagship Flagstaff Mountain campus and our 22 statewide campuses. The office sends all campuswide emails for NAU and the Office of the President, produces The NAU Review newsletter and publishes stories to the website while managing media outreach and public records. The office works with faculty, staff, and administrators throughout the university to tell NAU's story in line with NAU 2025 - Elevating Excellence, our recently adopted set of strategic priorities, to a variety of stakeholders, including the NAU community, the public, legislators and donors. This is a fast-paced, deadline-driven office.

Writing & Editing - 35%

• Independently write and edit news stories, media outreach, executive communications and other content
• Edit website content, graphics, submitted materials, and campuswide emails
• Locate experts and other NAU community members to solicit user-produced content, working with them throughout the process to ensure high quality, relevant, and timely content
• Distribute news releases to reporters, placing relevant releases onto Newswise and Eurekalert
• Independently build and manage relationships with people throughout campus

Media Outreach and Pitching - 35%

• Pitch NAU stories and experts to local, regional, and national media outlets
• Create and update experts list to have available for pitching and responding to media
• Respond to inbound media requests, including working with media who come to campus
• Prepare NAU experts for media interviews

Marketing Cloud Distribution - 15%

• Plan, produce, and send twice weekly newsletter
• Edit and format campuswide emails using Marketing Cloud
• Utilize analytics in Marketing Cloud, Google Analytics, and Cision
• Design templates

Communications Office Management - 10%

• Lead communication workshops
• Collaborate internally with departments on communication campaigns
• Manage student employees to be productive contributors to the office output
• Assign work to and mentor student employees
• Work with campus and community stakeholders and serve on various campus committees, such as Homecoming and Giving Day
• Update the news website and other sites as necessary; doing basic front-end web development as needed.
• Website maintenance
• Research, write and edit site information

Emergency Communications - 5%

• Send emergency communications, including late-night/early morning communications for snow days and other communications outside of normal business hours as needed
• Attend regular emergency training
• Update website
• Create emails
• Timeline planning

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field.
• 2-4 years of relevant communications experience.
• 1-2 years of project management experience.
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in related field.
• 5-7 years of relevant communications experience.
• Familiarity with Wordpress, Marketing Cloud, Canva, media tracking software.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.
• Media pitching experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of communications tools and processes
• Basic knowledge of process/program management practices and principles
• Knowledge of best practices for communications in higher education
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Planning, organizing, coordinating, and facilitating skills
• Possess excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Customer service skills
• Analyzes complex situations and anticipates issues
• Demonstrates strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities
• Manages and maintains relationships
• Balances competing priorities
• Promotes a diverse, inclusive environment
• Work well both collaboratively and individually and be self-driven
• Work well under deadlines and be able to balance a variety of projects at the same time
• Ability to approach communications creatively and look for new ways to communicate with various stakeholder groups
• Ability to take complex topics and break them down into understandable and interesting stories
• Ability to manage stress and a constantly changing environment when called upon for emergency communications

Background Information

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements. Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Salary

Anticipated salary range is $62,996 - $78,745. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

FLSA Status

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

Benefits

This is a Service Professional (SPF) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program; 22 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available on the Human Resources benefits website. NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus. Service Professionals are hired on a contract basis, renewable each 6 months according to terms of the Conditions of Professional Service. Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. If a new employee chooses the ASRS retirement option, participation in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, will begin on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee's start date. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which is an alternative to the ASRS plan for faculty and other appointed staff, will begin to participate on the first day of the pay period following election. Additionally, the long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of the pay period following election.

Learning and Development

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days.

Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Application Deadline

September 25, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. Applicants must submit 2-3 writing samples with their application.

If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the Human Resources website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Know Your Rights Poster

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.



To apply, visit https://hr.peoplesoft.nau.edu/psp/ph92prta/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=607456&PostingSeq=1



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