Strategic Communications and Social Media Specialist, 32232

Hiring Department

Division of Strategic Marketing and Communications

Job Description

UMKC is looking for a dynamic, creative, collaborative public relations and social media specialist with broad experience in digital content strategy and creation to join our strategic communications team. This person’s duties will include producing content for UMKC primary social media channels and coordinating production of content for the academic unit social channels; writing content to tell UMKC’s story through a variety of earned and owned media for internal and external audiences; and planning and creating content for the university’s website and digital newsletters. Strong organizational skills and experience in meeting deadlines are musts. Media relations experience is beneficial. The position reports to the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications within the Division of Strategic Marketing and Communications.

The job also requires someone who can:

• Demonstrate ability to review and approve appropriate social media content provided by students and freelance writers for multiple platforms.
• Demonstrate ability to quickly become facile with new social media platforms as they emerge.
• Juggle a variety of projects, demonstrating ability to move quickly on short-term needs while making progress on longer-term goals.
• Demonstrate superb news judgment and writing skills.
• Increase public visibility by developing and facilitating relationships with key campus and public constituents, including but not limited to academic units, campus leadership and local, regional, state and national media.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience, and at least 3 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism or Communications or equivalent direct experience is preferred
• Three to five years experience in journalism and/or public relations and digital communications.
• Strong news judgment.
• Extensive facility with social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Discord, Snapchat and TikTok
• Familiarity with using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn in a professional setting.
• Sound knowledge of editorial and journalistic principles and respect for deadlines.
• Ability to exercise reasonable judgment, often under deadline pressure.
• Knowledge of digital content strategy.
• Excellent storytelling skills.
• Experience in producing digital newsletter communications on platforms such as Emma, MailChimp or Constant Contact.
• Superior interpersonal, written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni, benefactors, media and other key constituents.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Proven track record of producing high-quality digital media content.
• Creative problem-solving ability.
• Ability to proactively identify communications opportunities and develop supporting content.

Full Time/Part Time

Position is full time and benefit eligible

Salary

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Application Deadline

Open til filled, review of applications will begin October 26th

Application Instructions

Applicants must combine all application materials (cover letter, resume, and list of five references with contact information) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment.

Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.).

If you are experiencing technical problems, please call (800) 488-5288.

Note, you must provide a description of job duties for each Work Experience entry on your application. Please carefully review the application instructions section of our Careers page prior to submitting your materials.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America. For more information, call the Vice Chancellor - Human Resources at 816-235-1621.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties and functions of this job. If you believe you may have difficulty performing any of the duties or functions of this job, please contact the Office of Affirmative Action at (816) 235-1323.

EEO IS THE LAW

To read more about Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) please use the following links:

• EEO is the Law English Version
• EEO is the Law Spanish Version
• EEO is the Law Chinese Version

UMKC Statement on Diversity

Diversity, equity and inclusion are central to the UMKC mission as an urban-serving institution. Kansas City is a particularly diverse city, including African, African American, Asian, German, Irish, Italian, Latino, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Native American and Slavic communities. Such ethnic diversity, in addition to our thriving neighborhoods of the Westside, Northeast Kansas City and the Eastside, fosters creativity, connection and innovation, which is showcased across the region. Major attractions such as the Annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Filipino Cultural Center, the American Jazz Museum, Guadalupe Centers and Mattie Rhodes and Kansas City Irish Fest are a small sample of the many ways our diverse city enriches us.

For the reasons enumerated above, UMKC’s strategic plan prioritizes our commitment to multiculturalism, globalism, diversity and inclusion. The university’s values call upon its faculty, staff, students and community to position themselves as global citizens who seek out, embrace and celebrate the many benefits of diversity. UMKC received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in 2019 in recognition of our continued commitment to equity and inclusion. Such commitment is demonstrated across teaching, service and research. We welcome applicants to share in our commitment to these core values and know that you will quickly understand the beauty of calling Kansas City your home.

Please visit these pages to learn more about UMKC’s engagement in diversity, equity and inclusion .

Roos Advocate for Community Change

The Division of Diversity and Inclusion

Annual Report

Multicultural Student Affairs