Assistant Director of Communications for Interdisciplinary Studies

Duke University:

 

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

 

Assistant Director of Communications for Interdisciplinary Studies
 

Occupational Summary

 

Duke fosters a vibrant, evolving culture of interdisciplinarity that has become a hallmark of the university. The Office of Interdisciplinary Studies (OIS) supports scholars to take on the world’s most important questions and the most vexing challenges through cutting-edge research, novel approaches to problem-solving and an innovative learning ecosystem.

 

The university institutes, initiatives and centers complement the widespread interdisciplinarity found in every school at Duke. OIS provides central leadership for these units, which have the related roles of convening new scholarly configurations, catalyzing new research agendas and pedagogical approaches, connecting faculty and students across disciplinary, divisional and school boundaries, and facilitating engagement with communities. 

 

Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) teaches, produces and presents the documentary arts across a full range of media — photography, audio, film, writing, experimental and emerging media. 

Reporting to the director of communications for interdisciplinary studies and faculty advancement, in consultation with the director of CDS, this position has principal responsibility for planning and implementing strategic communications in support of OIS (50%) and CDS (50%) that align with and amplify the university’s strategic vision.

 

This team member will help identify scholarship of interest to the campus community, media and the public; explain complex concepts in accessible and compelling terms; tell the stories and develop the best strategy for amplification. If you are interested in joining our team, please complete the application process via the Duke Careers website and include a cover letter with your resume. Hybrid work arrangements are negotiable.

 

Work Performed

 

Content Creation and Management (65%)

 

•    Identify stories, gather information, conduct interviews and produce written stories, multimedia features, graphics and other visuals, videos, photo essays, audio pieces, social media posts, and pieces in other formats

•    Curate and share content to connect with nonspecialist campus and public audiences through a variety of formats including newsletters, websites, social media channels, annual reports, presentations

•    Update and maintain websites to ensure accuracy, timeliness and relevancy; manage social media accounts effectively; gather and organize photos and other media assets; manage mailing lists

•    Maintain close contact with relevant leaders to identify communications needs and ensure objectives are met; maintain relationships with relevant faculty, staff and students to identify stories and collaborate on communications projects

•    Ensure a unified voice and aesthetic through all communications

•    Prepare digital posters, presentation slides and handouts for selected meetings and events

 

Strategic Communications and Coordination (35%)

 

•    Develop and implement annual communications plan with objectives, strategies, target audiences, tactics and key messages for initiatives and projects, in support of the unit’s and the university’s strategic priorities

•    Regularly evaluate effectiveness of communications activities; use relevant data and analytics to inform and adapt future communications

•    Contribute to relevant communications projects in collaboration with other campus communicators; participate in relevant networks and communities of practice

•    Collaborate with colleagues to support promotion of signature events, educational program marketing, internal funding opportunities

•    Monitor external media coverage of relevant news and people, promote media stories through appropriate channels

•    Supervise student assistant(s) to support communications activities 

 

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein

 

Preferred Qualifications at this Level

 

Education/Training