Digital Communications Manager / Communications Manager II

Working/Functional Title

Digital Communications Manager

Position Summary

Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive organization, which requires all staff to contribute towards a vision for success. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our work, regardless of title or position within the organization. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:

• We work together to ensure that programming is delivered to diverse audiences, produces equitable impacts for all participants, and demonstrates partnership and inclusion for all groups.
• We embrace that it is everyone’s job to create a culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and inclusive culture.
• We foster inclusion by recognizing and valuing diverse perspectives, skills, experiences, and work to create equal access to programming for communities.
• We commit to continuous learning for diversity, equity, and cultural competency, in order to achieve inclusive excellence.
• We understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential elements to our work and are vital to the organizational culture and programmatic success of MSU Extension.
• We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching and feedback towards achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
• Together we will achieve success and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts. 

 

POSITION SUMMARY

Manages the information, public relations, and marketing activities for a department, college, or program area of moderate size, budget, staff, and/or complexity, in order to inform the public and the university.

 

MSU Extension (MSUE) is a large and complex unit with more than 600 employees in 83 counties spread across the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan. MSU Extension is the university’s community outreach organization, linking people across the state to the vast knowledge and resources of MSU.

 

The Digital Communications Manager at MSU Extension (MSUE) has a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s digital footprint. This position is responsible for managing MSU Extension’s social media and web presence, crafting innovative strategies to engage diverse audiences, and ensuring the organization’s digital content aligns with its mission and strategic direction. A key emphasis is placed on creating impactful video content, which plays a vital role in promoting MSU Extension programs, communicating organization's impact and success.

 

Applying a forward-thinking approach to digital communications, leveraging cutting-edge tools, including artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, to optimize content creation and social media strategies will be essential to your success. In this role, you will collaborate with the Director of Communications and Digital Strategy to monitor and analyze digital performance metrics to inform the digital strategy.

 

You will work in concert with the MSU Extension leadership and communications team to assess organizational needs to enhance and elevate MSU Extension’s social media platforms, aligning with university brand standards and ensuring accessibility to reach diverse populations effectively.

 

Additionally, you will collaborate with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) communications team to manage and enhance MSU Extension’s web presence, providing training to support staff to streamline web management responsibilities and reduce the workload for programming staff and teams. Through innovative storytelling, engaging content, and a focus on accessibility, you will ensure MSU Extension remains a trusted and impactful resource for Michigan communities.

 

Although negotiable, there will be space available for this position to work from the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

This position may be eligible to utilize a flexible work environment, however, there is an expectation to work from a MSU Extension office. The needs, responsibilities, and opportunities of an individual’s position and office location drive the ability and amount of work-location flexibility.

 

Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities

• Plans new strategies, campaigns, and directs public relations efforts for MSU Extension and advises institutes and other units on media and public relations issues.
• Plans and implements public relations budget and establishes policies and procedures related to the daily operation of Public R