Temporary Digital Content Assistant (Lab of Ornithology); Ithaca, New York

Temporary Digital Content Assistant

Temporary Communications Assistant

Nonexempt
Lab of Ornithology

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)

Ithaca, New York

Who We Are

CALS is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second-largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy, and environmental resources; and social, physical, and economic well-being.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a renowned nonprofit, member-supported institution dedicated to advancing the understanding and protection of birds, wildlife, and our shared planet through research, education, citizen science, and conservation. We join with people from all backgrounds and abilities to make new scientific discoveries, share insights, and foster conservation action. Our collaborative relationship with the broader Cornell community allows us to tackle the big challenges for science and society, and to translate cutting-edge science, technology and storytelling into real-world impact. Our online resources allow millions of people around the globe to deepen their connection with the natural world.

What You Will Do

As a Temporary Digital Content Assistant, you will publish content on the Cornell Lab’s All About Birds website, the most authoritative online resource for North American birds with more than 17 million viewers every year. All About Birds is the online home of the Cornell Lab’s flagship publication, Living Bird, and an online bird guide that contains more than 600 species accounts. The position also supports the Lab’s institutional website, birds.cornell.edu, and a variety of other project websites. Other duties include:

• Work with senior editor for digital content to post each issue of the quarterly Living Bird magazine.

• Design layouts, formats, approaches, content, levels and mediums necessary to meet production objectives 

• Coordinate production of web/email content from concept to mock-ups and reviews to final publishing.

• Ensure websites meet accessibility requirements.

• Track web update assets using spreadsheets to ensure prearranged update schedules are met. 

• Use web-based content management systems (WordPress, JAG, AMS, and others) to create/edit content on Lab websites

What We Need

We are looking for someone with an excellent work ethic who appreciates birds and wildlife. We need a talented individual with excellent communication skills who can build and maintain effective relationships with multiple stakeholders. Additionally, we need someone who has the following:

• Associate’s degree and 4+ years of online communications experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Familiarity with principles of user experience, visual layout, design, and accessibility.

• Must be extremely organized, efficient, and have the highest standards for grammatical and visual consistency, function, accuracy, and photo quality.

• Ability to meet deadlines is essential.

• Proficiency in web content management tools, particularly WordPress, HTML, and image editing software such as Photoshop, Figma, Canva; ability to learn, operate, and troubleshoot in custom CMS systems (JAG, AMS)

• Proficiency in Acrobat and Microsoft Office applications.

• Proven ability to work in a team environment where cooperation between colleagues and flexibility to different styles and approaches is required.  

• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.

If you possess these experiences and skills, this may be the role for you!  There are a few other qualifications that we would view as incredibly helpful in this role, including:

• Experience with North American birds and bird identification.

• Ability to produce content that models the Lab’s brand voice and tone.

• Ability to write short, clear, web-accessible headlines.

• Experience in providing scientific content to the general public on the web is helpful, as is experience in multimedia presentation.

This is a temporary, part-time position at 80% FTE, 32 hours per week and will be located in Ithaca, New York. This is a six-month term appointment that is contingent