Project Manager for Strategic Communications

Overview

The project manager for Strategic Communications manages institutional-level communications projects. This position (Public Relations Spec III) serves as the liaison to offices across campus to provide direct and clear communications about the university’s approach to and accomplishments in health, safety, and high institutional priorities. This position works closely with campus partners to ensure consistent messaging to students, employees, parents, and the public on key issues including safety, sexual misconduct, diversity and inclusion, discrimination and bias, and free speech. The project manager is also a key member of the emergency communications response team, which oversees emergency alerts and communications during an emergency on a USU campus.

 

The project manager for Strategic Communications reports to the Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications, and works collaboratively with the entire University Marketing and Communications team to plan and implement communications projects.

 

USU provides a generous benefit and retirement package, and extensive professional development opportunities are provided through the university and UMAC.

 

This position is telework eligible within the state of Utah.

Responsibilities

• Works closely with offices across campus to coordinate and manage communications projects related to health, safety, and high-level priorities, including with the Department of Public Safety, the Office of Equity, Government and External Affairs, Office of the President, and others as needed.
• Outlines communications projects with specific requirements, deadlines, and strategies.
• Collaborates with UMAC’s news, creative, video/photo, and digital teams to manage and complete projects, start to finish.
• Represents the university in cooperative projects with off-campus partners, as needed.
• Creates and/or coordinates print and electronic communications, including news releases, social media, video scripts, web content, presentations, or newsletters.
• Creates communications content during an emergency, in cooperation with Public Safety and others in the strategic communications team.
• Understands and helps manage costs and budgets associated with communications projects.
• Champions the university’s principles of community and integrates inclusive marketing practices into all work.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, advertising, broadcast journalism, communication, or related field plus at least four years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Strong writing portfolio.
• Experience managing projects from start to finish, meeting deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field.
• Experience working in a higher education environment.
• Experience working with executive leadership.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Resume/CV to be uploaded in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

Submit two (2) writing samples to be uploaded in the Candidate Profile under "Other documents 1-10"

Contact information for three professional references

Cover Letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Minimum of $58,500, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights

University Marketing and Communications (UMAC) defines, strengthens, amplifies, and protects the Utah State University brand experience while leading a systemwide culture of collaboration to articulate our university’s strengths and accomplishments. The strategic communications team produces Utah State Magazine, news content in Utah State Today, and content for institutional communications. The team works closely with the digital strategy and strategic marketing teams and collaborates with communicators across the USU system to tell the USU story, ensuring the university's mission and values are collectively shared in ways that elevate its reputation and highlight its impact through a unified voice. Learn more at brand.usu.edu.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant and space-grant university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion. USU serves approximately 27,500 students throughout the state at three residential campuses,