Communications Assistant - Student Hourly

Center for Public Partnerships & Research; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 2,066,000 - 2,480,000; Part time

Job summary

Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research seeks a student to create social media content—video, photography, graphics, and writing—and to support the Communications Coordinator on a range of projects. Mentorship and portfolio-building are available; independence and fresh ideas are encouraged.

The role includes filming and editing at offices, labs, and field sites, plus helping with reporting, newsletters, and events. On-site in West Campus, 8–5, Fall 2026, 4–8 hours weekly.

Qualifications

• Strong written communication skills demonstrated in application materials.
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365 programs as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize projects independently and meet deadlines with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to capture photo and video content with phone or cameras.

Responsibilities

• Create content for social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn) using video, photography, graphics, and written content.
• Identify and pitch content opportunities aligned with research, fieldwork and events.
• Assist with content planning, scheduling and audience engagement.

Skills

Video production

Photography

Writing

Interviews

Social media

Education

Undergraduate or graduate student in journalism and mass communications or similar program

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Position Overview

The Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research is seeking a student to create short videos and other content in support of our ecological research communications, primarily our social media presence, and to provide general assistance to the Communications Coordinator on a variety of communications projects. This position will provide the student with mentorship by communications professionals, as well as portfolio-building projects. The student must be able to work independently and bring new ideas to the research center. We are interested in someone with strong reporting and writing skills; good news judgment; and the abilities to listen and ask questions, to take direction, to collaborate and to work across media. Strong communication, storytelling, and interviewing skills are more important than experience with any specific video software or equipment. The ideal candidate will also have an enthusiasm for learning new types of software and equipment needed to produce content. Opportunity to continue position for several semesters.

The research center, located at Takeru Higuchi Hall on West Campus, operates from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. This position requires the ability to travel to Takeru Higuchi Hall and other local research, field, or event locations as needed.

Job Description

40% Social Media Content Creation & Management

• Create content for Kansas Biological Survey social media platforms, including Facebook and LinkedIn, through video, photography, graphics and written content.
• Identify and pitch content opportunities related to research, fieldwork, events and organizational priorities.
• Assist with content planning, scheduling and audience engagement.

25% - Research Communications & Storytelling

• Interview researchers, students and staff (primarily at the Kansas Biological Survey) to gather information for communications projects.
• Develop written, visual, and multimedia content that communicates ecological research to a variety of audiences.
• Support the Communications Coordinator with reporting, writing, editing and other science communication projects.

20% - Photography & Video Production

• Capture photo and video content in offices, labs, and field sites, and at special events.
• Edit photo and video content for social media, websites and other digital platforms.
• Maintain and organize digital media assets.

10% - Communications Support

• Assist with website updates, newsletters, special projects and other communications initiatives.
• Support outreach and promotional efforts for events and programs.

5% - Other Duties as Assigned

• Perform other communications-related duties in support of Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research goals.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate student in journalism and mass communications or similar program.
• Availability to work four to eight hours per week, during normal business hours, on site in our offices on west campus, in blocks of at least two hours, during the Fall 2026 semester.
• Strong written communication skills, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365 programs as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize projects independently, meet deadlines and work with limited supervision, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to use phone or other cameras to capture photo and video content, as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Associated Press style, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience developing photo, video, graphic or other visual content, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience developing content for social media platforms, as evidenced by application materials.
• Professional experience which required self driven work, taking direction and contributing original ideas in a collaborative manner, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to focus and work on multiple projects simultaneously, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to build professional working relationships with researchers, faculty, staff and students, as evidenced by application materials.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

This position requires the ability to travel to Takeru Higuchi Hall and other local research, field, or event locations as needed.

Employment Conditions

• Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
• This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instructions

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Three examples of communications, journalism, photography, video, multimedia or digital content projects. Please provide a short description of each project, its audience and purpose, and which programs were used to create the final product. Applicants are encouraged to include examples of photo, video, social media and/or multimedia work in addition to written projects.
• Three academic or professional references and contact information

Contact Information to Applicants

Kirsten Bosnak

Communications Coordinator

Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research

[e-mail]

Advertised Salary Range

$15.00 per hour

Anticipated Start Date

Monday September 28, 2026