Communications Manager

UWMSN University of Wisconsin Madison; Bascom (GA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison seeks a Communications Manager to lead a comprehensive communications strategy for the Faculty & Staff Affairs (FSA) team. You will translate institutional information into accessible messaging, engage with faculty and staff, and support a high-quality communications presence across the university.

The role reports to the Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs and requires strategic thinking, writing, and project management across channels, with hybrid

Qualifications

• Professional experience planning, writing, editing, and delivering communications for organizational audiences.
• Experience developing communication materials across multiple formats or channels.
• Experience managing communications projects, including timelines, coordinating contributors, and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, audience-centered communication.
• Strong writing and editing skills with attention to tone, accessibility, and consistency.
• Ability to develop communications that support organizational goals.
• Ability to work independently and with colleagues and partners.
• Experience using WordPress, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, or related platforms.

Responsibilities

• Plans, writes, and edits content for internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops and delivers communication materials through multiple mediums to designated audiences.
• Manages day-to-day unit plans to align with strategic initiatives and budgets.
• Identifies and implements new or revised unit policies and procedures.
• Plans and directs unit programs/projects to ensure deadlines and budgets are met.

Skills

Content planning

Writing & editing

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

WordPress

Adobe Creative Cloud

Microsoft 365

Email marketing platforms

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category: Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Communications Manager

Job Summary: The Communications Manager will report to the Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs and serve as a key member of the Faculty & Staff Affairs (FSA) team. This position will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive communications strategy that strengthens how faculty, academic staff, and campus partners understand, access, and engage with FSA programs, services, policies, and initiatives. This role requires a talented, all‑around communications professional who can think strategically, write clearly, manage complex communications projects, execute routine and day‑to‑day writing or digital tasks, and translate detailed institutional information into accessible, audience‑centered messaging. The successful candidate will help FSA tell the story of its work, engage in effective two‑way communications with faculty and academic staff throughout the career lifecycle, and support a consistent, high‑quality communications presence.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Plans, writes, and edits content for various internal and external stakeholders
• Develops, implements, and delivers communication materials through various mediums to designated audiences
• Manages the day-to-day operational unit plans to align with strategic initiatives and to meet established objectives
• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures
• Plans and directs unit programs and/or projects to ensure adherence to deadlines and budgets

Department: Office of the Provost - Faculty & Staff Affairs The Faculty & Staff Affairs (FSA) team is part of the broader Office of the Provost, which provides the guiding vision and framework for UW‑Madison's academic leadership and administrative management. FSA is the central service and support hub for advancing the capacity and effectiveness of the academic workforce at UW‑Madison. FSA focuses specifically on serving the faculty and academic staff who drive the University’s core missions of basic and translational research, classroom and mentor teaching, and outreach and community engagement. FSA engages in collaborative partnerships with administrative, academic, and governance stakeholders across the institution. Within this robust ecosystem, FSA provides specialized leadership in academic career lifecycle engagement, high‑impact talent development programs, and cultural initiatives essential to the University’s mission. Our work drives strategic investments to maximize the success, professional growth, and belonging of our faculty and academic staff.

Compensation: The expected salary range for this position is $85,000 to $105,000. Actual pay will depend on the selected candidate's qualifications. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid‑time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax‑advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Review the benefits summary for more information.

Work Type/Location: This is an ongoing position. This position may be appointed between 60% and 100% time, depending on candidate availability, unit needs, and available resources. This is a hybrid position, with a preference for 2‑3 days on‑site and 1‑2 days of remote work per week. Expectations regarding on‑site vs. remote work are negotiable.

Required Qualifications

• Professional experience planning, writing, editing, and delivering communications for organizational audiences.
• Experience developing communication materials across multiple formats or channels, such as websites, newsletters, presentations, executive messages, announcements, reports, briefing materials, digital content, or print materials.
• Experience managing communications projects, including setting timelines, coordinating contributors, tracking deliverables, and meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex, detailed, or technical information into clear, accurate, audience‑centered communication.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with careful attention to accuracy, tone, audience, accessibility, and consistency.
• Ability to develop communications that support institutional, divisional, or unit goals.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues, leaders, subject matter experts, and communications partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, and adapt communication approaches as needs change.
• Experience using tools such as WordPress, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, email marketing platforms, or related communications platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and implementing communications plans for programs, initiatives, policy updates, organizational changes, or strategic priorities.
• Experience with website content strategy, redesign, governance, accessibility, or ongoing web content management.
• Experience creating stories or messages that demonstrate the impact of programs, services, initiatives, or institutional priorities.
• Familiarity with higher education, public institutions, shared governance, faculty affairs, academic staff affairs, human resources, or academic workplace issues.
• Experience coordinating communications projects with vendors, communications partners, distributed teams, or project‑based support.

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience required

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW‑Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin‑Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

To request a disability or pregnancy‑related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre‑employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on‑campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW‑Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.

Work with purpose, make an impact, and grow your career.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison offers a wide range of professions that cover various interests and skill levels. We employ everything from accountants to arborists, chefs to custodians, editors to electricians, graphic designers to groundskeepers, HR associates to HVAC technicians, librarians to locksmiths, mechanics to medical assistants, painters to police officers, web designers to welders, and absolutely everything in between! No matter what you are looking for professionally, chances are you will not only find it but will thrive at it while working at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Contact Information: Kory Breuer, HR Manager, [e-mail]