Communications Manager

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

Job summary

University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking a Communications Manager to lead a comprehensive communications strategy for Faculty & Staff Affairs. You will guide messaging to faculty, academic staff, and campus partners, translating complex information into accessible content while coordinating multi-channel communications programs.

The role demands strategic thinking, clear writing, and experience managing multiple projects with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Professional experience planning, writing, editing, and delivering communications for organizational audiences.
• Experience developing communication materials across multiple formats or channels (websites, newsletters, presentations, executive messages, announcements, reports, briefing materials, digital content, or print).
• Experience managing communications projects with timelines, contributors, tracking deliverables, and deadlines.

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 meet objectives.
• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures.
• Plans and directs unit programs and/or projects to ensure deadlines and budgets are met.

Skills

Content planning

Editing

Project management

Audience-focused

Strong writing

Independent work

WordPress

Adobe CC

Microsoft 365

Email marketing

Education

Bachelor's Degree Or Equivalent

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 communications.
• 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

Contact Information

Kory Breuer, HR Manager, [e-mail]

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. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

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.