Communications Manager

Universities of Wisconsin; Oshkosh (WI); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans starting at $45/month

Vacation 176 hours/year (prorated)

Personal holiday 36 hours + 9 holidays

Sick leave 176 hours (first 18 months)

Paid parental leave

Wisconsin Retirement System (pension)

Open benefits list subject to change

Job summary

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is seeking a Communications Manager to lead the newsroom and media-relations operations. This role requires strong news judgment, writing, editing, and proactive media engagement to tell the University’s story accurately and strategically.

Reporting to university leadership, you will coordinate with university relations partners, supervise staff, and help advance earned-media opportunities while supporting crisis communications and public-records practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field.
• Demonstrated professional experience in journalism, media relations, public information, communications or a comparable deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent reporting, interviewing, writing and editing skills.
• Strong news judgment and ability to identify compelling stories aligned with university priorities.
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities, deadlines and projects.
• Sound judgment and discretion with sensitive or rapidly changing information.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work with university leaders, faculty, staff, students, journalists and partners.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day newsroom and media relations operations.
• Develops, writes, edits, and coordinates institutional communications.
• Plans and directs unit programs to meet deadlines and budgets.
• Proactively pitches stories, coordinates with social, photography, video, and digital teams.
• Leads crisis communications and serves as Public Records Custodian when needed.

Skills

Media relations

News writing/editing

Story pitching

Reporting

Interpersonal skills

Judgment & discretion

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field

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.

Position Title:

Communications Manager

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Communications Manager

Job Duties:

Reporting directly to the Assistant Chancellor for University Relations and Strategic Communications, the Communications Manager serves as a lead day-to-day owner of UW–Oshkosh’s newsroom and media relations operation. This position combines strong news judgment, exceptional writing and editing skills, proactive media relations, and public-information expertise to tell the University’s story accurately, strategically, and in a timely manner. The Communications Manager manages the UWO Today/newsroom pipeline, develops and advances story opportunities aligned with University priorities, writes and edits a variety of institutional communications, coordinates contributors and deadlines, and maintains high standards for accuracy, clarity, and institutional voice.

The position serves as a primary day-to-day contact for media inquiries and builds productive relationships with local, regional, and statewide media. The Communications Manager proactively pitches University stories, experts, research, programs, and community impact and prepares media statements, talking points, background materials, and interview preparation. The position also coordinates newsroom and media needs with social, photography, video, creative, and digital colleagues to maximize opportunities for integrated and reusable content across University communications.

The position also supports the University Relations function by helping coordinate the University’s engagement with government, business, civic, nonprofit, and community partners. This may include supporting University and government events, coordinating partnership meetings and institutional visits, assisting with chambers of commerce and University-led alliances, maintaining timely follow-up and two-way communication, and helping advance collaborative opportunities and shared initiatives. The Communications Manager identifies opportunities to extend this work through earned media, storytelling, and coordinated content across University platforms.

The Communications Manager provides day-to-day direction, editing, and coaching to communications staff, student employees, and interns as appropriate and contributes to the development of newsroom, media relations, and writing standards, templates, and resources. The position also supports issues and crisis communications through fact gathering, message development, media coordination, and monitoring, serving as backup crisis communications support as assigned. Routine editorial and media relations matters are handled independently within established University priorities, while crisis, legal, personnel, safety, and high-profile reputational matters are appropriately coordinated and escalated to University leadership and partners.

This position also serves as the University’s designated Public Records Custodian, leading and administering responses to requests under the Wisconsin Public Records Law. Responsibilities include coordinating records searches across the University, reviewing responsive records, determining disclosure, redaction, withholding, and fees, communicating with requesters, and maintaining documentation of the response process. Working closely with University leadership, legal counsel, information technology, human resources, and other stakeholders, the position also provides leadership, consultation, and training to ensure timely, consistent, and legally compliant public-records practices.

The duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive and may be adjusted or expanded as organizational needs evolve.

Hybrid remote work may be available after the successful completion of the initial training period. Please note that the remote work policy is subject to change at the discretion of the school or university.

Universities of Wisconsin also offers an extremely competitive benefits package for 2026 that includes:

• Health plans, currently starting at $45 per month.
• 176 hours of vacation per year (prorated for start date).
• 36 hours of personal holiday, and 9 legal holidays (prorated for start date).
• 176 Hours of sick leave for first 18 months. After this period, employees can earn up to 96 hours per fiscal year. Accumulates without limit and does not expire.
• Paid parental leave after six months of continuous employment.
• Wisconsin Retirement System (pension) with 7.2% employer contribution for 2026.

All employment benefits are subject to change. A full list of current benefits and eligibility requirements can be found on our website.

Key Job Responsibilities:

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

Department:

University Relations and Strategic Communications

Compensation:

Starting at $62,000 and commensurate with experience

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field
• Demonstrated professional experience in journalism, media relations, public information, communications or a comparable deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent reporting, interviewing, writing and editing skills.
• Strong news judgment and the ability to identify compelling stories and distinguish institutional priorities from external news value.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple priorities, deadlines and projects.
• Sound judgment and discretion when working with sensitive, incomplete or rapidly changing information.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with university leaders, faculty and staff, students, journalists and community partners.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education, government, public-sector communications or another complex public-facing organization.
• Experience responding to media inquiries or serving in a media relations or public information officer (PIO) capacity.
• Experience supporting crisis or issues communications.
• Experience editing, coordinating or providing day-to-day direction to writers, communications staff, freelancers, interns or student employees.
• Demonstrated success identifying and developing proactive earned-media opportunities.

All final candidates will be asked to provide names, email contact information, and/or phone numbers for three (3) references, with at least one being from a manager or supervisor, during the interview process.

Work AuthorizationUnless otherwise indicated in the job posting, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. UW Oshkosh is not an e-verify employer; therefore, STEM extensions are not options for work authorization.

Legal Notices:

Reasonable Accommodations

UWO provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact [e-mail] 920-424-1166. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWO is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWO will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC & Reference Check Policy
All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWO Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see https://uwosh.edu/police/, or call UWO Police Department, at [phone] for a paper copy.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.