Communications & Media Coordinator

Augusta University; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Augusta University is seeking a Communications & Media Coordinator in Augusta to elevate the university brand by connecting faculty, staff, students, and the community to the institution's strategic plan pillars and goals.

You will identify stories, produce print and multimedia content for digital platforms, prepare AU experts for interviews, and work with local, regional, and national media to secure coverage and craft pitches and news releases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or related field and at least 3 years of professional communications experience.
• Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills with AP style knowledge.
• Experience coordinating with local, regional and national media; ability to craft pitches and news releases.

Responsibilities

• Identifies stories about university initiatives, accomplishments, and achievements that warrant promotion; creates print and multimedia content.
• Serves as liaison for institutional priority areas; prepares AU experts for interviews.
• Works with local, regional and national media to obtain news coverage for the university; crafts media pitches and news releases and coordinates news coverage for events; takes after-hours calls and serves as a point of contact with the media in the event of an emergency.
• Maintains current digital and media relations knowledge; uses a project management system to document and track projects from beginning to end.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Media relations

Communication planning

Team collaboration

Crisis communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or related field

Tools

Word Press

Jagwire

Fine Print

Experts Center

Job description

Communications & Media Coordinator

Job ID: 302512

Location: Augusta University

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Regular/Temporary:

About Us

Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state. More than 12,000 students choose Augusta for educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. Augusta is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research is creating a healthier, more prosperous Georgia, and world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today. Our mission and values https://www.augusta.edu/about/mission.php make Augusta University an institution like no other.

Augusta University's distinct characteristics in education and research include real-world experiences and community engagement, as well as a culture of building community, corporate and government partnerships that address health, security, economic and societal concerns locally and across the state.

The University System of Georgia https://www.usg.edu/hr/orientation/welcome_to_the_board_of_regents_university_system_office is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Job Summary

The Communications & Media Coordinator uses mass communication to advance the Augusta University brand and to support institutional priorities by connecting faculty, staff, students, the community, and other stakeholders to the university's strategic plan pillars and goals. The position identifies stories about university initiatives, accomplishments, and achievements that warrant internal or external promotion and conceptualizes and produces compelling print and multimedia content for digital platforms that include writing, video, photos, and graphics. The position serves as a liaison for institutional priority areas to proactively communicate news that may be of interest to the broader community; and prepares AU experts for interviews, including helping to hone clear, effective messaging and staffing interviews. The position works with local, regional, and national media to obtain news coverage for the university; crafts media pitches and news releases and coordinates news coverage for events; and takes after-hours calls and serves as a point of contact with the media in the event of an emergency.

Responsibilities

• Identifies stories about university initiatives, accomplishments, and achievements that warrant internal or external promotion; conceptualizes and produces compelling print and multimedia content for digital platforms, including writing, video, photos, and graphics.
• Serves as a liaison for institutional priority areas, proactively communicating news of interest to the broader community; prepares AU experts for interviews, including helping to hone clear, effective messaging and staffing interviews.
• Works with local, regional and national media to obtain news coverage for the university; crafts media pitches and news releases and coordinates news coverage for events; takes after-hours calls and serves as a point of contact with the media in the event of an emergency.
• Maintains current digital and media relations knowledge. Uses a project management system on a daily basis to document and track projects from beginning to end.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Communication, Journalism, Marketing, or related field and minimum of 3 years of professional communications experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree from an accredited college or university and three plus years of relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• ABILITIES Must be proficient in Word Press.
• Must have knowledge of Jagwire, Fine Print and Experts Center. Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Must have understanding of AP style.
• Must have understanding of media concepts.
• An ability to understand and decipher complex concepts.
• Self-starter.
• SKILLS Ability to think strategically about how AU's mission and expertise might align with, influence or support world affairs.
• Coordinating/conducting media training. Must be a creative and enthusiastic team player. Relationships with development journalists a plus.

Shift/Salary/Benefits

Shift: Days/M-F (work outside of normal business hours will likely be required of an employee in an exempt level position)

Pay Band: B8

Salary Range: $45,400/annually- $56,700/annually

Salary to be commensurate with qualifications of the selected candidate within the established range (generally minimum-midpoint) of the position.

Recruitment Period: 8/20/26 - Until Filled

Augusta University offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees.

Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays.

Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.

Conditions of Employment

All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Augusta University.

If applicable for the specific position based on the duties: the candidate will also need to have a credit check complete for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage.

Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive an Augusta University vehicle.

For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.

All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive [patient, student, employee, financial, business, etc.] information by exercising sound judgement and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond.

Other Information

This position is also responsible for promoting a customer-friendly environment and providing superior service to our patients, students, faculty, and employees. "Augusta University is a patient-and-family-centered care institution, where employees partner everyday with patients and families for success".

Augusta University is a tobacco free environment and the use of any tobacco products on any part of the campus, both inside and outside, is strictly prohibited.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Augusta University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.