Communications Specialist

Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University is seeking a Communications Specialist in Richmond to craft engaging content and communications for students, faculty, staff, and other audiences. The role supports website updates, social media strategy, marketing assets, photography, videography, and the annual DSA report.

The position emphasizes collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs, projects from concept through execution, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, marketing, graphic design, journalism, or related field with related experience.
• Develop social media plan, implement plan, track analytics and use analytics to inform contentschedule.
• Work with Director on special events, attend events as a representative of team, and ensure events run smoothly.
• Develop and implement effective communication strategies.
• Manage internal communications (social media, blogs, memos, newsletters etc.).
• Draft content for online media or university website.
• Organize initiatives and plan events or press conferences.

Responsibilities

• Translate organizational goals and priorities into strategic communications and media deliverables for DSA and units.
• Lead projects from concept to completion with focus on design, photography, videography, and social media.
• Collaborate with internal clients and leadership to develop engaging communications.
• Draft and distribute communications to students, staff, and faculty.
• Support events, media relations, and executive communications.

Skills

Verbal skills

Written skills

Presentation skills

Project management

Collaboration

Graphic design

Editing

Education

Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, marketing, graphic design, journalism, or related field

Job description

Advertising Summary:

Virginia Commonwealth University’sDivision of Student Affairs is seeking a creative, collaborative,and strategic Communications Specialist to help elevate ourcommunications and marketing efforts. This position will developcompelling content and communications that engage students,faculty, staff, and other university audiences while supporting theDivision’s goals and initiatives.

Unit:

Student Affairs (Vice Provost) MBU

Department:

DSA Shared Services

Department

Summary:

The Communications and Marketingteam works collaboratively with all units in the Division ofStudent Affairs to share the remarkable programs, initiatives, andservices provided by DSA to help students have the best experiencepossible at VCU. Our work includes building and updating websites,developing and implementing a comprehensive social media strategy,creating marketing assets for all units including graphic designand illustration work, taking photos and videos, writing andsending large scale communications to students, and producing theDSA Annual Report

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Communications Specialist provides professional communications services requiring an in-depth knowledge of one or more communications specialties. This position translates organizationalgoals and priorities into strategic communications and media deliverables that support the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) andits units.

As a central communications position, this role supports multipleareas throughout DSA and manages projects from initial conceptthrough completion. The position has a primary focus on graphicdesign, photography, social media videography, social media accountmanagement, special event support, special projects, andillustrative work. The Communications Specialist collaborateswith internal clients, senior leadership, communications andmarketing professionals, student employees, and other stakeholdersto develop engaging and effective communications.

The position works under limited supervision and is expected tomake moderately complex decisions independently while referringunprecedented or highly complex issues to the Director ofCommunications and Marketing or other appropriate leadership.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications,marketing, graphic design, journalism, or a related field and yearsof related professional experience, or an equivalent combination ofeducation, training, and experience.
• Meet with internal clients to review project requests, developproject plans, and see a project through to completion.
• Develop social media plan for DSA social media accounts,implement plan, track analytics and use analytics to inform contentschedule.
• Work with Director on special events, attend events as arepresentative of team, and ensure events run smoothly.
• Work closely and in a developmental manner with student staffto complete projects and assignments while helping students growtheir communications skills.
• Work with Director on all central communications and marketingpriorities such as the annual report, creation of one pagers andspecial reports, development of requested materials from theexecutive leadership team, and other projects as received andassigned.
• Develop and implement effective communication strategies.
• Manage internal communications (social media, blogs, memos,newsletters etc.)
• Draft content for online media or university website.
• Organize initiatives and plan events or pressconferences.
• Liaise with media and handle requests for interviews,statements.
• Foster new relationships with advocates and seniorleadership.
• Collaborate with marketing professionals to produce copy foradvertisements or articles.
• Strong verbal, written, organizational, and presentationskills.
• Strong graphic design, visual communication, and editingskills.
• Demonstrated creativity and ability to develop innovativesolutions to communications challenges.
• Excellent project management skills and ability to managemultiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy andquality.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging,and audience-appropriate communications.
• Knowledge of social media platforms, content development,scheduling, and analytics.
• Knowledge of photography, videography, digital media, andgraphic design principles.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaboratingwith internal clients and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make moderately complexdecisions independently.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective workingrelationships with faculty, staff, students, university leadership,and external partners.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environmentof respect, professionalism, and civility with faculty, staff, andstudents from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitmentto do so as a VCU staff member.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and manage multipleprojects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to respond to requests with a professional and positivedemeanor; the desire to create a positive and enthusiasticenvironment within DSA.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a university, Division of StudentAffairs, higher education, nonprofit, or comparableorganization.
• Experience developing communications and marketing materialsfor multiple internal clients or organizational units.
• Experience with graphic design, photography, videography, andsocial media content creation.
• Experience managing organizational social media accounts andusing analytics to inform content strategy.
• Experience managing multiple communications projects fromconcept through completion.
• Experience working with and/or mentoring studentemployees.
• Experience developing reports, annual reports, presentations,one-pagers, and executive-level communications materials.

Salary Range:

$51,000

Benefits

All full-time university staff are eligible forVCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annualand holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planningand savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs,employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunitiesfor career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status:

Exempt

Hours per Week:

40

Restricted Position:

No

ORP Eligible:

No

Flexible Work Arrangement:

Fully Onsite

University Job Title:

13221N - Communications Specialist1

Contact Information:

Contact Name: ShondaPulley
Contact Email: [e-mail]