Communications Specialist

Mississippi State University; Starkville, Northern (MS, KY); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University is seeking a Communications Specialist to coordinate NRTC communications and marketing efforts, promoting research results, products, and training to a national audience. You will create newsletters, edit materials, manage social channels, and collaborate on podcasts and promotional items.

The role involves coordinating campaigns, ensuring accessible materials, and partnering with the Office of Public Affairs to maintain branding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communication, Marketing, Journalism, English or related field or equivalent education and/or work experience.

Responsibilities

• Create quarterly newsletters and monthly briefs, soliciting ideas, developing items, and disseminating via email marketing.
• Edit, format, add graphics, and ensure accessibility for center products before public dissemination.
• Manage dissemination of NRTC products via social media, listservs, email marketing, and other outlets; evaluate effectiveness.
• Produce a 12-episode podcast series in collaboration with researchers.
• Design, order, and distribute promotional products (brochures, flyers, videos, business cards).
• Design and maintain templates and style guidelines for newsletters, social media, presentations, and promos.
• Provide leadership for events (virtual webinars, live presentations, booths, outreach, conferences) and may represent NRTC.
• Maintain a shared content calendar coordinating newsletters, social media, website updates, and event promotions.
• Document activities for funding reports and quarterly/annual reporting.
• Create and edit videos.
• Collaborate with MSU Office of Public Affairs and COE to uphold branding and promote NRTC work.
• Assist with other team member's assignments (websites, courses, social media management, graphics, photography).
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Skills

Oral & written communication

Interpersonal skills

Organization

Attention to detail

Project planning

Media production knowledge

Public relations concepts

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communication/Marketing/Journalism/English

Tools

Adobe Premiere Pro

Canva

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Function

Looking for a communication role where your work truly matters? Join the National Research & Training Center on Blindness & Low Vision (NRTC) at Mississippi State University as a Communications Specialist and help promote innovative research, training, and products that support people who are blind or have low vision across the country. The position's primary purpose is to coordinate NRTC communications and marketing efforts, including promoting center activities, research results, products, training, and technical assistance opportunities to a national audience.

Salary Grade

14

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile

https://www.blind.msstate.edu

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Create quarterly newsletters and monthly newsletter briefs, which include soliciting story ideas, developing the items, and disseminating the final products via an email marketing platform.
• Prepare center products for public dissemination, which involves editing, formatting, adding graphics as needed, and completing accessibility checks.
• Manage strategic dissemination of NRTC products and activities through social media, listservs, an email marketing platform, and other outlets, and evaluate the effectiveness of dissemination strategies.
• Produce a 12-episode podcast series, in collaboration with NRTC researchers.
• Design, order, and distribute promotional products for the NRTC, including brochures, flyers, videos, business cards, and other requested items.
• Design and maintain templates and style guidelines for newsletters, social media, presentations, and promotional materials.
• Provide leadership and support for various events, including virtual webinars, live presentations, exhibit booths, outreach events, and conferences, which may include serving as a representative for the NRTC at these events.
• Maintain a shared content calendar to coordinate newsletters, social media, website updates, and event promotions.
• Document all NRTC activities and products to facilitate reporting to funding agencies, including gathering information needed for quarterly and annual reports.
• Create and edit videos.
• Maintain a relationship with the MSU Office of Public Affairs and COE to adhere to branding standards, communicate relevant news items, and promote NRTC work.
• Work closely with the other communication specialist, assisting with their primary assignments as needed, including:
  • Managing NRTC websites
  • Preparing courses to be posted online, posting courses, and providing assistance to course users as needed.
  • Managing social media accounts, including assisting with content, creating graphics, taking pictures, and connecting with followers.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Communication, Marketing, Journalism, English or related field or equivalent education and/or work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Two years of related work experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies.
• Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to appropriately edit the content, structure, and format of a range of written material.
• Skill in using Adobe Premiere Pro, Canva, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to develop clear, concise summaries of products and publications for website posting.
• Ability to plan and coordinate projects and events.
• Knowledge of media production and publishing principles and processes.
• Knowledge of communication principles, media, and public relations techniques.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

No unusual physical requirements. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility. Routine deadlines; usually sufficient lead time; variance in work volume seasonal and predictable; priorities can be anticipated; some interruptions are present; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressures from persons other than the immediate supervisor. The job frequently requires sitting, talking, hearing, and handling objects with the hands.

Restricted Clause

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at [phone] or [e-mail]. If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at [phone] or [e-mail]. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.