Communications Specialist - Bursky Public Health

Washington University in St. Louis; Duncan (OK); On-site; USD 53,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation days

Holidays

Health insurance

Metro U-Pass

Retirement plan

Wellness programs

Caregiver leave

Tuition benefits

Job summary

Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, MO seeks a Communications Specialist to develop, coordinate, and maintain clear, compelling content across digital and internal channels.

You will manage day-to-day content production for the school’s website, newsletters, and social media, collaborating with faculty, staff, students, and leadership to translate priorities into engaging web content. The role requires excellent writing, editing, and organizational skills, along with SEO, analytics,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 3 years of relevant experience in communications or related field.
• Strong writing and editing skills; ability to translate complex information into clear content.

Responsibilities

• Collect, create, edit, and publish content for the School of Public Health website and digital platforms.
• Develop editorial calendars and maintain content workflows.
• Monitor website content for accuracy and opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with the communications team on content development and distribution.
• Own day-to-day production and distribution of newsletters and recurring communications.
• Gather information from faculty and staff and translate into engaging stories for the audience.

Skills

Content management systems

Email marketing

Social media management

Web analytics

Editing process

Storytelling

Strategic thinking

Graphic layouts

Proofreading

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Canva

Figma

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location St. Louis, MO 63110 Scheduled Hours 37.5

Job Description

The Communications Specialist is responsible for developing, coordinating, and maintaining clear, compelling, and consistent content across the School of Public Health’s digital and internal communications channels. This role manages day-to-day content production for the school’s website, social media channels, internal newsletter, and other communications platforms, working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and school leadership to translate priorities, activities, and accomplishments into engaging web content for key audiences. The Communications Specialist will collaborate with the rest of the communications team, primarily the science writer, photographer/videographer and social media coordinator, on editorial planning and content development, ensuring that communications are timely, accurate, accessible, aligned with the school’s brand and voice, and responsive to the needs of the school community. The role requires excellent writing and editing skills, strong organizational abilities, sound editorial judgment, strategic thinking skills, an understanding of SEO and analytics and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced academic environment.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Collect, create, edit, and publish content for the School of Public Health website and other digital platforms. Maintain current and accurate information across the site, including news, events, faculty and staff updates, research, education, student and community activities, leadership communications, and other school priorities.
• Develop and maintain workflows and editorial processes that ensure timely, accurate, accessible, and high-quality content.
• Monitor website content for accuracy, consistency, broken links, outdated information, and opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with web and communications colleagues to support the ongoing evolution of the school's digital presence.
• In collaboration with the rest of the communications team, develop and maintain an editorial calendar that coordinates content across the school's communications channels.
• Identify opportunities to amplify school priorities, faculty and student accomplishments, research, events, partnerships, and other activities.
• Work with faculty, staff, and leadership to gather information and then work with communications colleagues to develop story ideas, determine appropriate communications channels, and manage content from concept through publication. Balance planned content with timely and emerging communications needs.
• Own the day-to-day production and distribution of the School of Public Health’s newsletters and other recurring communications. Collect and edit submissions, coordinate approvals, maintain production schedules, and ensure timely distribution.
• Develop and maintain processes for recurring announcements, internal updates, event communications, and other routine communications needs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for faculty and staff submitting content for inclusion in school communications. Ensure communications products are clear, accurate, accessible, consistent with the school’s voice and brand, and appropriate for their intended audiences.
• Support the development and refinement of templates, editorial standards, and content guidelines.
• 5%Monitor website, newsletter, and other digital content performance using available analytics and reporting tools. Prepare periodic reports and recommendations to inform content planning and improve audience engagement.
• Stay current on trends and emerging practices in digital content, social media, email communications, accessibility, search engine optimization, and higher education communications.
• Support communications projects and initiatives across the School of Public Health, including special campaigns, events, publications, and other priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Certifications/Professional Licenses: No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
• Work Experience: Relevant Experience (3 Years)
• Skills: Not Applicable
• Driver's License: A driver's license is not required for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and managing content across multiple communications channels, including websites, email newsletters, and other digital platforms. Experience working in higher education, healthcare, public health, research, or another complex organizational environment.
• Strong writing and editing experience, with demonstrated ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging content for a variety of audiences.
• Experience with content management systems, email marketing platforms, social media management tools, web analytics, and digital content production.
• Preferred Qualifications Education: Master's degree
• Certifications/Professional Licenses: No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
• Work Experience: Progressive Responsibility In The Area Of Marketing Communications (5 Years)
• Skills: Adobe Photoshop, Canva (Software), Content Editing, Copy Editing, Detail-Oriented, Digital Content Creation, Digital Marketing, Editing Process, Editorial Judgment, Figma, Graphic Layouts, Interpersonal Relationships, Meeting Deadlines, Microsoft Office, Oral Communications, Organizational Management (OM), Proofreading, Relationship Building, Service Oriented, Storytelling, Strategic Thinking, Visual Aesthetics, Web Analytics Tools, Working Independently, Written Communication

Grade G11 Salary Range $53,100.00 - $90,600.00 / Annually The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [e-mail] or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request. All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child.
• Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
• For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity or shared ancestry, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. As a federal contractor, the university maintains affirmative action programs to implement its equal employment opportunity policy for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended.

Job Alerts

Q: Can I create a job alert to notify me when jobs of interest are posted? A: Yes! After you create a Candidate Home account, you can set up and manage job alerts to be sent to you either daily or weekly, according to the filters you select. You can add, edit, or delete job alerts at any time. You will need to opt in to communications from WashU when you set up your first alert and will only receive alerts for jobs posted after the alert has been created. Set alerts today so you do not miss any new opportunities!

Company Culture

Washington University in St.Louis' collective success is significantly attributed to the passion and outstanding efforts of our community. Our staff, faculty and trainees are committed to excellence and dedicated to carrying out our missions of research, teaching and patient care. WashU prides itself on being a place where people matter, and serious work is done. Our people work together in an inclusive community that celebrates diverse perspectives, collaboration and innovation. We are a community of individuals inspired to work together to develop big ideas and tackle challenging problems. We value the well-being of our people. WashU strives to create a positive employee experience where staff, faculty and trainees thrive, both personally and professionally. Our employees find meaning, connection and vitality in their work and life with a healthy work-life balance and support to learn, grow and make an impact at WashU, the community and the world.

Regulatory Postings

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