Communications Specialist - Bursky Public Health

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

Job summary

Washington University in St. Louis’ School of Public Health is seeking a Communications Specialist to develop, coordinate, and maintain clear, engaging content across digital channels, including the website, social media, internal newsletters, and other communications platforms.

You will work with faculty, staff, students, and leadership to translate priorities into accessible content, manage editorial calendars, and ensure outputs are timely, accurate, and aligned with the school’s brand and

Qualifications

• Experience developing and managing content across multiple communications channels.
• Experience working in higher education, healthcare, public health, or similar complex environments.
• Strong writing and editing experience with ability to translate complex information into clear content.
• Experience with content CMS, email marketing, social media tools, web analytics, and digital content production.

Responsibilities

• Collect, create, edit, and publish content for the School of Public Health website and digital platforms.
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar coordinating content across channels.
• Own day-to-day production and distribution of the school’s newsletters and internal communications.
• Ensure content is clear, accurate, accessible, and aligned with the school’s voice and brand.

Job description

Location

St. Louis, MO 63110

Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

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.

Working Conditions

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at a desk or a table

Equipment

• Office equipment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Education

Required Qualifications

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

More About This Job

• 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 (continued)

Education

Preferred Qualifications

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.